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Cupcake Facts

24 Fun Cupcake Facts

Cupcakes are delicious little cakes that come in a wide variety of flavors and styles. Here are some fun facts about these popular treats:

  • National Cupcake Day is December 15th!
  • National Vanilla Cupcake Day is November 10th.
  • aaaaand National Chocolate Cupcake Day is October 18th.
  • In Australia the cupcake is known as a ‘patty cake’
  • The Hostess cupcake is the most famous commercial ‘snack cake’.
  • English fairy cakes, also known as butterfly cakes, are cupcakes with the tops cut off and replaced in two pieces like wings.
  • Georgetown Cupcake was the first cupcake-only bakery to open in Washington, D.C.
  • Sprinkles Cupcakes is the first bakery franchise dedicated to cupcakes – and they invented a cupcake ATM!
  • Cupcakes have their own TV show! Cupcake Wars can be found on the Food Network.
  • 16% of weddings serve cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake.
  • The world record holder for largest cupcake weighs 2,594 pounds – that’s over a ton of cupcake!!
  • The record for eating the most cupcakes in the shortest amount of time is 29 cupcakes in 30 seconds. That’s almost a cupcake per second!
  • The world’s largest cupcake weighed over 1,2000 pounds and was achieved by Georgetown Cupcake in 2011.
  • Cupcakes gained more popularity in the early 2000s when Sex and the City featured cupcake shops like Magnolia Bakery.
  • Traditionally, cupcakes were called “1234 cakes” or “number cakes” because it was an easy way to remember portions: one cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three cups of flour, four eggs, one cup of milk, and one spoonful of soda.
  • The first mention of the description of a cupcake can be traced back to 1796 in a recipe written by Amelia Simmons in American Cookery.
  • Until the 1920s, cupcakes were not decorated with frosting. Nowadays you can find frosting in pretty much every flavor.
  • The most popular cupcake flavor is vanilla.
  • According to mynamestats.com, ‘Cupcake’ is ranked as the 97,063rd most popular given name in the United States with an estimated population of 23.
  • About 770,000,000 cupcakes are eaten in the United States every year.
  • Originally, cupcakes were baked in heavy pottery cups, small coffee mugs, individual ramekins, and other small pottery-type dishes.
  • The world’s most expensive cupcake is the Rox Diamond cupcake, created to honor the Glam in the City event in Scotland. It has tiny diamonds and is worth over $150,000!
  • The Food Network UK cupcake dress, inspired by Marie Antoinette, is made from 300 cupcakes, and is worth $1,257!
  • The world’s largest cupcake mosaic measures 1,492 sq ft and was made in South Africa in 2015. It consisted of 33,660 cupcakes and was created to raise funds during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

History of Cupcakes

Cupcakes have been around for centuries, with the first known recipe appearing in an English cookbook in 1796. These little cakes gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century and were often served at intimate gatherings such as tea parties and ladies’ luncheons. Today, cupcakes are a favorite treat for all occasions, from birthday parties to weddings.

The earliest description of a cupcake, or at least what we know nowadays as a cupcake, dates back to 1796, where “a light cake to bake in small cups” was written in a first recipe in American Cookery by Amelia Simmons. As for the earliest mention of the word cupcake itself, the first official use of the phrase was in Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats in 1828 by expert Eliza Leslie in her Receipts cookbook.

Then, by the 19th century, there were two different uses for the term cup cake and cupcake. Before muffin tins were available, cakes were often baked in individual pottery cups, ramekins, or molds, and took their names from the cups they were baked in, so that is the name that was kept and used by the general public. Nowadays, the term “cupcake” is given to any small and round cake that is the size of a teacup. It’s important to note that English fairy cakes, although similar in recipes, tend to be smaller than American cupcakes and rarely topped with elaborate frosting.

Now, there is another kind of “cup cake”, which refers to a cake whose ingredients were measured by volume instead of being weighed and using a standard cup. Those recipes that were measured by volume using a standard-sized cup could sometimes be baked in cups, but most of the time they were baked in tins as layers or loaves. After some years, once the use of volume measurements was more established, these recipes became known as 1234 cakes or quarter cakes. Why? The answer is very simple: because they are made up of four ingredients: one cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three cups of flour, and four eggs. These recipes are slightly less rich and less expensive than the famous pound cake since it uses about half as much butter and eggs compared to the pound cake.

Nobody knows exactly who was the first person to come up with the original recipe as most recipes were created in home kitchens and then passed down through generations. All we know is that we are grateful they exist.

Most Popular Cupcake Recipes

Chocolate cupcakes are a classic favorite, and for good reason! Moist, chocolatey, and perfect with a rich frosting, they’re hard to resist. For something a little different, try adding some peanut butter or mint extract to the batter.

Vanilla cupcakes are light and fluffy, making them the perfect base for a wide variety of frostings and toppings. From classic vanilla buttercream to creative flavor combinations, there’s no limit to what you can do with a vanilla cupcake.

Red velvet cupcakes are perfect for special occasions. Their rich flavor and deep red color make them stand out from the crowd, and they’re always a hit with kids and adults alike. Be sure to use a good quality red food coloring to get the perfect hue.

Carrot cake cupcakes are a delicious and healthy option. Packed with nutrients from the carrots, they’re perfect for an afternoon snack or a post-workout treat. Adding a cream cheese frosting makes them even more irresistible!

Lemon cupcakes are tart, refreshing, and perfect for springtime. Be sure to use fresh lemon juice and zest for the best flavor. Pair them with a light vanilla frosting or a tangy cream cheese frosting.

Pumpkin cupcakes are perfect for fall. Made with real pumpkin puree, they’re moist, flavorful, and perfect with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Add a dash of pumpkin spice to the batter for an extra kick of flavor.

Coconut cupcakes are a delicious tropical treat. Made with real coconut milk and shredded coconut, they’re moist, fluffy, and full of flavor. Top them with a simple buttercream frosting or a coconut cream cheese frosting.

These are just a few of the many popular cupcake recipes out there. With so many delicious options to choose from, it’s no wonder cupcakes are such a popular treat!