Muffins are NOT bun cakes with currents and chocolate in, and their origin is definitely not USA. Anybody arguing this should be thread banned!
I've eaten many muffins, I've eaten many barms. I've eaten many buns passed off as muffins. A barm is another name for a bread bun. Barm, bap, stottie, cob, batch, teacake etc. It all depends where one lives in the UK.
However, a proper English Lancashire oven bottom muffin cannot be confused with any of the above. It is unique and a gastronomic bread pleasure.
You sound like you've never eaten a proper muffin so how can you argue the toss? I suggest you have one pal then get back to me. Buy half a dozen and fill with chips, ham, cheese corned beef or whatever else. Buttered of course, margerine is only fit for cakes and
@mancityvstoke; )
Muffins are sold in shops and market stalls throughout the Gtr Manchester area. Try one and then argue that a barm is better than a muffin.
No contest.