Cupcake is a small, individual-sized cake, typically baked in a paper or aluminum cup and topped with frosting and various decorations. The earliest recorded recipe for what we now recognize as cupcakes appeared in Amelia Simmons’ 1796 cookbook called “American Cookery”, where she described her invention as “a light cake to bake in small cups”.
Cupcakes gained popularity in the 19th century as they were convenient and practical. They baked much faster than larger cakes, an essential factor in times when baking ovens were not as reliable as they are today. Over time, cupcakes evolved from simple, unadorned cakes into the frosted, creatively decorated treats we know today.
Do not confuse cupcakes with Russian muffins which sometimes look similar but they are denser, loaf-shaped cakes, often made with dried fruits, nuts, and sometimes spices inside.
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