The document summarizes the history of cupcakes. It states that cupcakes originated in the 19th century United States as a way to save time in the kitchen compared to full cakes. The name is thought to come from either the cups they were originally baked in or the cup measurements used in recipes. Cupcakes were also once known as number cakes due to their recipes listing ingredients by the cup. Today, cupcakes come in many flavors, shapes, and decorations and have become a popular pop culture trend with bakeries and media dedicated to them.