The Difference Between Cupcakes And Muffins Is More Than Just Icing

Sweetness isn't the only divide between cupcakes and muffins

The carrot cake cupcake and the rhubarb and cardamom oat muffin are more intricate, ingredient-rich recipes compared to basic cupcakes and muffins. However, there are still many straightforward recipes for classic chocolate cupcakes and simple blueberry muffins that exhibit similar variations in sugar content. This additional sugar not only enhances the sweetness of the cupcakes but also influences their texture. In this context, sugar serves as a moisture-retaining agent, resulting in a light and airy interior for the cupcake, while the lower-sugar muffin tends to be denser.

In both cases, the sequence in which the batter is mixed is crucial. Cupcake recipes usually begin with creaming the butter and sugar, followed by the addition of eggs, and then incorporating the remaining wet and dry ingredients in stages. This method contributes to the cupcakes' light texture. On the other hand, muffins involve mixing dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another before combining them. This approach gives muffins their characteristic firmness.

As for the frosting: Most people would be equally surprised to see cupcakes without their buttercream topping as they would be to find heavily frosted muffins. Thus, while food science can explain the differences between cupcakes and muffins, the traditional toppings help define each in its own unique category.