Cupcakes vs Muffins: Which to Choose

As the premier providers of custom and themed cupcake wrappers in Utah, we know all there is to know about cupcakes at Simply Wrappers. One of the most common questions we get? What makes cupcakes better than muffins?!

In reality, both are great. Our cupcake wrappers can easily be used for muffins if the occasion calls for it, and all the same themes can apply for your party or get-together. How do the two products compare in terms of taste, texture and other intangibles? Let’s take a look.

Taste

This will obviously depend a great deal on the person doing the baking and the ingredients used, but there will typically be a distinct flavor gap between the two. The word cupcake is pretty straightforward about what it’s getting at: Miniature pieces of cake.

As such, cupcakes will generally be a bit sweeter than muffins, will usually have sweet frosting, and may even have a sweet filling in the center like some cakes. Muffins, on the other hand, almost never have icing or filling and will often come with more seeds, nuts or fruits involved.

Texture

Both products use the same basic ingredients, but cupcakes are usually lighter than muffins. This is because most cupcakes contain butter creamed with sugar, and a batter beaten for a longer time than a muffin. That fluffy texture is the goal for cupcakes, where muffins are denser. For party-planning purposes, muffins may crumble a bit more easily but cupcakes can also be a tad messier given frosting or filling that come with them.

Other Pros

Cupcakes: If there’s such thing as baking pop culture, cupcakes are at the center. They’re popular on TV and on sites like Instagram or Pinterest, and as a party favor, they’re bright and colorful. For a flashy party where you want to catch some eyes, this is the way to go.

Muffins: Muffins have much more of a healthy reputation, especially those not featuring chocolate. They’re generally a more understated snack, perfect for slightly more serious events or adult-only parties.

Other Cons

Cupcakes: They’re not as healthy as some might hope, and it’s far too easy to eat too many of them in one sitting. They can also be a bit messy, as we noted, and are more prone than muffins to issues with moisture buildup and wrapper peeling.

Muffins: Muffins aren’t exactly the hip thing for the kids’ birthday party. They’re not great for most bright, celebratory situations, and those health benefits we mentioned before are more mirage than reality in some cases.

Luckily, our custom cupcake liners at Simply Wrappers allow you the freedom to use your discretion on which party item is most appropriate – you don’t have to decide one or the other for good, thankfully! To learn more about our options or for any questions, speak to one of our friendly staff members today.