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There is a lot of debate surrounding the topic of cake vs cupcakes. Some people swear by one or the other, while others can’t seem to decide which they like better. But what about the batters themselves? What’s the difference between them? Let’s see if we can settle this debate!
As a whole, cake and cupcake batters don’t differ much in terms of ingredients. Both batters typically contain flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. However, the ratios of these ingredients vary between cake and cupcake batters. Cake batters tend to have more flour and sugar than cupcake batters.
I’ve heard arguments that cupcakes are just mini-cakes while others have said they are their own unique entities. Let’s dive in and actually see the differences in their batter to see how different they really are!
What’s the Difference between Cakes and Cupcakes?
Generally speaking, the major difference between cakes and cupcakes is their size. Cupcakes are smaller than cakes and are baked in cupcake tins or individual aluminum cups. Cakes, on the other hand, are bigger, and they are baked in cake pans which require longer cooking times.
I enjoy baking and eating cupcakes and cakes alike. They do, however, require some differences in their batter and presentation that make them so different from one another.
Here are just a few of those differences:
- Tools required to bake
- Time it takes to bake
- Serving size of the dessert
- Toppings and decorations
*By the way, I consider decorating my cupcakes correctly to be the most important step to presenting a perfect-looking cupcake. I recently came across a Full Set of Cupcake Decorating Kit that has everything you need to decorate your cupcakes! You can check out this set on Amazon!
Tools and time: Cupcakes are baked in tins that hold several tablespoons of batter. You can bake cupcakes in about 15 minutes. Cakes, on the other hand, are baked in large pans and take anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour to bake (depending on the cake).
Serving size: Cupcakes are meant for individual servings while cakes are meant to be shared.
Toppings: Cupcakes can be topped with frosting, fondant, sprinkles, or any other type of decoration. Cakes can also be decorated with frosting and other toppings, but they can also be iced with fondant, covered in marzipan, or even rolled in chocolate.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Stop Cupcake & Muffin Liners From Folding In and Sticking. I recently wrote an article that explains How To Keep The Liners Looking Good When Baking In Them, which you can check out here!
These are just the basics, continue reading to find out the actual differences between cake and cupcake batter!
Is There any Difference Between Cupcake Batter and Cake Batter?
As a general rule, the major difference between cupcake batter and cake batter is the ratios of ingredients. The ingredients are similar, but the amount that you put in each differs between the two confections.
I have baked several cakes and cupcakes before and I often use the same ingredients for both.
They both require sugar, eggs, butter or oil, flour, and baking powder.
The only difference would be in the ratio of ingredients. For example, baking a vanilla cake uses more flour and sugar while cupcakes use roughly more butter and wet ingredients to increase moisture content.
*Side Note: You might also want to know why your cakes can sometimes come out Crumbly or Moist. I dug into the root of the problem and I wrote an article about Preventing and Fixing Crumbly and Moist Cakes, which you can check out here!
Is Cupcake Batter Thicker Than Cake Batter?
Cake and cupcake batter often have the same consistency. Since they are prepared using the same ingredients, it’s natural that they would have a similar consistency. Because they use slightly different measurements of ingredients, the cake batter has a slightly thicker batter depending on the cake.
However, you can choose to make either batter thicker or thinner, depending on your preference.
For example, if you want a thicker cupcake batter, you can add more flour to it. On the other hand, if you want a thinner cake batter, you can add more milk or water to it.
I have found that a thicker batter gives more rise to my cakes compared to a thinner batter.
I like to have my cupcakes with a slightly thinner batter, while I like my cake batter to be a little thicker. This is just my personal preference since I prefer flatter cupcakes for easier icing.
*Side Note: I recently wrote an article about How to Store Frosted Cupcakes to Keep Them Fresh. This article talks about the right way of storing frosted and unfrosted cupcakes in several different storage places. You can check out the full article here!
Is Cake Mix and Cupcake Mix the Same?
As a general rule, cake and cupcake mix are the same. It’s not easy to differentiate between cake mix and cupcake mix. They are both prepared with similar ingredients, such as flour, sugar, eggs, oil, baking powder, and milk or water. Most store cake mixes state that they can be used as cupcake mix.
I have experimented with boxed mix and have always noticed cake mixes stating that they can be used as cupcake mix.
I decided to bake cupcakes from cake mix and didn’t really notice much of a difference.
I personally prefer a more dense cupcake vs a fluffier cake and noticed that my cupcakes were fluffier compared to my other recipes. But this goes as a personal preference for textures!
Can You Use Cake Batter to Make Cupcakes and Vice Versa?
As a whole, you can use cake batter to make cupcakes and use cupcake mix to bake a cake. Cake mix and cupcake batter all have similar ingredients so they can be used to bake either cakes or cupcakes. Because the ratio of ingredients is slightly different, the textures may be a bit different.
So if you have leftover cake batter, you can use it to make some cupcakes. And if you have leftover cupcake batter, you can use it to bake a small cake!
When I have cupcake batter left, I use small porcelain ramekins as personal mini cakes for me and my family!
The same goes for the leftover cake batter. I line my muffin tins with a few liners and bake some cupcakes. Now I have the luxury of decorating the cupcakes in any way I like.
*By the way, I can’t live without my amazing Porcelain Souffle Ramekins since I use them almost every morning for baked oats and personalized desserts! You can check out these ramekins on Amazon!
Which Is Better Cake Or Cupcakes?
You cannot really tell which is better, cake or cupcakes, as it all depends on your personal preferences. If you like small individual servings, then cupcakes might be the better choice for you. But if you prefer to share a bigger cake with friends or family, then cakes would be the better option.
It really doesn’t matter which one you choose, as long as you enjoy it. So if you’re feeling like having a small cake or cupcake today, go ahead and bake one!
However, because of the shorter baking time, most people like to bake cupcakes more often than cakes.
Because cupcakes are usually decorated with frosting and other toppings, they tend to be more fun and festive.
Also, storage is usually easier with cupcakes since they can be individually wrapped and stored in the freezer for a longer period of time. Cakes, on the other hand, take more space. While this may not be a big issue, some people find it difficult to store a big cake.
*Side Note: You might also want to know how to Store Your Cake Batter The Right Way. I wrote an article about Storing Cake Batter The Right Way, which you can check out here!
How to Convert a Cake Into a Cupcake?
Generally speaking, you can convert a cake into a cupcake but using a tall cookie cutter. Although it is not easy to convert a cake into cupcakes, it is possible to cut a few with a cookie cutter to make miniature cupcakes.
It is a much easier decision to just use muffin tins to make cupcakes. However, I have a friend whose daughter only eats cupcakes because they’re “small and pretty”.
She takes a cookie-cutter, presses down on the edge of the cake, and then puts a little whipped cream on top with sprinkles to call it a cupcake!
Which Is Easy to Bake: Cakes or Cupcakes?
As a general rule, cupcakes usually take less time to bake than cakes. This is because cupcakes are smaller in size and they have a higher ratio of surface area to batter volume. Cakes, in general, are fairly easy to bake but the only difference is the cooking time and batter volume.
When it comes to cupcakes, this means that the heat can reach all of the batter at once, resulting in a more evenly baked product.
Cakes, on the other hand, can take longer to bake since they are bigger in size.
So if you’re looking for an easy dessert to bake, cupcakes would be the better option. You can also make them in advance and store them in the freezer until you’re ready to eat them!
Final Thoughts
Cake and cupcake batters are often similar since the ingredients used to prepare them are the same but with slight differences in their ingredient proportions.
People have debated the differences between the actual batter so I hope this article has been helpful in understanding the difference between the two!
