Muffin Facts For Kids: Learn More About This Sweet Baked Dessert

Who doesn't enjoy fresh-baked muffins for breakfast?

Muffins, which come in various flavors, are popular among children, teenagers, and adults. A muffin is a small bread shaped like a cup.

Often confused with cupcakes, muffins can be savory or sweet in flavor and do not require any frosting. They are best served hot and eaten as snacks or desserts.

While the word 'muffin' is derived from the French term 'moufflet,' meaning soft, the origin of muffin is not French. Muffins are believed to have originated in the United States and the United Kingdom. Continue reading to uncover some fun facts about muffins.

Invention And History Of Muffins

The recipe for English and American muffins was introduced to the world long ago. Muffins may now be found anywhere, from bakeries to coffee shops, and are appreciated worldwide.

• Older variants of the term 'muffin' first appeared in the 18th century. The small cake was known as 'moofin' in 1703. It could have come from the German word 'muffen,' which implies a small cake.
• The term 'muffin' could alternatively be derived from the Old French 'moufflet,' which means 'soft.'
• Yeast-based muffins were first cooked on a griddle in Wales in the 10th or 11th century.
• Recipes for 'quickbreads,' or American muffins, initially appeared in 19th century American cookbooks.
• English muffin was popular in America until the invention of the quickbread muffin.
• Previously, hawkers in England went door to door selling muffins as snack bread.
• The renowned English nursery rhyme 'The Muffin Man' was written around 1820.
• In the 1840s, the British government announced a regulation forbidding muffin men from ringing bells while selling their muffins door to door.
• English muffins were also mentioned in Oscar Wilde's 1895 drama 'The Importance of Being Earnest.'
• In 1880, an English-American baker named Samuel Beth Thomas reintroduced English muffins to the American market under the term 'English muffins.'
• Muffins became immensely popular in England by the 19th century, and a vast number of manufacturers and bakeries sprang up across the country.
• Mush muffins, also known as slipper downs in England, were an American colonial creation that was prepared on a hanging griddle with hominy.
• McDonald's created the Egg McMuffin in 1972, which was an English muffin filled with American cheese, egg, and Canadian bacon.
• The word 'muffin' was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in its new edition in 2011.
• In 2018, McDonald's added muffin tops to their McCafe breakfast menu.
• Muffins are so popular in the United States that four states have designated a state muffin.
• Corn muffin is Massachusetts' official state muffin.
• Minnesota has selected the blueberry muffin as its official state muffin.
• Apple and blueberry muffins are the official state muffins of New York and Washington, respectively.
• Every year on February 20, the United States observes National Muffin Day.

Main Ingredients Of Muffins

Today, there are several recipes that individuals can use to make different kinds of muffins. You can even experiment with your own ingredients and create a new flavor of muffins.

• A basic muffin contains flour, eggs, salt, liquid (usually milk), sugar, butter, flavorings, and baking powder. The baking powder is used as a raising agent.
• The milk gives the muffin an aesthetic brown color.
• The baker can add any flavoring as per their taste. Popular choices are fruits like banana, blueberry, pineapple, and chocolate.
• Since the amount of eggs and sugar is low in comparison to a cake, the muffin batter takes minimal mixing. This is often referred to as the muffin method.
• If you wish to create individual quickbread muffins, divide the muffin mix among individual paper muffin cups. Alternatively, you can place it in a muffin tray.
• Toppings like nuts, chocolate chips, or cinnamon sugar can also be added to the muffins. Sometimes, cheese, spices, and chopped meats are added to the muffin batter to give it a savory taste.
• The color of the muffin from the outside should be golden, whereas it must be light yellow or creamy white on the inside.
• The outer texture of a muffin is usually shiny and slightly rough, while the inside is moist and tender.

Types Of Muffins

Although there are a wide variety of muffins available in the market, muffins are typically categorized into American (quick bread) muffins and English (flatbread) muffins.

• American muffins or quickbreads are characterized by a round base and a rounded top.
• English muffins or flatbreads are small, flat, and round in shape.
• In the United States, English muffins are popular as breakfast snacks. They are commonly roasted and paired with sweet toppings like honey and jam. Savory toppings such as cheese, sausage, bacon, and eggs are also served.
• English muffins are widely used in other recipes as slices of bread. For instance, several sandwiches include egg muffins. Eggs Benedict are also prepared using English Muffins.
• Some muffins are savory, such as cheese muffins and corn muffins, while others are sweet, like blueberry muffins and banana muffins.
• Cupcakes and American muffins are frequently confused. Both are identical in size and cooking method, but cupcakes are topped with American frosting while  American muffins do not require any frosting.
• While American muffins are baked in small tins, English muffins are the first oven-baked and then cooked in a girdle.
• Instead of using flour, several bakers use cornmeal and bran in English muffins.
• Blueberry muffin is the official state muffin of two states in the United States. These are Minnesota and Washington.
• Blueberry muffin is the most popular muffin in the United States, followed by other common muffins like zucchini, chocolate, and banana.

Nutritional Value Of Muffins

If you feel guilty after having a delicious muffin, you can check its nutritional value. They can according to change cooking methods as well.

• Typically, a basic muffin includes 220 calories with 0.1 oz (3 g) fat, 0.005 oz (160 mg) sodium, 0.03 oz (1 g) fiber, 0.67 oz (19 g) sugar, and 0.1 oz (3 g) protein. A blueberry muffin has 470 calories, mostly carbohydrates, which doesn't make it as healthy.
• It is recommended to eat small-sized, whole-grain muffins with less sugar, liquid plant oil instead of butter, and wholesome foods like nuts, beans, or fresh fruits.
• While 3 in (7.6 cm) homemade muffins will have only 120-160 calories, factory baked muffins include 340-630 calories.