Dreamy Orange Cupcakes Recipes

ORANGE CUPCAKES WITH THE CREAMIEST ORANGE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / 160C fan forced. Line a 12 hole muffin tin with cupcake liners.
• Place the flour, corn flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and whisk to mix well.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the melted butter and sugar just to combine.
• Add the milk, eggs, orange juice, zest and vanilla and whisk really well to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir through gently with a spatula until just combined.
• Fill the cupcake cases to about ⅔ full. Bake for around 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out with just a couple of crumbs on it. Transfer to a cooling rack. You can go straight on with steps 1-3 of the buttercream.
• In a small saucepan, whisk the flour with a little milk to a paste. Add the remaining milk, 1/2 cup of sugar and orange peel.
• Heat over low heat, stirring constantly until it gets very thick (like a thick custard or pudding).
• Press this mixture through a strainer into a bowl. Discard the orange peel and cover with plastic wrap pressed to the surface and let it cool to room temperature before continuing (notes).
• Once the pudding mixture is cool, beat together the butter and ½ cup of sugar until lightened and creamy. About 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl a few times through the process.
• Add 1 spoonful of the pudding mixture at a time, mixing on low between each. Make sure each spoonful is incorporated before adding the next.
• Once all the pudding mixture is added, beat for a further 5-7 minutes on medium until it looks whipped and creamy. You should not be able to feel any sugar granules. (If it looks like it separates, don't worry, just keep on beating. It will all come together into a beautiful, almost whipped cream looking frosting).
• Finally add the vanilla and orange zest and give it one final quick mix just to mix it through.

ORANGE CREAM DREAM CUPCAKES W/FILLING

Steps:

• Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F Prepare baking pans with cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, whisk baking soda, flour and salt. In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk and sour cream; set aside.
• In separate bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter until smooth. Slowly add sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.
• Add extract and 2 to 4 drops food coloring (optional), mixing well.
• Add flour mixture alternating with buttermilk mixture. Mix until well combined.
• Pour into baking cups to 3/4 full. Bake approximately 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven, and allow to cool completely on wire rack before assembling.
• Orange Buttercream Frosting: Blend butter until smooth; slowly add confectioners' sugar until combined. Add vanilla and water; mix at low speed 1 minute, then at high speed for 5 minutes. Set aside 1 cup frosting. Add extract and food coloring to remaining frosting, mixing well.
• Vanilla Buttercream Filling: In a medium bowl, fold in non-dairy whipped topping, 1/2 cup at a time, into the 1 cup of reserved frosting. Whisk until smooth.
• To assemble cupcakes: Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large open star tip with Vanilla Buttercream Filling. Insert the tip halfway into the center of the baked cupcake; press until the top of cupcake begins to rise slightly. After filling cupcakes, frost as desired.

ORANGE DREAM MINI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line 48 mini-muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange zest, orange juice and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition., Fill prepared cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 11-13 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely., For buttercream, in a large bowl, beat butter and salt until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth., Using a paring knife, cut a 1-in.-wide cone-shaped piece from top of each cupcake; discard removed portion. Fill cavity with marmalade. Pipe or spread buttercream over tops.