Jiffy muffin mixes are popular with my teen, so we have been making the Chocolate, Corn and Buttermilk Biscuit muffin varieties often. Recently my teen asked me what the difference was between cupcakes and muffins.

In the past, when my teenage son had an inquiry like this, we headed to google for the answer.  He is an animal lover, and this has always been faster than searching through the Index and Contents pages of his animal book collection. We have enjoyed looking at all the link options in the past.

Since I joined Twitter over the summer, I have started utilizing the site to get feedback and opinions from other parents with similar interests and situations. 

I instinctly responded to the question my son posed on the difference between cupcakes and muffins by saying the frosting. Next thing I knew, I had posted the question. I asked other Twitter members what they thought set these two delicacies apart, mainly since my son was not satisfied with my reply.

Here is a sampling of the responses to my inquiry on behalf of my teenaged son:

• you can put butter on a muffin, not a cupcake
• a muffin is a quick-bread; a cupcake is a mini cake
• cupcakes are for dessert, muffins are for breakfast
• a muffin is healthier than a cupcake
• muffins have a fruit or nut component, cupcakes have icing
• a muffin puffs over the top, cupcake sits there waiting for icing
• muffins are denser; cupcakes are lighter
• muffins are made with lumpy batter
• muffins have nutrition; cupcakes don't
• cupcakes are made with cake flour
• muffins are in the bread family

This was a nice response to a simple question.  Seems many have an opinion on cupcakes and muffins.  It is good to know that when one has a foodie question they can just tweet it in real time and get instant responses.  I also asked a question in regard to having a lid on or off when simmering stew.  

 I even received two great site links that have the same comparison:

 http://www.englishforums.com/English/CupcakesAndMuffins/ghvm/post.htm

http://www.cakespy.com/2008/06/cupcakes-vs-muffins-epic-battle-and.html

My son turns fourteen in March, thus the decision on what type of cake to get.  He prefers Cold Stone Creamery. 

Bonnie is a freelance writer/editor that has many Autism Family Adventures and writes about Autism Spectrum Disorders.  You can follow Bonnie on twitter.