Difference Between Muffin and Scone

Introduction

If you have a sweet tooth or if you have even the slightest interest in sweets, you would know about muffins and scones, the absolute desserts that make everything better. In this article, we will discuss the difference between these two baked sweets that taste equally heavenly but are not as similar as one would like to believe. From the origin to the style of making, all things differ in these two sweets. Muffins are the popular desserts and have an unknown origin, but the most popular style of these is the American style. In contrast, the scones are a masterpiece originating from Scotland. This is a popular desert in the commonwealth nations like New Zealand, Canada, USA, etc.

The next major difference between the two bakery wonders is that muffins are generally made from common baking ingredients like baking powder, water, flour, sugar, oil, etc. In a way, this is a dish between a proper cake and white bread. Scones are usually made from oatmeal, wheat, and barley flour with sugar, butter, milk, and eggs with baking powders. Apart from this, they are shaped differently from muffins. These have a flaky texture and are just a bit fluffier than white bread. The muffins have a texture like that of a cake, just a bit with a few bumps and a soft and sweet texture.

Muffins Vs Scones

The major difference between muffins and scones is their texture and shape. The muffins, for once, are shaped like domes from the top but are flat from the bottom. These look and taste like crossbreeds between Bread and cake with the perfect moist and airy texture. These are easy to bite in and fall apart easily. These double in size when baked and usually have a small air bubble texture too, some bakers like to add a few fruit bits in them at times. Scones, unlike muffins, are generally like the crossbreeds between Biscuits and bread and taste like that, too, usually stuffed with fruits like blueberries and strawberries to give them a distinct flavor. The texture, too, is like a flaxy English bread that can be both savory or sweet depending on the stuffing; fruits, and nuts are the common stuffings that are used in scones, making them the perfect snack. Some popular scones are plain, blueberry, strawberry, chocolate, cheese, apricot, raspberry, and cherry.

Difference Between Muffin and Scone in Tabular Form

Parameters	Muffins	Scones
Key leaving agent	In muffins that rise to twice their size when baked the common baking agent in the Baking powder and the baking soda, helps achieve that signature size and texture like a cake bread.	In scones, the key rising agent is baking powder as these need a bit of rise to get the flaky English bread texture that enhances their taste and makes the stuffing more savoury.
Types	These are popular snacks, so naturally, people have been very experimental and created various muffins from plain, blueberry, strawberry, chocolate, cheese, apricot, resin, raspberry, cherry, etc.	There are various types of scones available as the stuffings change people's preference in this particular baked dessert some common types are Plain, blueberry, strawberry, chocolate, cheese, apricot, raspberry, cherry nut and resin.
Nutrition value	The nutritional value of muffins is not great but comparing these two desserts these are more healthy options than the scones as these have a lesser calorie count of about (400-500). This depends on the type of muffin.	The nutrition value of Scones is negligible, these are mostly sugar and flour with little fruits so the calories in these are very high and are mostly unhealthy but acceptable if not consumed daily. These are like guilty pleasure desserts.
Variations	Different variations of muffins have become quite popular among customers due to their distinct looks like flat muffins and round muffins, etc.	Scones have various variations, these are generally divided by their fillings and shape like the scones that are simple and some that are topped with cream. Other times they are filled with filling creme that is made of stuffed nits and fruits.
Equipment used	To make muffins a simple muffin time tray is used, along with this a proper microwave, whisking bowls, etc, are needed to naked the perfect muffins.	To make scones there is no need for special dishes a simple flat baking dish, topped with a baking sheet works well. The microwave is the only other crucial equipment used in their making.

What is a Muffin?

Muffins in simple words, are Small breads that are similar to cakes but not too sweet like cupcakes and are more like sweet, moist bread. These are generally made with nuts and fruits as the stuffing; these are like simpler versions of cakes. The surface of the muffins is bumpy, and the volume of the batter should double during baking to get the perfect soft texture. It should also feel light for its size as a bread and when cut in half, the interior should also be moist and tender with no tunnels with small bits of fruits and nuts. Some of the common varieties of muffins are American muffins that come in a variety of flavors like Plain, blueberry, orange-cranberry, chocolate chip, carrot, lemon poppy-seed, and honey-bran, among others. There are many other options some of them are nut-dominated and more on the chewy side when it comes to texture. The muffins, unlike cakes, are not frosted and, at times, are glazed, but to preserve their light flavous, bakers avoid doing either as people to have them as a light snack that can be paired up with coffee or tea. These incorporate simple ingredients like flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and a dash of salt, though these are similar to the ingredients of the cake and scones the technique of making differs and so does the texture and taste talking about taste these are more sweet tasting then scones in comparison and usually have a calories count of about 400-500, which is lesser than that of the scones but the taste of muffins is delicate and light. The baking technique for muffins is specific. These are made by pouring the batter into a cupped tray, which is a microwave-safe dish. To ensure that the perfect rounded shape form that we easily identify them with does not get ruined.

