Where did the cupcake evolve? If you love cupcakes as much as we do – and we believe you do since you’re here reading this with us right now! – you have probably wondered where they came from and who was genius enough to come up with these delicious snack cake goods. Yes, they might look like tiny cakes, but they have a history that is different from the history of cakes.
We are no food historians, but we are here today to talk about the history of cupcakes, from the first cupcake recipe to how they came to be so popular today, among many other things about this delicious sweet treat.
Are you excited to get to know more about the history of cupcakes? Keep on reading!
What is a cupcake?
First things first… What is a cupcake? Cupcakes are also known by different names, such as fairy cakes in the United Kingdom or buns in Ireland.
Cupcakes are basically small cakes designed to be enjoyed as a single serving, although that doesn’t stop many of us from eating wayyy more than one cupcake at a time. There are tons of flavor combinations, recipes, and ways of decorating them, just like cakes. People from different cultures across the world enjoy baking and eating cupcakes on common occasions, either as desserts after a nice meal, or special occasions like birthday parties, graduation ceremonies, and some even-more-special cupcakes might even be prepared for bigger events like bridal showers, baby showers, and even weddings. Move out of the way, wedding cakes, wedding cupcakes are here to stay!
All cake recipes can be made into cupcakes, as long as the ratio of ingredients and baking times are modified to serve cupcakes. Some might be more difficult to modify, such as sponge cakes, but as long as you tweak the recipe enough, they should work. Most cupcakes are baked in pans or molds, lined with wax paper or foil, where the cupcake batter is served into.
The Amazing History of The Cupcake
Cupcakes are courtesy of the United States of America as that is the country they were invented. One might even say it is the best culinary offering ever.
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.
Keep reading because in a couple of paragraphs you’ll get an easy pound cake recipe for free!
Of course, today’s cupcakes are more interesting than a plain yellow cake mix and can have many different ingredients stirred in them to create a wide variety of flavors, such as chocolate chips, fresh fruit or dried fruits, as well as delicious marmalade fillings or sprinkles on top of the frosting. The combinations are pretty much endless.
But even though Amelia Simmons was the first person to talk about cupcakes, even without using the word, there’s no single inventor to these edible wonders. It is hard to trace back 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.
Why are cupcakes so popular?
One of the main reasons cupcakes became extremely popular is because they are very practical to bake. Large cakes take too much to bake than its equivalent volume in cupcakes. It may not sound logical because at the end it is the same volume, however, it happens because cupcakes have a larger surface area than normal large cakes, and the heat reaches the inside of the cupcakes faster.
Another reason for their popularity is because of their dainty appearance: they are so versatile so they can be decorated with many different ingredients in very creative ways. Even though chocolate cupcakes and classic vanilla cupcakes are still two of the most popular flavors, no one would say no to a delicious cream-filled strawberry cupcake with vanilla frosting and sliced mango on top. It’s really hard to make a cupcake that is not a great cupcake!
Cupcakes are very easy to share. Thanks to their small size, they are very easy to transport and bring pretty much anywhere. And what’s more, you can make everyone happy since there’s no need to stick to one single frosting flavor anymore. If anything, it makes everything more exciting since cupcakes allow you to try many different flavors instead of sticking to one cake with one flavor for the entire party.
A big reason why cupcakes are super popular is that they are a very simple way to help you control your weight. What? It’s true! If you are trying to cut back on sugar – but have a soft spot for sweet snacks – then cupcakes are your better option regarding baked goods. Let’s face it: No one buys an entire cake and eats just one slice. You either finish all of it or it goes to waste if you eat one slice every now and then.
Cupcakes are, after all, a small single size cake. What a great idea! Since cupcakes are sold individually, it’s less tempting to continue eating more and more. Not only that, but you can even split the cupcake in half and eat them at different times of the day, keeping your sweet tooth satisfied while watching your waistline.
Of course, eating cupcakes every day will still add some calories to your diet, but as an occasional treat, it won’t do much harm. Especially if you choose a healthier option, like sugar-free cupcakes. That way you’ll get to indulge in a delicious treat without feeling guilty after eating it.
Everyone loves cupcakes! That’s a fact. That’s exactly why they make amazing presents. Whether you know someone well enough to know exactly what they like for birthday presents or not, there’s no way to go wrong with a couple of cupcakes. The best part is that they make great gifts for any occasion! Besides, cupcakes are so convenient: you can bake them yourself, buy them from a local bakery, or have them delivered. Why give something that the person won’t get to use because it’s not up to their taste, or that will take up too much space at home? Better grab some delicious cupcakes and put on a nice ribbon on them instead.
