What makes "a cake" a cake?

[her209]

Is it the shape? The frosting? The ingredients? The way its baked?

Muffins are baked, have frosting, made with the same ingredients, but its considered a muffin.

 

[rcpratt]

Size, moistness, frosting.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Its superiority to pie.

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

muffin has definitely something to do with the shape. the term "muffin top" was coined for a reason.

 

[her209]

muffin has definitely something to do with the shape. the term "muffin top" was coined for a reason.

A cake has a top too.

 

[preslove]

Is it the shape? The frosting? The ingredients? The way its baked?

Muffins are baked, have frosting, made with the same ingredients, but its considered a muffin.

A muffin with frosting is a CUPCAKE, YOU INGRATE!





sorry, but errors in pastry nomenclature make me very angry...

 

[highland145]

Size, moistness, frosting.

That's pie.:sneaky:

 

[her209]

A muffin with frosting is a CUPCAKE, YOU INGRATE!

sorry, but errors in pastry nomenclature make me very angry...

Ooops... you're right.

 

[rcpratt]

That's pie.:sneaky:

I didn't define what they were, simply the variables.

 

[Kirby]

cake doesn't need icing, ie pound cake

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

A cake has a top too.

thats not the "muffin top" i'm talking about.

 

[bfdd]

Cake sucks, pie is the win. Pie Rebellion for life.

 

[TraumaRN]

Alot of it comes down to the batter as well. Most if not all cakes, cupcakes and muffins are 'quick' bread. IE use chemicals leaveners(ie cream of tartar, baking soda/baking powder)

Breaking down further, muffins generally are not mixed very much, so they have bigger and more irregular shaped gas bubbles, whereas cake is usually creamed and mixed alot resulting in smaller more equal shaped gas bubbles.

To simplify further, if you cross section a muffin it should have all sorts irregular holes, whereas if you cross section a cake it should be relatively small holes and very uniform.

Fun fact you probably didn't know: Pancakes and waffles are technically muffins.

If you are really interested about it, watch the Alton Brown Good Eats episode on Muffins, and then watch his episode on making a pound cake. Or you can read his book on baking too, breaks it down even further.

Oh and cupcakes get frosting, muffins get a glaze.

 

[highland145]

I didn't define what they were, simply the variables.

I was referring to "the" pie.

 

[KeithTalent]

Just have a pake, so you get the best of both worlds:

KT

 

[Drako]

Size, moistness, frosting.

I never put frosting on my meat cake. Frosting is not a prerequisite.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Just have a pake, so you get the best of both worlds:

KT

That looks frighteningly good.

 

[zinfamous]

cake has cake in it.

it is also inferior to pie. That is one easy way to distinguish cake.

 

[highland145]

That looks frighteningly good.

This.

 

[seepy83]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o-u4IwXkbE

 

[bfdd]

Just have a pake, so you get the best of both worlds:

KT

blaspheme!

 

[CPA]

A muffin with frosting is a CUPCAKE, YOU INGRATE!





sorry, but errors in pastry nomenclature make me very angry...

Post of the Day!

lol

 

[CPA]

Alot of it comes down to the batter as well. Most if not all cakes, cupcakes and muffins are 'quick' bread. IE use chemicals leaveners(ie cream of tartar, baking soda/baking powder)

Breaking down further, muffins generally are not mixed very much, so they have bigger and more irregular shaped gas bubbles, whereas cake is usually creamed and mixed alot resulting in smaller more equal shaped gas bubbles.

To simplify further, if you cross section a muffin it should have all sorts irregular holes, whereas if you cross section a cake it should be relatively small holes and very uniform.

Fun fact you probably didn't know: Pancakes and waffles are technically muffins.

If you are really interested about it, watch the Alton Brown Good Eats episode on Muffins, and then watch his episode on making a pound cake. Or you can read his book on baking too, breaks it down even further.

Oh and cupcakes get frosting, muffins get a glaze.

Okay, you have way too much time on your hands. But good post, nonetheless.

 

[preslove]

Just have a pake, so you get the best of both worlds:

KT

Just looking at that makes me want to murder someone

 

[DesiPower]

cake