Orange Cupcakes with Cinnamon Frosting

These cupcakes are the taste of Christmas! It’s the first time I’ve made them and I can honestly say they are one of the best flavour combinations I have ever tried!

I made these cakes the same day as the Christmas traybake so my kitchen smelt soooo good and it really got me into the Christmas spirit! I enjoyed my cake with a glass of bubbly (as you do!) and it worked really well with the citrus flavours!

Even though these contain Christmassy flavours you could even have them in the summer at a garden party by tweaking the frosting – add vanilla and take out the cinnamon.

I included the orange curd as option which does add something a little different to the cake and makes a nice gooey surprise when you bite into it! You can of course leave it out if you wish.

Give them ago over the holidays – I can truly say they will be a great hit with family and friends!

Orange Cupcakes with Cinnamon Frosting

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings 12 cakes

Ingredients

  

• 200 g caster sugar
• 200 g margarine/unsalted butter
• 4 eggs
• 200 g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 orange zest
• 2 tsp orange extract
• 1 jar orange curd optional

Cinnamon frosting

• 200 g margarine/unsalted butter
• 425 g icing sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Heat the oven to 190°C / fan 170°C / gas 5. Add cases to a 12 hole cupcake tin.
• Cream together the butter, sugar and zest with an electric whisk.
• Add the eggs and mix.
• Add the flour, baking powder and continue to whisk together.
• Once the mixture is combined add the orange extract.
• When everything is evenly combined place into the muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Take out of the oven and transfer to a metal rack. Once cooled cut a hole out the top of each cake and with a piping bag fill the hole with a small amount of orange curd.
• This is where the Kitchen Aid comes in really handy. If you haven’t got one this may take a while. Be sure to use on a low speed on your hand whisk otherwise you might get covered in icing sugar. Beat the butter and icing sugar together until smooth and like a paste.
• Add the cinnamon and vanilla extract then give it a further whisk so everything is combined. Put it into a pipping bag and a nozzle of your choice and ice each cake.
• Enjoy with a Christmas cocktail or a glass of bubbly!

Read next: 10 Delicious Cupcake Recipes That Will Blow Your Friends Away