Cupcake is a small cake meant for one person, or as the name suggests, made to be served in a cup (small thin paper cup or aluminum cup). Cupcakes can be decorated with icing, sprinkles or cake decorations.
Although sometimes called fairy cake or patty cake, it is often confused with muffins. The only difference between those two being that muffins are baked together in one big muffin tin, whereas cupcakes are baked in separate cups.
Standard recipe requires the same ingredients as standard cakes: flour, sugar, butter and eggs. Depending on one's taste preference, cupcakes may be flavored with nuts, berries, chocolate chips or raisins. Like a cake, a cupcake can also be topped with frosting or cream or other cake decorations, resulting in various designs.
There are many different types of preparing cupcakes, like the one called the 'cake in a mug' which uses a mug instead of the cup as a cooking vessel.
Fair amount of calories and carbohydrates suggest cupcakes should be eaten in moderation.