Cupcakes, muffins or madeleines? (2024)

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MADELEINES MUFFINS CUPCAKES FAQs

Cupcakes, muffins or madeleines? (1)

These terms are so new that we still confuse them, but a pastry cook knows well that each of these cakes need different ingredients and preparation.

Cupcakes are individual cakes; they are called like that because in United States the cup is a unit of measure in the kitchen and, by the way, they used it as a mould to bake the cake. The most important thing in a cupcake is that, because it is commonly baked for parties and special events, it must be decorated in a festive way. It is usual to make very visual decorations with frostings, icings (of butter cream, cheese cream…) and colourful sugar fondant. All these ingredients have captivated many people for the large creative possibilities that they offer.

Muffins are for Spanish the most similar thing to their common madeleines, but muffins come along with add-ins (dried fruit, fresh fruit, aromas, chocolate).

Cupcakes, muffins or madeleines? (3)

The muffins can be sweet or salty and their moulds and bigger than madeleine’s.

In this sheet we highlight the main differences between the three pastries:

MADELEINES

  • They are sweeter and fattier than muffins, but less sweeter and fattier than cupcakes.
  • Bear no decoration.
  • There are no salty versions.
  • They are always made with oil (normally sunflower oil).
  • The dough has no add-ins.
  • Some of the ingredients need to be beated a few minutes in order to give air to the dough, and then this must settle in the fridge.
  • They are baked in paper moulds (square, rectangle or round).

MUFFINS

  • They are less sweet and less fatty than madeleines and cupcakes.
  • Bear no decoration.
  • They can be sweet or salty.
  • They are made with melted butter or vegetal oil.
  • The doughs have all kind of add-ins.
  • They are made on the quick-method: the dry ingredients are blend on one side, liquids on another side and then they are blend altogether briefly just the time to hidrate the dry ingredients.
  • The dough is then baked immediately.
  • They are baked in special muffin plates. Formerly, they were not baked in paper moulds but you can find them this way nowadays, unless you want them in a crust.

CUPCAKES

  • They are sweeter and fattier than muffins and madeleines.
  • There are no salty versions.
  • They can be made with vegetal oil, melted butter, or tempered butter.
  • The doughs can have add-ins.
  • They always bear decoration.
  • There are several blending methods depending on the type of cake. However the most common is the creaming-method where temperate butter is beated with the sugar first and the rest of ingredients later.
  • The dough is baked immediately in moulds, that can be colourful and printed to make it more festive.

Source: DeNikatessen

Cupcakes, muffins or madeleines? (4)

This baking moulds are also suitable for transport and home delivery.

No matter whether you offer cupcakes, muffins, madeleines, plum cakes or panettone, in the sweetest section of your business, we offer you a wide range of containers and moulds for baking and show them off.

Cupcakes, muffins or madeleines? (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between muffins and madeleines? ›

Muffins are for Spanish the most similar thing to their common madeleines, but muffins come along with add-ins (dried fruit, fresh fruit, aromas, chocolate). The muffins can be sweet or salty and their moulds and bigger than madeleine's.

What is the main difference between cupcakes and muffins? ›

Muffins have a thick batter that gives them a bread-like texture. They are either sweet or savory and have no frosting or icing. On the other hand, cupcakes have a light and fluffy texture. they are sweet and always have frosting or icing on top.

What are the similarities between muffins and cupcakes? ›

Cupcakes and muffins share similarities in their base ingredients of flour, sugar, and fat, but in many cases the commonalities end there. My husband's moniker "sugar muffin" assumes all cupcakes are sweeter than muffins. This is true — cupcakes have more sugar and fat (oil, butter, or dairy).

Are cupcakes or muffins healthier? ›

Cupcake recipes generally contain much higher levels of sugar and fat. This makes cupcakes sweeter, and juicier with finer crumbs. Muffins usually have fruit, nuts, and other ingredients mixed into the batter to compensate. Because of this, muffins are usually considered healthier than cupcakes.

