Facts for Kids

The first written recipe that looks like a cupcake appears in 1796 in a book by Amelia Simmons. Later, the word “cupcake” shows up in a cookbook in 1828. Back then, people baked small cakes in individual cups, and they also measured ingredients by cups.

Because bakers used cups to measure ingredients and to bake the cakes, the name “cupcake” made sense. There was also a simple rule people used: the “1-2-3-4” cake—one cup butter, two cups sugar, three cups flour, four eggs—so it was easy to remember. Cupcakes grew popular because they are quick and simple to make.

A cupcake is a small cake made for one person. You usually bake it in a little paper or thin metal cup, so it keeps a round shape like a tiny teacup. Because they are small, cupcakes bake quickly and are easy to share at parties or for snacks.

Cupcakes often wear frosting or icing on top, and people decorate them with sprinkles, fruit, or candy. In some places, people also call them a fairy cake (in Britain) or a bun (in Ireland). They are perfect when you want a single sweet treat instead of a big slice.

Long ago, people baked cupcakes in heavy pottery cups or small dishes called ramekins. Today most bakers use a muffin tin—a metal pan with six or twelve round cups. A common cupcake cup is about 3 inches across and holds about 4 ounces of batter. Pans also come in mini and jumbo sizes and in different shapes.

Cupcake liners are thin paper cups that fit inside the pan. They make it easier to lift cupcakes out, keep them moist, and keep hands clean. Liners can be foil or reusable silicone, and some large paper liners stand up on their own. Bakers sometimes stack liners to make them stronger.

Cupcakes are perfect for celebrations because you can decorate them to match a theme, like unicorns, mermaids, or winter holidays. Teachers long ago used decorated cupcakes to help students learn: in 1908, chemist Ida Freund made a set of cupcakes to show the periodic table, which helped students remember elements in a fun way.

To make party baking easier, cupcake kits come with themed paper cases, toppers, and sometimes sprinkles or simple ingredients. The company Meri Meri brought popular kits to stores around 2008, so now you can find kits for princesses, pirates, dinosaurs, or classroom projects at many kitchen and party shops.

In the early 2000s, specialty cupcake shops became very popular in the United States because people liked the small, pretty treats and the warm, nostalgic feeling they gave. One famous place is Magnolia Bakery in New York City; it became more widely known after it appeared on TV, and that helped people everywhere discover cupcake shops.

Cupcakes also sell in grocery stores, especially during holidays when you might see reindeer or snowman designs. You like cupcakes because they come in many flavors, fit in your hand, and let you be creative with frosting and toppings—what theme would you pick for your own cupcake?

Most cupcakes start with four basic ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. These give the cake its soft texture and flavor. You can take any regular layer cake recipe and spoon the batter into small cups to make cupcakes instead of one big cake.

Because cupcakes are small, you can mix in extras like chocolate chips, berries, or a few chopped nuts. They bake faster than large cakes, so you watch them closely. After baking, you can top them with frosting, pipe decorations, or fill the centers with jam or cream using a spoon, a small knife, a pastry bag, or a special filling tool.

Cupcone is a fun twist: it is a cupcake baked inside an edible ice cream cone, so you can hold the cone and eat the cake without a paper liner. Another quick idea is the mug cake, a small cake you mix and cook in a mug in just a few minutes—good when you want a single treat fast. A cake in a jar is baked in a glass jar and looks cute on a shelf or at a party.

Some cupcakes change shape or turn into treats like cake pops, which are round cake balls dipped in chocolate on a stick. A butterfly cake cuts the top to make little wings and fills the middle with cream. Bakers also make bigger, fancy or filled cupcakes called gourmet cupcakes, and they sometimes arrange many cupcakes to make pictures like a giant flower you can share.