Cupcake variants
As do all the greatest things in life, cupcakes come in many different shapes and flavors. Here is a list of cupcake variants that you’ve probably seen at some point… and, if you haven’t, you’ll probably want to try. Cupcakes are like Pokémon – gotta catch (eat) ’em all!
- Cake in a mug, also known as mug cake, is a very simple recipe that gained popularity thanks to the internet. For this kind of cupcake, you’ll need a mug as a “cooking vessel” and a microwave oven. The magic behind this recipe is that both the preparation and baking times take less than 5-10 minutes total before it’s ready to be eaten.
- A cake in a jar is a cupcake where a glass jar is used instead of mugs, trays, or liners.
- A butterfly cake, or fairy cake, is a variant of cupcake called like that for its fairy-like wings. The top of the cake is separated and in the middle, a filling such as icing or jam is placed inside. It may include other decorations such as sprinkles and sugar.
- A cake ball is an individual portion of a cupcake coated in chocolate.
- Gourmet cupcakes are filled with gourmet flavors, such as tiramisu or cappuccino. They are also called premium cupcakes.
- Some bakeries have started selling cupcakes placed into a pattern and then frost them to create a bigger design, like a basket of flowers.
- There are endless amounts of flavors to make your cupcakes: red devil’s food, german chocolate cake, red velvet cakes, sprinkles cupcakes, cupcakes filled with cream cheese, Italian cream cake… well, let’s just say, if you can imagine a flavor, you can turn it into a cupcake.
Classic pound cake recipe for cupcakes
Pound cakes are one of the most popular cakes since they are very easy to make and don’t require strange ingredients. In fact, it gets its name from the fact that, originally, it contained a full pound of each ingredient: butter, flour, eggs, and sugar. But in order to translate this popular recipe into cupcakes, and because we’re living in modern times with better access to new types of cupcakes, we’ll change the original recipe.
Whether you are a professional baker or someone who prefers using a box mix to satisfy their cravings, this recipe is easy enough for everyone to follow. This is what you’ll need to make these sweet snack-desserts. This recipe makes 24 cupcakes.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups white sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
Steps:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Beat the butter and cream cheese together until they are one creamy mix; then, add sugar and beat until the mix is fluffy. Add one egg at a time and beat until they are blended. Stir in vanilla extract.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Slowly add to the butter mixture, alternating with sour cream. Blend well. Step 4: Place the batter into the muffin cups, but make sure to only fill up to 2/3.
Step 5: Bake in the oven for 20 to 24 minutes.
Step 6: Decorate as you wish with sprinkles, sugar, icing, even ice cream, why not?
Cupcakes today
Nowadays, the cupcake phenomenon is still going on. Thanks to famous bakeries like Magnolia Bakery, cupcakes and their popularity just keep growing more and more each year. Even with fad foods coming and going every couple of months, cupcakes have been able to keep the throne when it comes to small baked goods. Each year, over 770 million cupcakes are eaten in the USA alone. Wow, isn’t that impressive?!
Aaaaand that is a wrap! We really hope you enjoyed learning about cupcakes with us. We love sharing with you our love for cupcakes and are so glad to have you here! What was your favorite part about the evolution of cupcakes? Leave us a comment down below!
If you are looking for the best cupcake bakeries and franchises, you’ll love taking a look into our list of the best cupcakes around the country.
But if you prefer baking your own cupcakes – that’s alright! We have so many recipes & tips for you. Just pick one and have fun creating your own cupcakes at home.
Aaaaand that is a wrap! We really hope you enjoyed learning about cupcakes with us. We love sharing with you our love for cupcakes and are so glad to have you here!
Fun Facts About Cupcakes
- National Cupcake Day is December 15th!
- 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.
- National Vanilla Cupcake Day is November 10th.
- National Chocolate Cupcake Day is October 18th.
Cupcake Tips & Tricks
- Cupcake tips and guides for decorating, transporting, nutrition facts and more!
- Ever wonder how long cupcakes are good for?
- Use beet juice instead of artificial food coloring to get a natural pink color.
- For light and fluffy cupcakes, combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl then slowly blend them into the wet ingredients.
- Discover how many calories are in a Hostess Cupcake.
- You can store flour up to a year in the freezer.
What was your favorite part about the evolution of cupcakes? Leave us a comment down below!