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Creation of the cupcake -

We have a woman named Amelia Simmons to thank for giving us the cupcake. She's the author of 'American Cookery,' the first known cookbook published by an American, which appeared in 1796.

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'American Cookery' -

During the late 18th century, all cookbooks used in the colonies were British. With the publication of 'American Cookery,' Amelia Simmons used terms known to Americans, and ingredients that were readily available to American cooks.

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When is a cupcake not a cupcake? -

In her book, she described a recipe for "a light cake to bake in small cups." But Amelia Simmons didn't call it a cupcake.

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Eliza Leslie (1787–1858) -

It was another American author of popular cookbooks, Eliza Leslie, who is credited with dreaming up the description "cupcake."

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The first cupcake recipe -

In her cookbook 'Seventy-Five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats,' first published in 1828, Leslie included the first recipe for what she called a cupcake.

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Cupcake ingredients -

And here are the ingredients, listed as Eliza Leslie wrote them: five eggs; two large teacups of molasses; the same of brown sugar, rolled fine; the same of fresh butter; one cup of rich milk; five cups of flour, sifted; half a cup of powdered allspice and cloves; and half a cup of ginger.

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Named after a cup? -

Though Leslie can be credited for putting down on paper the first cupcake recipe, there is no single inventor of this sweet treat. And the word cupcake itself was likely a name for a measurement, much like "pound cake."

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A taste of success -

By the early 20th century, cupcakes were being mass-produced and marketed as "snack cakes."

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A favorite at home -

Their dainty appearance, diminutive size, and balanced shape made cupcakes a favorite with amateur cooks. And they were quick and easy to make.

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Simple to make -

In fact, cupcakes were so simple to prepare that a child could make them. But then things started to get creative!

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More decorative -

Cupcakes were already being frosted in the 1920s. The most popular options at the time were either chocolate or vanilla frosting.

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Works of art -

Confectioners, however, regarded the humble cupcake as blank canvas on which to create mini works of art.

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Birthday cupcakes -

And it helped that kids loved cupcakes, especially when crafted as a mini birthday cake.

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A cupcake for every occasion -

Today, there's a cupcake to suit every occasion, with only the imagination limiting what an artisan cakemaker can come up with.

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Easter cupcakes -

Easter provides an occasion where a clever cupcake maker can work on themes associated with the festival, including, of course, cute bunnies and Easter eggs.

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Halloween cupcakes -

Halloween is another festival that calls on the creative talents of the baker-confectioner. These spooky treats topped with witches' hats really do capture the spirit of the occasion.

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Hostess CupCakes -

One of the oldest American brands of cupcake is Hostess CupCakes. These delightful desserts were first sold in 1919, with two cupcakes selling for five cents. Today the most common form of a Hostess CupCakes is a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing and vanilla creme filling topped with a signature line of seven white squiggles.

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Cupcake culture -

Besides yummy cupcakes made for special occasions, this edible wonder has earned a special place in American culture.

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Patriotic cupcakes -

To celebrate Independence Day, for example, cupcakes are made to reflect a patriotic 4th of July theme.

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Hoffa hand cupcakes -

In 2006, the Milford Baking Company produced a batch of Hoffa hand cupcakes after the FBI, acting on a tip-off, began searching nearby farmland in Milford, Michigan, in the hopes of uncovering the remains of Jimmy Hoffa. The former Teamster's president went missing in 1975 and has not been seen since.

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Disney cupcakes -

Pictured: Mickey Mouse and Goofy help prepare celebratory cupcakes on July 16, 2015, at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. The original Disney theme park was marking 60 years since its July 17, 1955, grand opening.

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Famous cupcakes -

Kim Kardashian arrives to the launch event for "The Kim Kardashian Vanilla Cupcake" held at Famous Cupcakes Beverly Hills on February 19, 2010, in California.

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Royal wedding cupcakes -

Cupcakes themed with icing depicting the Union Flag, the US flag, and stars and crowns were made to mark the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018.

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TV series cupcakes -

Pictured: cupcakes bearing the titles of all the episodes of 'NCIS' at the cake-cutting celebration for the 300th episode on February 9, 2016, in Valencia, California.

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'DC Cupcakes' -

'DC Cupcakes,' a reality television series that ran from 2010 to 2013, followed sisters and business partners Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis as they ran Georgetown Cupcake, a small cupcakery located in Washington, D.C. Among other topics, episodes featured new recipes and world-record-breaking cupcake creations (Georgetown Cupcake holds the record for the largest cupcake ever made, according to Guinness World Records).

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Marilyn cupcakes -

A portrait of the late Marilyn Monroe, made from 2,100 bite-sized stuffed cupcakes is unveiled in celebration of Monroe's 86th birthday at Madame Tussauds wax museum in New York on May 31, 2012.

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Cupcake fashion -

And the Brits enjoy a love affair with the cupcake, too. In this image provided by Food Network UK, a model wears a dress made out of 300 cupcakes at the Food Network Cupcake Showcase in September 2013 in London.

Sources: (Azidelicious) (Divine Specialties) (HowStuffWorks) (CBS News) (Guinness World Records)

See also: The most popular cakes from around the world

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