A cupcake is simply a small cake baked in a small cup-shaped paper. A muffin is a dome-shaped spongy bread-like cake. If you consider a cupcake a mini cake, then it is safe to say a muffin is a mini bread…a mini, hard, fruity bread.
Before we get into the differences, let’s take a look at the similarities between these two.
Both are baked goods, sharing basic ingredients like flour, sugar, and butter. Both are very tasty, and some people say they can’t possibly pick a favorite. You also don’t need two separate types of baking pans for the two, meaning the same bakeware is required for both muffins and cupcakes.
The difference between a muffin and a cupcake
A lot of people think the difference between a cupcake and a muffin is that a cupcake has icing while a muffin doesn’t. This is one difference, but it is not the difference. Some bakers leave cupcakes unfrosted these days to make them appear “healthier”.
The fundamental difference between a cupcake and a muffin is as basic as the mixing method. For muffins, dry and wet ingredients are mixed separately and combined more slowly, but this is not common practice for cupcakes.
Another major difference is how long the mixing takes. Muffin batter is thicker than cupcake batter because it is only beaten lightly. For cupcakes, beating the batter is one of the most important steps, and you do not stop until the batter is fluffy and puffy.
Here are a few of the less significant differences.
Cupcakes vs Muffins
Neither a cupcake nor a muffin is considered a healthy food. But if we were to award points on which of the two is more healthy, muffins would be taking the crown. For the most part, a muffin uses less sugar and butter in its preparation; the more obvious reason is that muffins usually come naked and don’t have any icing on top.
Cupcakes usually do not have extra ingredients. However, a good muffin will contain fruits, flavored chips, nuts…or all of the above.
The temperature for baking cupcakes is steady and kept standard throughout the baking process, whereas it is initially high and then lowered for muffins. This produces the domeshaped crust on the muffin.
If you’re thinking of which of the two goes best for whichever occasion, consider the fact that muffins are more like bread, and cupcakes are more like cake.
While a muffin can pass for a light breakfast, cupcakes are usually reserved for desserts because they are sweet and sugary. In contrast, muffins can be modified to accommodate vegetables and nuts. This still doesn’t make muffins an ideal food for a healthy diet though.
Another helpful thing to note is that muffins and hot chocolate make a lovely pair, while cupcakes go better with ice cream or soda.
In conclusion
Whether you prefer a cupcake’s sweetness or a muffin’s heartiness, both treats have unique charms. So, the next time you’re deciding between a muffin or cupcake, consider the occasion and your taste preferences–and indulge in either of the tasty treats!
