Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

Don't these just look scrummy? Well I can tell you that they really do look as good as they taste. I've been dreaming up the recipe for these Chocolate Orange Cupcakes for a long time and finally caved in and had to try them.

What I think really makes them extra special is the two-tone icing on the top. In order to get this effect I used the fantastic duo icing kit that is available to buy at Lakeland's. This kit makes it so easy to make some fantastic double colour designs for your culinary delights.

Here is my recipe to make your own Chocolate Orange Cupcakes (recipe makes approximately 12 cakes)

Oven heated to about 180C

Sponge
4oz self-raising flour
4oz caster sugar
4oz butter
2 eggs
1tsp baking powder
1tbsp of orange liquor
zest of one orange

Icing - Orange
4oz butter
3tsp orange juice (add more to taste)
8oz of icing sugar
red and yellow food colouring

Icing  - Chocolate
4oz of butter
1tbsp hot chocolate powder or cocoa powder
8oz of icing sugar


Im a big fan of simple cake recipes and this one is no exception. Using my freestanding mixer (or your muscles) start off by beating the sugar and butter together. Once done add all the other ingredients and mixed until and nice smooth cake batter forms. Spoon the mixture into your cupcake or muffin cases and cook for around 20mins or until no mixture comes out on a cake tester.

Whilst the cakes are cooking mix up the icing in two separate bowls until each is equally thick. Adapt these quantities to suit your own tastes by adding more or less orange juice/cocoa powder. Use a fairly large 'star' shaped nozzle and put together the duo icing bag. Fill each side of the icing bag with the separate colours.

Once the cakes are completly cool you can begin icing (don't be tempted to try before). Go round the cake in a steady swirling motion until you cover completely, start from an outside edge and work your way into the centre. To finish top with a segment of chocolate orange.

All that remains is for me to put my feet up with a cup of tea and enjoy one of these ridiculously tasty cakes. So give them a try and let me know what you think.

Until next time

Emily