Orange Filled Chocolate Cupcakes With Fondant Recipes

ORANGE CREAM FILLING RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine the pudding mix and heavy cream and orange extract in a mixing bowl. I prefer to mix with a hand held mixer, but a whisk is just fine too. If using a mixer, start on low speed until well combined. Then, switch to high speed and whip the pudding until thick and fluffy. If mousse is too thick, mix in small amounts of heavy cream to reach desired consistency. If mixing by hand, simply whisk rapidly for a couple of minutes or until mixture is nice and thick. Refrigerate until ready to use. Cakes with this filling should be chilled until close to serving time.

ORANGE CREAM-FILLED CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the first eight ingredients until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into egg mixture until blended., Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, beat butter until fluffy; beat in confectioners' sugar and extracts until smooth. Add marshmallow creme; beat until light and fluffy. Using a melon scoop, remove a small amount of cake from tops of cupcakes. Top each with a small scoop of ice cream. Decorate with frosting and orange peel strips. Serve immediately.

ORANGE CREAM CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the eggs and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium low; slowly beat in the melted butter, then add the orange zest and vanilla.
• Beat in the flour mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture; beat until just combined (do not overmix).
• Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then remove the cupcakes to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Bring the orange juice to a boil in a saucepan; reduce the heat to medium and simmer until reduced to1 1/2 tablespoons, about 8 minutes. Let cool.
• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the butter, a little at a time, until smooth. Reduce the mixer speed to low; sift the confectioners' sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth. Add the vanilla, the cooled orange syrup, orange zest and food coloring and beat on medium speed until combined. Refrigerate until spreadable, about 15 minutes. Spread the frosting on the cupcakes; top with candied orange zest.

FONDANT FILLED CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• Place about half of your chocolate into a small pan over a very low heat (or bain marie if you prefer) and heat the chocolate until it reaches a temperature of 48ºC - Don't worry if not all of the chocolate has melted, it will continue to melt after it's removed from the heat.
• Decant the melted chocolate into a bowl and add a piece of the unmelted chocolate you set aside before. Stir the chocolate in until it has melted.
• Keep adding pieces of the unmelted chocolate until the temperature of the chocolate has been reduced to 32ºC. At this point it's ready to use.
• Remove any lumps of chocolate and set aside to use later - I like to put in onto greaseproof paper as then it's easy to peel off and use again (it can be difficult to remove hardened chocolate from a bowl).
• Pour the melted chocolate into the mould (or pipe if you prefer). Fill each of the squares you're using to the top. Once filled, tip the mould upside down over the bowl you stirred the chocolate in and tip out any excess - you're trying to create a hollow shell.
• Once the excess has tipped out have a quick check for any holes in the shells. If there are any holes then add in a little extra chocolate and tip again to remove any excess.
• Once you're happy with the shells, use a sharp knife to scrape any excess chocolate from the top of the mould.
• Put the mould into the fridge for at least half an hour to set.
• Scrape any leftover chocolate from the bowl back into the pan you used to melt the chocolate originally (this can then be used to make the base of the chocolates).
• Place the marshmallows (4 large marshmallows) and water (1 tsp) into a microwave dish and microwave on full power for 30 seconds to melt the marshmallows. After 30 seconds give them a stir, if there are any unmelted lumps microwave for a further 10 seconds.
• Sift in 50g of the icing sugar and mix with a spoon to combine. You'll find that you cannot combine all of the sugar by mixing. Once you've reached this stage then knead the fondant by hand to combine the remaining sugar (don't try and knead by hand before mixing, as it will be too sticky to handle).
• Spread the remaining icing sugar (25g) onto your work surface (the fondant will become sticky as you work with it. If it does, roll it in the icing sugar).
• Add about 5 drops of flavour to the fondant and knead to ensure it is evenly spread.
• Add a small amount of food colouring (if using) and knead until evenly spread.
• Fill the shells
• Remove your mould from the fridge.
• Gently push a small ball of fondant into each shell. It's very important that you check that none of the fondant is protruding above the top of the mould, as if it does it'll stick out of the bottom of the chocolate!
• Put to one side while you temper the chocolate for the base.
• Add about half of any unused chocolate you have in the packet to the chocolate you put back into the pan earlier and repeat steps 1-4 (above) to temper the chocolate. You can use the same bowl you used earlier even if it has some hardened chocolate in the bottom as it will melt in and help the tempering process.
• Once the chocolate has tempered, spoon or pipe it carefully over the top of the fondant - you want the chocolate to come above the top edge of the mould.
• Once all of the chocolates are covered, use a sharp knife to scrape off any excess chocolate.
• Put the chocolates into the fridge for at least half an hour to set.
• Once the chocolate has completely set, turn the mould over on a work surface. If you're using the silicon mould then carefully push each chocolate out of the mould. If any are being stubborn then pop the mould back into the fridge for a while longer to give them a bit more time to set.

