Cupcake vs Muffin: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Muffins are higher in protein at 4.5 g compared to cupcakes' 2.8 g. Cupcakes have fewer calories at 352 compared to muffins' 375.

Cupcakes and muffins are popular baked goods, often enjoyed as snacks or desserts. While they may seem similar, their nutritional content can vary significantly.

What Is the Difference Between Cupcake and Muffin?

A cupcake is a small cake designed to serve one person, typically frosted and sweetened. It often contains a higher sugar content and is richer in flavor. A muffin is a baked good that is less sweet than a cupcake and has a denser texture. Muffins can be savory or sweet and often include fruits or nuts.

Cupcake vs Muffin: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional values of cupcakes and muffins.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Cupcake (frosted)	Blueberry muffin
Calories	352 kcal	375 kcal
Protein	2.8 g	4.5 g
Carbs	53.6 g	53 g
Sugar	39.5 g	31.5 g
Fat	14.8 g	16.1 g
Fiber	1 g	1.1 g
Sodium	304 mg	336 mg

Which Is Better, Cupcake or Muffin?

For weight loss: Cupcakes have fewer calories at 352, while muffins contain 375 calories.

For muscle and protein: Muffins provide more protein at 4.5 g, compared to cupcakes' 2.8 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Cupcakes have slightly more carbs at 53.6 g, while muffins have 53 g. In terms of sugar, cupcakes contain 39.5 g, while muffins have 31.5 g.

How to Track Cupcake and Muffin Accurately

Portion sizes and macro content can often be misjudged, leading to unintentional overconsumption. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use only, not intended as medical advice. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Muffins have more protein at 4.5 g, while cupcakes contain 2.8 g.

Which has fewer calories?

Cupcakes have fewer calories at 352, compared to muffins' 375.

What is the sugar content in cupcakes?

Cupcakes contain 39.5 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the fat content in muffins?

Muffins have a fat content of 16.1 g per 100 g.

How much fiber is in cupcakes?

Cupcakes contain 1 g of fiber per 100 g.

What is the sodium level in muffins?

Muffins have a sodium level of 336 mg per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Cupcakes have 352 calories per 100 g.
• Muffins contain 375 calories per 100 g.
• Cupcakes provide 2.8 g of protein.
• Muffins offer 4.5 g of protein.
• Cupcakes have 39.5 g of sugar.
• Muffins contain 31.5 g of sugar.