Is there any difference...?

Question

Is there any difference between cupcake and muffin?

I have seen no difference...
And yet my teacher said there's a difference...
I'hv seen pictures of cupcake and muffin, the only thing i found was that cupcake had cream, whereas muffin had no at all...
Is this the difference? But it sounds weird though...

Hope you can help me =p

Answer 1

The best explanation I can think of is the mixing method.

The mixing method for muffins is called, well, the muffin method and the mixing method for cakes (as well as cupcakes, I would imagine) is called the 2 stage method.

The muffin method involves adding the melted fat to the dry ingredients, then adding the rest of the wet and barely combining so you don't develop too many air bubbles.

Cakes, on the other hand, you start with the solid shortening and the dry ingredients and beat till it's like sand, then the liquid is streamed in to ensure an emulsion is formed.

This the best idea I can come up with. I don't know if it's right but it makes sense to me! :)

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Some say cupcakes have frosting. A basic formula for muffins is 2 cups flour, 2-4 tablespoons sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 egg, 1/4 cup oil, shortening or butter, 1 cup milk. When the fat, sugar and egg ratio in a recipe reaches double or more than this, you have reached the cake level.

The method of cooking is different for muffins and cupcakes. The muffin method is by far the fastest and easiest. Flour, sugar, baking powder and salt (all the dry ingredients) are mixed together. This is where the leavening can be uniformly dispersed into the flour. Sugar is mixed with the flour to prevent the flour from lumping when combined with the wet ingredients.

Answer 3

There's a difference. Not so much how they look but how they are made and what they are made of. They are both baked in a muffin tin and have round tops which is why some "look" the same.
A cupcake is made from cake batter. Cake batter is just flour, eggs, milk and some flavoring (basically). It is a mini cake and more for a dessert. It's sweet and not realy nutricious but sure tastes good.
A muffin is more healthy as a snack or breakfast. You can make it with cereal, grains, ground veggies has a liquid and doesn't matter if it's milk, cider etc., and not nearly as much flour as a cake. A muffin has techniques to use in order for them to turn out correctly. Mix up the wet and dry ingredients the mix them just enough to get everything moist then stop or they'll be tough or have tunnels.

Answer 4

Technically nothing. One could argue that cupcakes are mini cakes and that muffins are....well....well...made from batters traditionally baked in loaves such as bananna bread, etc. But then what's the difference between a chocolate muffin and a chocolate cupcake? Nothing, technically. However, in most instances cupcakes are made of the same batter cake is made from and topped with frosting, and muffins are somewhat lighter (more yeast, they rise more) and have no frosting. That's why its a lot easier to bake a batch of healthy muffins than it is to make healthy cupcakes. Not to say all muffins are healthy of course, many contain as much fat as cupcakes and are virtually cupcakes sans frosting. You may even find a muffin that's as dense as cupcakes!

Answer 5

I think the differance is that a cupcake is filled and topped and a muffin is blended in. Also, the muffin is more dense, whereas the cupcake is much lighter. Mor cupcakes are like ice cream flavors (butter pecan, strawberry, choc, etc) and muffins have the actual things in them (pecan, carrot, blueberry, banana).
Also, muffins can be sweet or plain (cornbread, wheat, bran) and cupcakes aren't.
Also, muffins are considered "quick bread" which you don't mix as much, cake you beat until all the lumps come out.

Answer 6

A cupcake is a Fine Cake--a Muffin is a courser cake in texture.. A Cupcake takes alot more sugar and oil, whether butter, oil, or shortening! Both are great! If you are watching your weight, opt for the Muffin!

Answer 7

Well, I have yet to see a muffin recipe with yeast, so I would say the difference is thet muffins are usually denser and less sweet-but not always. Also, you seldom see cupcakes with actual pieces of fruit or berries in them-just the flavor.

Answer 8

You've seen PICTURES of cupcakes and muffins...have you ever had them?

A cupcake is just a tiny cake - like any other cake you might have, usually frosted. A muffin is usually more dense and hearty, larger, with a puffier top. If you try them you'll see recognize the difference right away.

Answer 9

Yes, there is a difference.

A cup cake is essentially a small cake, like what you had at a birthday party years ago. It can taste like vanilla, or chocolate, have sugary icing and sprinkles on top.

A muffin on the otherhand, is usually made with rolled oats, bran, or corn meal. Dried fruit and nuts are generally added in to make it taste better. Muffins usually don't taste like vanilla, or chocolate.

Answer 10

Cupcake is more of a sugary dessert, with frosting on top.

Muffins are usually eaten for breakfast, sometimes made with fruit.