What is the difference between a cupcake and a muffin?

1. 71

   sassyk73posted 14 years ago

   My son thought this would be a good question and would like to see your responses

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   psycheskinnerposted 14 years ago

   Icing.

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      sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks psycheskinner....Icing sounds good too.

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   Emile Rposted 14 years ago

   Muffins are more of a bread, served with a meal. Cupcakes are a dessert.

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      sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Emile R I think I am going to have to make some cupcakes.

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4. 97

   Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

   While they are similar in form, cupcakes don't usually have much nutritional value. They usually have quite a bit of sugar and are sweet desserts.
   
   Muffins  are more like breads and can have some good ingredients like whole grains, bran nuts, fruits, even vegetables.  I have a recipe hub for cranberry bran muffins that is full of good-for-you stuff. Someone else has a pumpkin muffin that has seeds and uses applesauce instead of butter or shortening.

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      sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I am getting hungry now..thanks Rochelle Frank

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5. 68

   relacheposted 14 years ago

   My hub on cupcakes has an entry about this,
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/cupcake-recipes

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      sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Awesome....I will take a peak. Thanks

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6. 66

   Greek Oneposted 14 years ago

   a cupcake is a beautiful looking woman...
   
   a muffin is her !#@%%%$

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      Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ...you ain't seen nuthin' 'til you're down on a muffin..

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      sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Now this is a G-rated forum

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7. 64

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   I'm sure the answers above are more enlightening than mine, but I'd say the difference is that cakes are cakey, and muffins are muffiny.    It doesn't matter what shape they are (although to be a cupcake a cake has to be little and made in in cupcake shape).  My question is, "What makes some things, like banana-nut bread and date-nut bread, "bread"?  In my book, they're cake.    (And where does pound cake fit into the mix? - or should I say, flour or batter?)

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      sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Lol....thank you for your response

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   collegegirlieposted 14 years ago

   Cupcakes are always sweet. Muffins can be savory-ish (corn muffin! zuchini muffin!)

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      sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      but what about chocolate chip muffins?

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9. 74

   liljen23posted 14 years ago

   Well what everyone else said. LOL.. I love cupcakes. They are so sweet and full of flavor.. I love muffins too. It tastes like a flavored bread..

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10. 96

    Cardisaposted 14 years ago

    The difference is in the method and ingredients.
    
    Muffins tend to have less fat and usually consist of fiber (oats, carrots, wheat, cornmeal and other grains). A small amount of oil or butter is used so muffins wont last long unless frozen. Muffins are best served warm and fresh. Muffins also have less sugar. Some muffins can be made without eggs. Using melted butter or oil, you can make muffins by mixing with spoon instead of the usual electric hand mixer.
    
    Cupcakes are cakes made in a muffin tin. Usually made with a lot of butter, sugar and flower. Because of the high content of fat in cupcakes these can be left out of the fridge or freezer for up to three days. Because cupcakes are actually cake mixes, the process is beating butter and sugar first then add eggs and beat a little more then your other ingredients. You can use instant cake mixes for this.
    
    Please forgive the lengthy explanation...can't help it being a cook.

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11. 61

    Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years ago

    
    
    I'm sick to $#@*ing death of people saying that cupcakes are bad for you, but muffins are just fine!
    
    Muffins are as full of crap as any cupcake, why are we made out to be the bad guys?
    
    I hate you people!

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       Cardisaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That remark was totally uncalled for.......

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          sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I know

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12. 0

    Valemanposted 14 years ago

    I would like to know where muffins originate.  I have noticed that in America there are muffins, known as English muffins.  Yet the same muffins in England are called American muffins.  So from where do they actually originate?
    
    I love cupcakes.  They don't all have to have icing on.  I had some recently that had icing, some with chocolate, some with lemon and some with hundreds and thousands on.

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       Rochelle Frankposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Nobody wants to take the blame.

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       livelongerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       From what I understand, they're different things.
       
       What the English call "muffins," we Americans call "English muffins." (the plain bread muffins split in the middle)
       
       What the English call "American muffins," we Americans call "muffins." (the larger rounded-top ones, like cupcakes without the frosting)

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          Valemanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, I had forgotten about the plain bread things.  I haven't had one for years, or even seen them in the shops for a long time.   When I think of muffins, I think of the ones with chocolate chips or blueberries in them.

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    3. 71

       sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I am going to have to bake me some goodies I never thought about where muffins originated. I guess it's good to know about the things we eat

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13. 64

    Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

    I like the looks of cupcakes, because they're cute and festive; but I hate them, especially if there's frosting involved.  Too sweet.  Muffins are too crumby and big for my test (about 400 calories too!)
    
    What I miss (because they're not as easy to find any more, especially in the suburbs) is the old grilled English muffins with lots of grease and butter.  (The kind you can only get a greasy-spoon type place, or maybe a non-chain doughnut shop.)  Those are evil cholesterol-wise, but they were good.       (I don't think the word "muffin" really applies to them, though.  They're just called that.)

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    1. 71

       sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       mmmmm frosting.

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    kmackey32posted 14 years ago

    My 8 yr old said, cupcakes taste better....

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       sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I second that!

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          dutchman1951posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          muffin for me, after about half a cup cake, the icing get a bit much for me.
          
          I wnted to answer this funny, but I am biting my lip here.....lol

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             sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

             

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    Cardisaposted 14 years ago

    My favorite cupcakes are passion fruit......mmmmmmm yummmmmmmmy

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       sassyk73posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Sounds interesting

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          dutchman1951posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I just tried a KIWI and Strawberry Muffin today, downtown. What a great combo. Excelent with Coffee this AM

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    eatlikenooneposted 14 years ago

    Muffins are made via the muffin method, which involves mixing the wet and dry ingredient separately and then combining the two.
    
    Cupcakes are made via the creaming method, which starts with mixing the fat and the sugar together.

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       Rochelle Frankposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That makes sense. Never thought about the difference in methods, but they are distinctly different. Also, it seems that muffins do not have a lot of added sugar, outside of the fruits, fruit juices, etc.

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    TMMasonposted 14 years ago

    One is cake, one is bread.

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       Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Technically, both are bread because both are made of flour.  However, muffins are made with a 'gooey' bread dough while cupcakes are made with a cake batter.

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18. 65

    Billrrrrposted 14 years ago

    Sixty Cents - that's the difference between a muffin and a cupcake.
    
    Cape Cod Bake shops charge 75 cents for a cupcake, while a muffin goes for $1.35

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19. 71

    sassyk73posted 14 years ago

    Mmmm sounds yummy Now I have coffee on my mind.

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    Philpott Onlineposted 14 years ago

    My point exactly. There are just as many calories in a big blueberry muffin as a cupcake. They are both shaped the same and are sweet. When it comes down to it there really is no difference. It kills me when people say they had a muffin or donut for breakfast. Thy might as well had a big piece of cake (cup cake that is).

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