Orange Cupcakes -

An orange cupcake topped with a swirl of orange cream cheese frosting and garnished with orange zest with oranges in the background.

Orange Cupcakes

These perfectly moist and fluffy orange cupcakes are topped with a tangy orange cream cheese frosting for a burst of juicy orange flavor in every bite.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 20

Total Time 45

Servings cupcakes

Calories 283kcal

Author Ann Otis

Ingredients

Cake

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg at room temperature
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup whole milk room temperature
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice from 1-2 oranges

Frosting

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 oz cream cheese
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 ½ cups icing sugar

Instructions

Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12 cup cupcake pan with paper liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, oil, and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla and orange zest. Beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
In a measuring cup, combine the milk and orange juice.
With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the flour mixture and milk/OJ mixture, in 3 installments each, beating until just combined (do not overbeat).
Divide the batter evenly between the cups (they should be about ⅗ full) and bake for 17-20 minutes until the tops are lightly golden a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting.

Frosting

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Add the vanilla and orange zest and beat until combined.
Add the icing sugar and continue beating until smooth and creamy.
Spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes with a small offset spatula or a knife.

Video

Notes

Note: This makes enough frosting for 12 modestly frosted cupcakes. If you would like to pipe large swirls onto your cupcakes, go with this orange cream cheese frosting that will generously frost these cupcakes and contains a secret ingredient that makes it thicker/stiffer!

Nutrition