Orange Cupcakes
Orange cupcakes are a great treat to enjoy during citrus season using only one bowl. This recipe makes no waste by using all of the orange including the rind!
You can make these wonderful orange cupcakes with a little orange cream cheese frosting, or chocolate buttercream frosting, or have them as is–just as they come from the oven.
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I honestly can’t tell you which way is best as I love them all three ways, but don’t expect a light, sponge cake with this recipe. These citrus cupcakes are more dense, with a lovely crumb–you’ll love them, I promise!
The recipe is adapted from my super popular Sicilian whole orange cake, which is served with an orange glaze. You could do the same with these cupcakes, but I decided to add frosting to some of these babies.
I think this is my most adapted recipe as I’ve also made Sicilian whole lemon cake, gluten free Sicilian whole orange cake, and used it to make apple cake, pear cake and even apricot cake.
The point is, this recipe is well-loved and is so adaptable, and has never failed me.
I made kumquat cupcakes which were well-received by family and friends, too!
If you choose to frost or ice them, may I suggest the chocolate buttercream? Simply because chocolate and orange are two of my favorite flavors to pair together! Check out these orange and dark chocolate bread and butter puddings (which taste like hot, fluffy, Jaffa cakes!)
The orange cream cheese frosting is also perfect with these orange cupcakes, though, so it’s a tough decision.
Please let me know which way you decided to finish (and devour) these orange cupcakes.
Orange Cupcakes
Special Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 ⅛ cups sugar
- 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
- 1 packet Paneangeli Italian baking powder if using plain baking powder, then use (2 1/2 tsp plus optional vanilla)
- ⅓ cup butter
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp vanilla (optional-only use with plain baking powder)
- 1 large orange organic
- ½ cup orange cream cheese frosting recipe below
- ½ cup chocolate buttercream frosting (recipe link in notes)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Prepare an cupcake tray with 12 cupcake liners. (Second time will only use 6.)
Make the Orange Cupcakes Batter
- Beat the eggs and sugar with a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy.
- Sift the flour with the Paneangeli (or baking powder), then add to the mixture in the bowl a little at a time along with the softened butter. Continue to mix until completely blended, then stir in the yogurt (and vanilla, if using.)
- In a food processor, process the whole orange until it is almost pureèd.
- Add the orange to the cake mixture and stir until evenly combined.
Bake the Orange Cupcakes
- Spoon the mixture into the cupcake liners (about ⅔ full) then place tray in middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes or until done. Cool on rack, and repeat with 6 more cupcake liners to finish the batter.
Decorate the Orange Cupcakes
- Spread 9 cupcakes with orange cream cheese frosting, and the other 9 with chocolate frosting.
Notes
- Find the recipe for chocolate buttercream frosting here.
- I don’t put a lot of frosting on my cupcakes, so if you do, you may find this isn’t enough, so make more.
Nutrition
Best Orange Cream Cheese Frosting (with Grand Marnier Liqueur)
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 4 oz butter (at room temperature)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 Tbsp Grand Marnier liqueur
- 2 drops orange oil
- 1 tsp orange zest (freshly grated )
- 14 oz powdered sugar
Instructions
- Beat the cream cheese and butter until well-mixed.
- Add vanilla, liqueur, orange oil and orange zest, then add the powdered sugar. Mix slowly, increasing the speed until all of the sugar is incorporated and frosting is smooth. If too thick add a little milk or water.
- Use as desired.
Notes
- Note: this frosting does contain alcohol
Nutrition
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Hi. I didn’t see the recipe for the orange cream cheese frosting. Thank you.
Oops, it’s there now! Forgot to add the recipe card. Here’s the whole orange cream cheese frosting post if you like.
Sounds good. How much vanilla? And where is the recipe for the orange cream cheese frosting? Thanks!
Hi Terri, the recipe says 1 tsp vanilla. However, I forgot to add the orange cream cheese frosting recipe card, but it is now below the orange cupcakes card. Thank you for the heads up!