Cupcakes are small, individual-sized cakes that can be decorated and served for special occasions. They can be topped with a variety of frostings, candies, and other decorations. These treats are a favorite among children and adults alike, especially for desserts at parties or as a snack. There are a wide variety of cupcakes available, including gluten-free options. Many popular cupcake recipes use a basic cake batter and differ in the ingredients used to give them flavor, texture, and color.<\/p>\n
In the United States, cupcakes are typically baked in muffin tins. These pans have six or twelve depressions or “cups” that can be filled and baked as one batch. The individual cups also make it easy to remove the cupcakes from the tin after baking. The most common pans are made of metal, but some have a non-stick surface and can be found in a range of sizes, from miniature to jumbo. Some bakers prefer to line the tins with paper cupcake liners to facilitate removal of the finished product and to keep the dough moist.<\/p>\n
The first known recipe for a cupcake was written in 1828 in a book of receipts by E. Leslie. The name derived from the fact that the recipe’s ingredients were measured by volume using standard-sized measuring cups, rather than being weighed. Prior to the adoption of volume measurements in America, the term “cup cake” referred to any type of small cake baked in a tin, whether it was a layer cake, bundt cake, or a loaf cake.<\/p>\n
Muffins and cupcakes are similar in that they both rise through the use of baking soda or baking powder instead of yeast. However, muffins are usually savory and less sweet than cupcakes, as well as being denser than cupcakes. Bakers often add mix-in ingredients to the batter such as fruit, nuts, oats, or chocolate chips to create different flavors and textures. They are commonly eaten as a breakfast food or as an accompaniment to a meal, and may include a topping such as a glaze or crumb topping.<\/p>\n