What's the difference between cupcakes and muffins?

·17 min·1 clip

Greta asks Bon Appétit editor Shilpa Uskokovic to settle the debate: what's the real difference between a cupcake and a muffin?

The episode begins with host Greta Johnsen introducing the show's theme of asking both big and unimportant questions, framing today's topic as the latter. She welcomes guest Shilpa Uskokovic, a senior test kitchen editor at Bon Appétit, known for recipes like deviled eggs and strawberry shortcake roll. Greta poses the core question: what is the difference between a cupcake and a muffin? Shilpa responds with detailed insights, starting with the role of frosting—muffins can have a thin glaze, but thick frosting makes it a cupcake. She highlights inclusions as a key factor, noting muffins often contain chunks like bananas or nuts, while cupcakes are usually plain cake with frosting. The discussion moves to chemical differences, with Shilpa explaining cupcakes typically have more sugar and fat by weight than muffins. Greta shares a personal baking anecdote about measuring flour without a scale, adding a relatable touch. They explore personal preferences, with Shilpa preferring muffins due to cupcakes sticking to paper liners, creating a practical dilemma. The conversation diverges to favorite muffins, with both agreeing on lemon blueberry, and Shilpa mentions wild blueberries have more fiber. Greta recalls a lemon raspberry muffin from a trailer in Fairbanks, Alaska, involving frozen lemonade concentrate. They briefly discuss mini cupcakes and their suitability for kids' parties. A humorous segment involves a hypothetical battle between 100 cupcakes and 100 muffins, with Shilpa predicting muffins would win due to sturdiness. The episode wraps with Shilpa emphasizing that desserts can be whatever you want, and Greta thanks her and credits intern Ruby Sigmund for the battle question. Greta also promotes her newsletter, Greta Gram, and invites listener feedback on topics like the 87% club.

As heard by us

A precise baking question becomes a funny debate about sugar, frosting, scales, and cupcake etiquette.

Cupcakes and muffins make room for a sharper baking debate than the question first suggests, as Greta Johnson and Shilpa sort through fat, sugar, frosting, and the oddly decisive paper liner.

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Why you'd press play

You get a baking debate that slips from sugar and fat into the very serious public question: when cupcake sticks to the liner, do you lick the wrapper?

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