“What’s the difference between a muffin and a cupcake?”
As I stammered and stalled for time my seven year old piped up; “I know! muffins are more muffiney and cupcakes are more cakey!”
“Um yes” I replied as his sister’s eyes just about rolled out of her head.
“But Mum, what is the real difference?” she asked.
“Well… er… a muffin is denser, more like bread, and a cupcake is lighter and fluffier, more like cake.” I said.
“See! I was right!” exclaimed Morgan.
“Yeah… well.. who cares.” retorted his sister suddenly totally uninterested “They all taste good.”
Ah yes, we have such deep and meaningful conversations at our house.
And now you all really want a muffin don’t you? Or is that just me?
Here’s a whole heap of great, family friendly, muffin recipes to tempt you into the kitchen.
Sweet Muffin Recipes.
Apple Streusel Muffins made with our Homemade Muffin Mix.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins from Mama Miss
Choc Banana Muffins (gluten dairy and nut free) from Planning with Kids.
Banana Weetbix Muffins from The Organised Housewife.
Chocolate and Raspberry Muffins (using Stevia instead of sugar) from Planning With Kids
Fruit Oat Breakfast Muffins (made with gluten free home-made oat flour)
Egg Free Muffins from The Organised Housewife.
Healthy Banana Date and Coconut Muffins (dairy free) from Veggie Mama
Maple Cinnamon Muffins from Octavia and Vicky
Savoury Muffin Recipes.
Bacon and Egg Muffins from Childhood101
Ham and Corn Muffins from The Organised Housewife.
Easy Pizza Muffins from Inspired by Familia
Cheddar Cheese and Olive Oil Savoury Muffins from Averie Cooks
Ham Cheese and Spinach Muffins from Learn With Play At Home
Mac and Cheese Muffins from Inspired by Familia
Easy Cheesy Chicken Muffins from Kids Activities Blog
Would you like to weigh in on the debate?
What’s the difference between a muffin and a cupcake?
I love the sound of the Lemon and Zucchini Muffins, they sound so delicious!.:)
Thanks for including some of my recipes Kate! What a great wrap up!
Nic
Hmm, I think to me a cupcake has more sugar and is more likely to have icing, versus a muffin suggests something more wholesome (whether or not it really is healthier). I renamed my pumpkin muffins as cupcakes for this reason, thinking it would sound more appealing to my kids, and it may have worked to get them to try that first bite. Can’t wait to try these recipes!
I always think of cupcakes as sweeter too!
I’m with Tammy – a cupcake has to have icing whereas a muffin is meant to be healthier and without icing ( although I’m not sure how healthy my favourite raspberry and White chocolate muffins are???!
I’ll take either, as long as someone else bakes them ;)
Thanks for including our recipe!
Oh I agree! Cupcakes are dessert (icing!) and muffins are a snack. Will have to adapt some of these for Mr Smaggle – he’s a coeliac but he LOVES muffind!
Is it hard to convert a recipe to be gluten free??
There are a few gluten free recipes on the list, and we have close friends with a gluten intolerant child so would love to bake more gluten free, but I always chicken out and buy a packet mix, which may be gluten free but it’s full of all kinds of other bad stuff! LOL
Kate I just printed out your muffin mix recipe so that I am ready to go tomorrow and the 2nd ingredient says wholemeal flour – is that plain or SR?
Thanks for the baking inspiration so many to try but for some reason my kiddos just wont eat savoury muffins
Cheers
Plain wholemeal flour… I didn’t know you could get a self raising version!
My kids are not fans of savoury muffins either… mores the pity!
Well I got around to making up some muffin mix this afternoon but then things happened and I didn’t get around to the actual baking of the muffins. So as the kids were finishing up dinner I was at the bench whipping up a batch of apple streusel muffins. So easy and quick but best of all so, so yummy. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe – its a gem!