ORANGE-FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH FONDANT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Bake cupcakes as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large microwavable bowl, place marshmallows and 1 tablespoon of the water. Microwave uncovered on High 30 seconds; stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer; stir until smooth. Fold in 3/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Stir in vanilla.
• Generously grease hands and counter with some of the shortening. Turn marshmallow mixture onto counter. Sprinkle 1 cup of the powdered sugar over marshmallow mixture and knead as you would dough. Continue to add the remaining 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar, greasing hands and counter often to prevent sticking. If fondant begins to tear, it is too dry; add remaining water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, and knead until fondant forms a firm, smooth, elastic ball that will stretch without tearing, about 8 minutes. Wrap fondant in a double thickness of plastic wrap, squeezing out any air; set aside.
• In small microwavable bowl, place 2/3 cup of the frosting; set aside. To the remaining frosting, add 4 drops of the yellow food color, 2 drops of the red food color and the orange extract; stir until uniformly tinted. Fit round tip in decorating bag (opening about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter). Spoon frosting into decorating bag. Insert tip in center of 1 cupcake, about halfway down. Gently squeeze decorating bag, pulling upwards until cupcake swells slightly and frosting comes to the top (filling cupcake with about 1 tablespoon frosting). Repeat with remaining cupcakes.
• Microwave reserved 2/3 cup frosting uncovered on High 10 seconds or just until melted. Spoon 1 scant teaspoon frosting on top of each cupcake; spread evenly, using back of spoon.
• Cut fondant in half; rewrap other half. (When not working with fondant, keep it covered with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.) On surface dusted with powdered sugar, roll fondant until 1/8 inch thick. Using 3-inch round biscuit or scalloped cookie cutter, cut 12 rounds, rerolling if necessary. Wrap remaining scraps of fondant in plastic wrap; set aside for decorating. Drape 1 fondant round over each of 12 cupcakes, gently shaping over top. Repeat with remaining fondant and cupcakes.
• Tint a walnut-size piece of reserved fondant with green food color; wrap in plastic wrap. Tint remaining fondant scraps orange with remaining 6 drops of the yellow food color and remaining 3 drops of the red food color; roll until 1/8 inch thick. Using 1-inch pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter, cut out pumpkin shapes. Moisten fondant on each cupcake and arrange cutouts on top.
• Pinch small pieces of green-tinted fondant and shape into small oblong stems; moisten tops of orange fondant pumpkins and arrange green stems on top.

CREME-FILLED CHOCOLATE ORANGE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 12-cup cupcake pan with paper liners.
• In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together orange juice, canola oil, vanilla, and orange zest.
• Pour wet ingredients into dry mixture and whisk until thoroughly combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners until each cup is 2/3 full.
• Bake for about 17 to 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
• For the filling, combine first 3 ingredients in the bowl of a standard mixer.
• Beat on medium-high speed until combined.
• With the mixer running, add 1 tablespoon orange juice at a time, until the desired buttercream consistency is reached.
• For the ganache, use a double boiler or microwave to melt chocolate chips in a medium bowl.
• Whisk in coconut oil until smooth.
• If making Candied Orange Peel, peel thin slices of orange peel from the orange using a vegetable peeler.
• In a small saucepot, place the orange peels and add ½ cup water.
• Bring to a boil and let cook for 5 minutes.
• Drain the water, place the peels back in the pot, and refill with ½ cup water.
• Bring the water to a boil again, let cook for 5 minutes, and drain.
• Repeat this process one more time to release the bitterness from the orange peels.
• Bring ¼ sugar, ¼ cup of water, and the orange peels to a boil and let cook on medium/high heat until liquid bubbles away.
• Remove from heat, spread peels out to cool on parchment paper.
• Once the candied peels have semi-dried (about 10 minutes), roll them in the remaining sugar until thoroughly coated.
• Store in refrigerator or freezer.
• When cupcakes are cool, fill each with Orange Buttercream Filling using a pastry bag with a narrow tip.
• Spread Chocolate Ganache evenly over each cupcake.
• Top with two slices of Candied Orange Peel, if using.

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.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH A CHOCOLATE, ORANGE AND CLOVE INFUSED GANACHE FILLING AND A CHINESE SPICED TEA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with 24 regular-size cupcake liners.
• Combine the granulated sugar, flour, buttermilk, 8 fluid ounces water, oil, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, baking soda, baking powder, salt and eggs in a mixer and whisk on speed 1 until all the ingredients are incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula and mix on speed 2 until the batter is lump free.
• Fill the cupcake liners half full with the chocolate batter and bake for 25 minutes, rotating halfway through the bake time. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• To assemble: Place the Chocolate, Orange and Clove Infused Ganache filling into a piping bag and squeeze a small amount of the filling into the centers of the cooled cupcakes. Also pipe a small circle of this ganache around the top edge of the cupcake (so you can see the filling even after it is frosted). Generously pipe the Chinese Spiced Tea Buttercream on top. Garnish with chocolate curls and orange sugar crystals.
• In a large pot, whisk together the granulated sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and fine salt. Once mixed together, add 10 ounces water and whisk until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue whisking for 1 minute. Remove the pot from the heat and add the dark chocolate, butter, orange liqueur, orange oil, ground cloves and orange oil. Allow the mixture to cool.
• In a medium pot, combine the granulated sugar with enough water to make the mixture resemble wet sand. Place this pot over medium-high heat and cook to 235 degrees F.
• While the sugar cooks, begin whipping the egg whites in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment to full volume.
• Once the temperature of the sugar reaches 235 degrees F (soft ball stage), pour the sugar into the egg whites. Continue whipping until the mixture cools to just above body temperature, about 4 minutes.
• Slowly add in 1 pound butter (about 4 ounce pieces at a time). After each addition, allow the butter to mix in almost completely before adding more. The mixture should separate and come back together.
• In a small saucepan, heat 8 ounces water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the loose tea (not the ground tea). Steep for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, strain into a separate bowl.
• Once the butter mixture has come back together, remove the whisk attachment and replace with a paddle. Add in the remaining 1 pound butter, confectioners' sugar, steeped tea and ground tea. Paddle this mixture until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.