Ingredient Ratios. Muffin batter and cake batter are fundamentally different. A typical muffin recipe contains about half as much fat and sugar, proportionally, as a typical cake recipe, though exact amounts vary. In general, though, a muffin recipe might include 2 tbsp. sugar and 1/8 cup fat per cup of flour, while a typical cake recipe would contain closer to 4 tbsp. sugar and 1/4 cup fat per cup of flour. Cakes also typically contain more eggs.