A delicious Halloween orange-flavored cupcake. Fun to make as they are to eat! Decorated festively for the upcoming trick-or-treaters and one of the tastiest! Of course, these are great any time of the year with this buttercream frosting and not just for Halloween or a Thanksgiving treat, just check out the all-made-from-scratch recipe for a wonderful holiday cupcake!

Orange delicious moist cupcakes via @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Batter For Orange Cupcakes

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 large eggs orange
• zest from 2 large oranges (blood oranges in season are the best in this recipe!)
• Orange Simple Syrup for drizzling on cake and cupcakes(keeps them moist):
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• Boil them together for around 3 minutes or until it thickens slightly.
• Orange Glaze for Bundt Cakes and Sheet Cakes (a very thin icing):
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2-4 tablespoons orange juice
• Decorating Buttercream Icing below:
• Orange Buttercream Frosting:
• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups sifted powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
• 3 tablespoons orange juice or less
• 1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest, or more if you would like a stronger orange taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare and paper line 24 cupcakes or if using a sheet pan, bundt pan or another shape, grease, and flour the pan.
3. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light, this should take around 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Add one egg at a time until blended around 1 minute.
5. Slowly add the flour, baking soda, and powder, salt to the butter mixture.
6. Beat the orange juice, buttermilk, and vanilla until smooth.
7. Cupcakes: bake for 25 to 30 minutes
8. Cakes: bake for around 40 minutes to 55 minutes.
9. Use a toothpick to make sure the centers are clean.
10. For cakes and cupcakes: while still warm, poke holes in the cake or cupcakes using a fork, and drizzle the syrup over each one with a spoon ( just a little on each cupcake you may have some leftover)
11. Frost and decorate after everything cake or cupcakes are cooled.
12. For the Orange Buttercream Instructions:
13. In a small bowl, cream butter shortening until light and fluffy.
14. Beat in the powdered sugar, orange zest, and vanilla.
15. Add juice just enough to keep it in a thicker form to decorate with.

Print this recipe for Orange Cupcakes

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