What is the difference between cake and Madeleine? ›

Madeleines are very small sponge cakes with a distinctive shell-like shape acquired from being baked in pans with shell-shaped depressions. Madeleine-style cookies are popular in a number of culinary traditions. A génoise sponge cake batter is used. The flavour is similar to, but somewhat lighter than, sponge cake.

What are the 2 main types of muffins? ›

There are two types of muffins: bread-like and cake-like. Each type has its own technique for mixing the batter. Less sugar and butter makes a bread-like muffin. A higher sugar and butter content makes a cake-like muffin.

What makes a muffin a muffin? ›

A muffin is an individually portioned baked product; however, the term can refer to one of two distinct items: a part-raised flatbread (like a crumpet) that is baked and then cooked on a griddle (typically unsweetened), or a (often sweetened) quickbread that is chemically leavened and then baked in a mold.

Is a muffin and cupcake pan the same? ›

If you're wondering if a cupcake pan is the same as a muffin pan, the answer is yes! Though generally called muffin pans, they can be used to bake cupcakes, muffins and even savory items, like egg cups.

What is cupcake slang for? ›

a sexually attractive young woman. a beloved girl or woman.

Why are muffins called muffins? ›

The word muffin is thought to come from the Low German muffen, meaning "little cakes". The Oxford English Dictionary also suggests a possible link to Old French moflet, a type of bread. Originally it meant "any of various kinds of bread or cake".

Why were cupcakes called cupcakes? ›

Likewise, the name “cupcake” comes from how the recipe was measured: 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, and 4 eggs. Early cupcakes were baked in teacups or ramekins (small clay pots) before the invention of the multi-cup pans we use today. Hence, a cup of cake!

What food is similar to cupcakes? ›

American muffins are similar to cupcakes in size and cooking methods, and the English muffin is a type of yeast-leavened bread. Muffins may also classify as cakes with their same sweet interior and fluffy yeast exterior.

What is more tasty muffins or cupcakes? ›

Another important difference between a cupcake and a muffin is that cupcakes tend to have more sugar and so they're a lot sweeter than muffins. They also tend to be decorated with a variety of delicious frostings. Muffins, on the other hand, can come with a range of fillings like jam, chocolate, nuts or fruits.

Why do people love muffins? ›

Muffins are the perfect portion. Small but perfectly formed, the muffin is a cake that is OK to eat whole. It's easy for consumers to see what they're getting nutritionally in a single serving, and to quickly factor into their daily allowances.

Is a cupcake without frosting a muffin? ›

Cupcake recipes generally have more sugar and fat (butter, oil, or dairy) than muffins and may include ingredients like whipped eggs or even mayo for texture. And yes, cupcakes almost always include frosting. Muffins, on the other hand, are typically mixed with the muffin method no matter their flavor.

What makes madeleines so special? ›

They're a delicate little butter cake that most people refer to as cookies. However you categorize them, madeleines are known for their beautiful and distinct scalloped shell shape and need nothing more than a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar on top.

What are madeleines similar to? ›

They are delicious, soft, and fluffy, just like a pound cake. The Madeleine is made with the same ingredients as pound cakes, but they are not the same thing. Instead, the Madeleine is cooked in small molds, generally shell-shaped.

What's the difference between muffins and Magdalenas? ›

What's the difference between a magdalena and a muffin? Both have a similar shape and essentially the same ingredients though in different proportions. Muffins, in general, have more butter and less baking powder; the batter for the magdalenas is beaten more so the magdalenas tend to be more spongy and fluffy.

How are you supposed to eat madeleines? ›

The world-renowned pastry chef shared this intriguing photo claimimg THIS is actually the way madeleines are supposed to be served — upside down . . . or right side up? Dominique said they're supposed to be "hump side up. The shell side is the base and the little puff is the 'pearl.

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