what is the difference between muffins and cupcakes?

I know that cupcakes has icing but I am talking about the ingredients. aren't they the same calorie wise?? 

The ratio of flour, sugar and butter. Cupcakes have ratio closer to cakes, muffins closer to bread. That is the theory anyway. Reality commercially produced ones are just tons of fat and sugar so no real difference.

UD

I completely agree with umneydurak.  Cupcakes have more of a spongey texture, while muffins are supposed to be more dense.  But commercially-made products can call it whatever they want and it'll end up being whatever they want haha.

IMO...there is no difference...you put frosting on a muffin and it becomes a cupcake...haha. lick the frosting off your cupcake and magically it has become a muffin.

haha...here's a link for the difference between the two...i have no life.

http://www.cakespy.com/2008/06/cupcakes-vs-mu ffins-epic-battle-and.html

There is a difference, but it involves the method used and not the calorie count.

Cupcakes are just miniature cakes, meaning they are baked from a cake batter.  There are many types of cakes (chiffon, sponge, pound, etc.) and therefore many different types of cupcakes in the world.

Muffins, on the other hand, are miniature quick breads.  Quick breads often have the same ingredients as cakes, but they are put together in a way that is simpler and faster.  In most cake recipes, butter/shortening and sugar must be creamed, eggs (sometimes separated) are added to this mixture, and eventually dry ingredients are incorporated.  In a quick bread, you just throw together all the wet ingredients (eggs, oil, milk etc.) in one bowl, throw together all the dry ingredients in another, pour the former into the latter and mix briefly.

I seem to remember Alton Brown doing an episode of Good Eats on this topic, but don't remember if it was a muffin episode, a cake episode, or something else.

There's no real difference between cupcakes and those towering things Americans call muffins.  They're both cakes..... flour, fat, eggs, sugar, (milk).... at heart.  The fat might be oil in one and butter in the other but they're basically the same thing calorie-wise

An 'English Muffin' is different, of course.

It's mostly spelling..although cupcakes are just that - cake (white, yellow, chocolate) made with bleached flour.  Muffins are traditionally made with other ingredients in addition to a little flour (bran, whole wheat flour, oatmeal, etc.) Unfortunately, there are still lots of calories and fat in "healthy" muffins.  bummer...

Muffins are bald cupcakes.

thanks everyone. based on the link that Chrissy provided, muffins are more dense. 

can anyone help me to estimate the calories in one of these cupcakes?? I am talking about the blackout ones and the brownie cupcakes.

http://www.crumbs.com/cupcakes

Original Post by safina1:

can anyone help me to estimate the calories in one of these cupcakes?? I am talking about the blackout ones and the brownie cupcakes.

http://www.crumbs.com/cupcakes

Honestly no way to tell. Ball park around 600? Have you tried emailing them and asking?

UD

I went to the store and asked but they dont want to tell me ) they said that they don't know. but I think crumb's cupcakes are very rich and dense. maybe 800?? I have tried the blackout and the brownie and I have no idea what I am eating...

Original Post by safina1:

I went to the store and asked but they dont want to tell me ) they said that they don't know. but I think crumb's cupcakes are very rich and dense. maybe 800?? I have tried the blackout and the brownie and I have no idea what I am eating...

With description like this, I wouldn't doubt it: Chocolate cake filled and frosted with chocolate fudge, drizzled with chocolate and topped with our walnut brownie bites and Our richest chocolate cake filled with chocolate buttercream mixed with chocolate ganache, topped with chocolate cream cheese frosting and chocolate crumbs drizzled with chocolate.

Try sending an email, maybe you will get a better reply. Also isn't there a law in New York that restaurants need to post the nutritional information if they have more then certain number of locations?

UD

yes, you are right. but only restaurants that has more than 4 or 5 locations.. I don't remember the exact number. when I said the same thing to the guy at the store, he said" yes, but we have only 3 locations in NY so we are allowed not to post the calories. "

weird.. right? I am pretty sure those people will never open a new location in NY because if people know how many cals in those cupcakes, they will lose their business.

sorry I was wrong. I just googled and got this info. "Under the law any chain with at least 15 outlets nationwide would have to display calorie counts on menu boards, menus or food tags."

Crumbs has 13 stores in NY. 

wait but they have more than 15 stores nationwide. 

I don't understand this.

Law is poorly enforced? You could always contact who ever is in charge of such things.

As for them not posting information of fear of loosing business. Starbucks, Burger Kings, McDonalds, etc etc are still in business..... Most people just do not care.

UD

I agree that muffins are supposed to be moist and more dense. Like bran muffins and fruit bran muffins - that's what I think of when I think of a muffin, whereas with cupcakes I think of little iced cakes.

What does it really matter if it's 600, 800 or 1000 cals?   It's a dense, rich, oversized cake.... end of.   Anyone who is serious about trying to keep their weight down is not going to indulge in massive cakes, muffins, pastries and so forth.  I know how depressed you are about your weight so leave the cakes alone Safina...  it's an indulgence you can't afford.