Cup cake or Muffin

[ivykaty44]

What is the difference between a Muffin & a Cup cake?

When I was younger - think 1970s cup cakes were called fairy cakes and sometimes had sultanas but came naked and were cooked at home in cases, how is this different from a muffin?

Cup cakes came in a pleated, silvery case, were always chocolate & had a thick layer of choc on top. Haven't seen them for years.

I think the Americans misappropriated the name because they didn't like the term fairy cakes.

A muffin is a big, fat squidgy affair that is twice the size of a cupcake. A cupcake is smaller, daintier and often iced or topped in some way (can be split to make butterfly cakes) and tends to be lighter.

Muffin mix is also different in texture, you leave a little white flour/clumpiness when mixing, so it gives the muffiny texture. Cup cake mix is blended smooth.