What is the Difference Between Muffins and Cupcakes
Cupcakes and muffins look similar, but they are not the same thing. So there. We said Do you trust us? Most likely, you don't. But that's okay because they look alike! However, in reality, cupcakes are cupcakes, and muffins are muffins.
The common belief is that a cupcake is a muffin with extra-delicious but super-sugary frosting. This is not the main difference that cake lovers or bakers would talk about. Instead, muffins and cupcakes are distinguished by their mixing techniques and the ingredients used. Even if they look (almost) identical, when you take a bite, the cake lover in you should be able to spot the difference.
There are quite a few ways to differentiate one from the other. Several of them will be discussed in this blog.
Ingredients Used
Some ingredients are common to muffins and cupcakes, such as eggs (which can be replaced with vegan alternatives), milk, and flour. Like almost every dessert, these three things are always present. In addition, cupcakes have a high sugar content, while muffins have a low sugar content. They are also usually preferred for breakfast.
In muffins, butter can be replaced with healthier or liquid fat such as vegetable oil. More often than not, all-purpose flour is not used in muffins. Instead, they are replaced with oat flour, whole wheat flour, or nut flour. Muffins are also often made with dried fruits and nuts.
Batter and Processing
The main difference is how the batter is mixed and processed. But since they are not known to many, it often goes unnoticed.
The batter is expected to be soft and smooth in cupcakes. Sugar and butter are whipped together to make the batter fluffy. The mixing method is similar to how the cake is mixed - mainly using the chiffon method, where egg whites are added to the batter. The objective is always to ensure that no lumps form during repeated beating of the material.
The batter for muffins is expected to be thicker and thicker. A separate bowl is used for mixing the dry and wet ingredients. The wet material is then dried and slowly poured over the joint. This is done so that gluten does not form.
Texture
Mixing and processing batters differently results in different textures. The cupcakes come out soft and thus easy to cut. There is usually no filling inside the cupcakes as they are very light.
On the other hand, muffins have a relatively firm texture and are dense. When you eat muffins, you can feel that you are chewing bread filled with fruits and nuts. Therefore, muffins are generally considered savory foods.
Storage and Temperature
Cupcakes, like pastries and cakes, are eaten cold. They are usually kept in the refrigerator and last a few days. High temperatures, however, can harm and eventually destroy them.
Muffins don't have any temperature issues. They can be served hot or cold. Storing them is also not difficult.
Topping
Let's talk about the differences most people know about - topping and frosting. Typically, cupcakes are topped with frosting or cream. Cupcakes can be glazed with a variety of flavours. The frosting raises the sugar content of the cupcakes.
Muffins, on the other hand, do not have frosting on top. Instead, they may be sprinkled with sugar or dipped in a thick layer of glaze, but that's about it. The main attraction of a muffin is its filling and nutritious bread-like quality.
Conclusion
Muffins are considered a healthy option for breakfast. They're full of nuts and vegetables and are almost always gluten-free. On the other hand, cupcakes are delicious desserts that have a high sugar content!
If you thought removing the frosting from a cupcake would make it a muffin, you're wrong! It's not like this. Muffins are muffins, and cupcakes are cupcakes.
