6 Cakes and Their Cupcake Counterparts

F&W Editors
·2 min read
original-201410-HD-cake-cupcake.jpg
original-201410-HD-cake-cupcake.jpg

In this week's Chefs in Conversation video, Top Chef champion Kristen Kish tackled a big question: cakes or cupcakes? We are of the opinion that both are equally delicious and appropriate for different occasions. Here, six cakes for big celebrations and their cupcake counterparts for everyday eating.

Carrot

Cake: Classic Carrot Cake with Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot cake, that 1970s favorite, gets a moist and not-too-sweet update.

Cupcake: Take 5 Carrot Cupcakes

These terrifically carroty cupcakes are topped with a tangy-sweet cream cheese frosting.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter

Cake: Crunchy Milk Chocolate-Peanut Butter Layer Cake

The genius of this layer cake is its extraordinarily crunchy filling, made with almonds, salted peanuts, creamy peanut butter, chocolate and Rice Krispies.

Cupcake: Double Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Filling

These chocolate cupcakes are filled with a creamy, salty peanut butter mixture, then dipped in a rich, silky chocolate ganache frosting.

Strawberry

Cake: Strawberry Shortcake with Star Anise Sauce

Strawberry shortcake is improved with a trio of ingredients—high-quality white chocolate in the batter, crème fraîche and heavy cream in the icing—which make this all-American dessert especially rich and moist.

Cupcake: Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

The frosting for these cupcakes is made with strawberry jam, so they can be made at any time of year.

Angel Food

Cake: Angel Food Cake with Three-Berry Compote

Light and fluffy angel food cake becomes more decadent as it soaks up the sweet juices from a berry compote.

Cupcake: Angel Food Cupcakes with Raspberry Swirl

These vanilla-flecked angel food cupcakes are filled with an easy homemade raspberry jam.

Lemon

Cake: Lemon Cake with Lemon Frosting

This layer cake combines moist, spongy cake and frosting that's a perfect balance between sweet and buttery.

Cupcake: Vanilla Cupcakes with Lemon Cream and Raspberries

Buttery lemon cream and raspberry jam are a fantastic sweet-tart-creamy duo on these spongy cupcakes.

German Chocolate

Cake: German Chocolate Cake

This super-indulgent dessert features layers of light chocolate cake and a sweet coconut-pecan frosting.

Cupcake: German Chocolate Cupcakes

For a gluten-free twist on the classic cake, use coconut flour instead of all-purpose wheat.

RELATED: 25 More Cake Recipes