Easy muffin recipe:

Ingredients needed:

• Two cups of all-purpose flour or Wheat flour
• ¾ cup of white sugar
• Three teaspoons of baking powder
• Half a teaspoon of salt
• One cup of milk
• One egg
• ¼ cup of vegetable oil

The recipe:

• muffin tray with paper cups
• mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, but this time, create a pit in the centre
• In a smaller bowl, beat the eggs with the milk and oil, then pour them into the flour mix.
• Mix all the ingredients with a fork or whisk fast until you end up with a moist, consistent batter, leaving no air bubbles in the batter.
• Pour the batter into the paper cups in the muffin tray, then put the tray in the oven.
• Bake the muffins for 25 minutes at least to ensure they are baked perfectly with a toothpick.

What is a Scone?

It’s well known that the scones first originated in Scotland around the early 16th century. At that time they were made with oats and were labelled as a form of quick bread as wheat was not as widely available as now and was more accessible. with time, as people continued to experiment with different ingredients and recipes, Scones developed into the present loved sweet that it is known for. In today’s era, they’re made with flour instead of oats and are baked in the microwave, not on a griddle as was the case in the past. Scones that are made today have different fillings in them of creme, fruits and nuts that were not a part of ingredients in the past as now these are treated more as a dessert than before and are usually consumed with tea, during snack time. The texture of the scones is quite similar to the English bread, which is flaky and light. Mostly these are sweet and savoury in taste and not very moist but the taste is often enhanced by topping it up with cremes or filling it with different stuffings, though these are a bit on the dry side and are usually a bit buttery on taste. It's their buttery taste and dry texture that makes them a good pair with tea, and so these are preferred snacks.

There are several varieties in scones too, just like these can be both, plain and decorated, and that is topped with different preserves of Devonshire cream. These are made from various fruits and nuts. These are Slightly richer, sweeter and more buttery in taste than a muffin and have more calories than muffins too. These are easy to bake as they do not need a specific baking dish and the ingredients used are also common and easily available like all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, butter, eggs, and milk. Scones are versatile desserts with added ingredients according to the seasons, like special pumpkin-flavoured scones for fall and special coco for winter. 

Easy recipe for Scones:

Ingredients needed:

• Three cups of all-purpose flour
• Five teaspoons of baking powder
• Half a teaspoon of salt
• Half a cup of white sugar
• One egg
• One cup of milk
• ¾ cup of butter

Recipes steps:

• Firstly, grease a baking sheet with butter well.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare it well.
• Grab a bowl and add all the dry ingredients it as sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt, then mix them with the butter well.
• In another bowl, a combination of the egg with the milk beat until consistent, and add them to the dry ingredient mixture.
• Mix everything till perfection.
• After Sprinkling some flour on top of the countertop, drop the mixture onto it and knead it.
• Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a circle with a thickness of half an inch.
• Divide the circle into eight wedges with a knife, then place them all on the baking sheet that you’ve already greased.
• Put the tray in the oven and bake the scones for 15 minutes, till completely baked.

Difference Between Muffin and Scone in Points

• Bakeware: There is different bakeware needed for baking scones and muffins to make sure they have defined shapes, A muffin baking tray with a hole to pour the batter in is required to get the perfectly round shape of the muffin and that flat bottom. Also for scones, as there is no such requirement, they are simply baked on a normal baking tray.
• Frosting: There is no such requirement to put frosting on muffins or scones as both these give a light taste that goes well alone or with tea and coffee to preserve this. Muffins are often glazed, but Scones are usually with creme.
• Basic definition: The muffins are, in simple words, a sweet baked dish that is round on top and is a mage-like cross-breed between bread and cake perfect for light backing. Scones are a mix of cookies and bread, flaky and sweet.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed that scones and muffins are great kitchen wonders that use almost the same ingredients like all-purpose flour, eggs, butter, sugar, etc and taste and feel different. Learning the differences between the two has helped to draw a clear distinction between the two, which will help in avoiding mistakes when attempting to make them. This has also helped in making it easier for one to realise how simple techniques in baking can make wondrous changes and helped in understanding the true varieties that are available in all different desserts and the other food items that go perfectly with muffins and scones. This has also given a clear insight regarding the nutritional value of the baked items, which is not high, the emotional boost these provide makes up for it. 

References

• https://www.bakingkneads.com/scone-vs-muffin/