The first mention of the cupcake can be traced as far back as 1796. “a light cake to bake in small cups” was written by Amelia Simmons in American Cookery. The earliest documented use of the term “cupcake” was written in “Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats” in Eliza Leslie’s Receipts cookbook in 1828.

Muffin tins were not widely available before the 19th century. The cakes were often baked in individual pottery cups, ramekins, or molds. This is how they got the name “cupcake”. This name is now given to any small cake that is about the size of a teacup.

Alternative names for “cupcake” include:

British English: fairy cake

Hiberno English: bun

Australian English: fairy cake or patty cake

My main opinion on the differences between muffins and cupcakes, is American cupcakes have frosting or icing and muffins do not. Anyone who thinks it is the other way around is crazy. Although people say this is not true, I myself think it is the primary difference.

A usual cupcake uses the same basic ingredients as normal cakes: butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. Nearly any recipe that can be used for a layer cake can be used to make cupcakes. The cake batter used for cupcakes may be flavored or have other ingredients stirred in, such as raisins, berries, nuts, or chocolate chips.

This concludes my essay on cupcakes.

Special thanks to Wikipedia for their information that I have in this essay.