Recently I've got into the habit of calling cupcakes...cupcakes, without realising that i did used to call them fairy cakes. My mum questioned me yesterday on whether 'cupcake' is the American term for the English 'fairy cake'..& i was unsure. So i searched the net..& found that she was, as always, correct :)
Apparently the term 'cupcake' comes from the fact that before paper cases or muffin tins were available, cupcakes were baked in pottery cups & now any small cake which could fit into a teacup is known as a 'cupcake'.
And, the name 'fairy cake' refers to the size of the cake also, which would apparently be appropriate for a party of faires to share..(how cute!)
However, although I am very much English..im still keen on using the word cupcake.
