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It is freezing here in Ohio and I mean a bone chilling, teeth chattering, freezing…a whopping 12 degrees. The bad part is that it’s not even snowing, my theory is simple…if it’s going to be this cold, at least gimme a snow day, but unfortunately I have not gotten a single one this year! In the midst of this Ohio deep freeze, I was craving a little piece of summer and just happened to have some gorgeous oranges on my counter. I adapted a very simple recipe from the Joy of Baking, tweaking it just a bit to tantalize your taste buds with a lovely burst of orange. I then piped on some cream cheese frosting and enjoyed a little bit of summer! Bake these little beauties in bright cupcake liners, top them with sparkling sugar and I am betting that you will make the special people in your life very happy! Have a fabulous day and stay warm!
Notes:
Cupcake Recipe adapted from Joy of Baking;
Cream Cheese Frosting adapted from The Repressed Pastry Chef
Cupcake liners from World Market
Icing Tip from Bake It Pretty
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Orange Cupcakes
Ingredients
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of pure orange extract
Zest of 1 orange (optional)
1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and lightly butter or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. Place the sugar and orange zest into the bowl of your mixer and blend until moist and fragrant. Add in butter and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and orange extracts.
In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
4. Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing.
-Makes 12 cupcakes
Cream Cheese Frosting
(1) 8 ounce package of cream cheese; room temperature
2 tablespoon of butter; room temperature
1 tablespoon of shortening
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar; add more to reach desired consistency
Directions
1. Combine cream cheese, shortening and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix until smooth, creamy and well blended.
2. Blend in the vanilla extract.
3. Slowly add the confectioners’ sugar until you reach the desired consistency.
Oh YUM! I love orange cupcakes! I’ll have to give these a try!
Oh my gosh! Those are so cute. And it’s a really beautiful photo, too.
I do believe that my daughter and I are going to give these a try. Love having a girl’s day with my 8 year old baby! Can’t wait! :-) Thanks so much!
I do so believe that these would brighten my day! Wonderful. And I have those ‘same’ oranges sitting on my counter calling my name. After a quick orange pound cake, I think I shall make these little beauties!
YUM! these look great! could def use a bit of “summer” since it’s been snowing here all morning!
That’s a very beautiful pic of your delicious cupcakes. It’s so inviting and yummy. It’s very cold here in France too. I wish it would snow then it wouldn’t be this freezing cold.
These are one of my most favorite cupcakes EVER!! I make a recipe from my grandmother but add coconut. They are so yummy! :)
Ok, I love these. I usually don’t like cupcakes-gasp! I am a cookie girl:) But these look fresh and fruity! Great photos too!
This looks very yummy, I think it’s exactly what I’m looking for!
I’m here in Mansfield, CT and we’re at about 7 degrees this morning so I can sympathize with your deep winter woes. I did a recent photoshoot with asparagus just to remind myself that spring green does exist. As much as I’m not a fan chipping everything out of the ice, there is something to be said for winter; it brings out an innate desire to fire up the stove and put some miles on the oven :)
Those look perfect! I love orange flavored baked goodies.