A cupcake is a small, round cake that comes in a variety of colors and flavors and is usually topped with frosting and other decorations. The cake can also have a special filling inside such as fruit, jam, or chocolate. The cupcake is typically baked in a small pan so that it can be eaten in one sitting. Many people enjoy eating a cupcake with a cup of hot coffee or tea. The cupcake is often a dessert that can be bought at a bakery or grocery store.

The cupcake experienced a boom in popularity in the 2000s and early 2010s, perhaps helped along by appearances on popular TV shows such as “Sex and the City” and by cupcake-centric shops that opened around the world. In fact, the popularity of the cupcake made the muffin seem almost passé, but the less-flashy breakfast treat didn’t fade away completely.

Cupcakes are often a sweet and decadent pastry that is served with coffee or tea. A common type of cupcake is a chocolate or vanilla cake, both of which can be frosted with colorful decorations such as rainbow sprinkles or tiny candy pieces. There are also specialty cupcakes, such as red velvet or carrot, that are topped with a layer of cream cheese frosting. Other speciality cupcakes include a butterfly cake, which has a center hole that is filled with icing or other filling, and a confetti style cupcake that is covered in little bits of colorful candy.

One of the most important differences between a cupcake and a muffin is that cupcakes have frosting, while muffins don’t. Muffins may sometimes use a sweet glaze as frosting, but they don’t have the same fluffy buttercream frosting that cupcakes do. Another difference is that a cupcake is usually much larger than a typical muffin. This is because large cakes are harder to bake evenly than cupcakes, which are smaller and therefore have a higher heat tolerance.

Another way to tell a cupcake from a muffin is by their batter viscosity. A fluid batter will create a flat top, while a thicker batter will produce a dome-like topping. The consistency of a cupcake’s batter is crucial, as it affects how the cupcake bakes and how its frosting will look.

A cupcake is also a term used to describe a young woman who seeks favor with powerful men and is eager to please them. This type of girl will fawn over the men she admires, trying to get their attention and making them feel like she is their special lady. While some people think of this behavior as admirable, others find it deplorable. The cupcake is also a term used by heterosexual men to ridicule gay men for their effeminate characteristics. Heterosexuals who use this term are often unaware of the offensive nature of the term, which can be hurtful to the LGBTQ community.