Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

I created these cupcakes for a Macmillan coffee morning, as I wanted to put a simple twist on chocolate cupcakes to make them a bit more exciting. The chocolate cupcake and icing recipe I usually use is one of Mary Berry’s, but I have added to and altered it in this case.

These cakes are inspired by a favourite flavour combination of mine, encouraged by the annual receipt of a Terry’s Chocolate Orange in my Christmas stocking!

I encourage you to have a go making these very simple, but delicious chocolate orange treats!

~

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

Makes about 24 cupcakes

You will need:

For the cakes

• 4tbsp Boiling water
• 40g Cocoa powder
• 175g Margarine
• 175g Caster sugar
• 3 Eggs  
• 115g Self-raising flour

For the icing

• 1 ½ tsp orange oil
• 60g Unsalted butter*
• 30g Cocoa powder*
• 3tbsp Milk*
• 250g Icing sugar*

OR  - for a shortcut, you can replace all starred ingredients with a ready-made chocolate frosting – such as Betty Crocker Chocolate Buttercream Style Icing

For decoration

• Orange paper cases
• Orange jelly slices - (I used Dr. Oetker Orange and Lemon Slices)

 

For decoration:

Cupcakes:

1. Line two cupcake trays with paper cases and preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F, gas mark 6).
2. Sift the cocoa powder into a bowl and mix into a thick paste with the boiling water.
3. Add the butter and sugar and combine until smooth and creamy.
4. Beat in the eggs a little at a time.
5. Fold in the flour using a large metal spoon, until the mixture is of a dropping consistency.
6. Divide the mixture between the cases and place in the centre of the oven for 10-15 mins until risen and springy to touch.
7. Leave until completely cool.

Icing:

1. Melt the butter and pour it into a bowl.
2. Sift in the cocoa powder.
3. Then stir in the icing sugar a little at a time until the mixture is glossy and thick enough to spread – adding the milk gradually if too thick.
4. Add the orange oil and stir until fully combined.
5. Fill a piping bag with the mix and pipe a large swirl onto the top of each cupcake.
6. Garnish with a jelly orange slice.

OR – if using ready-made icing, start with step 4, adding the orange oil to it.

The coffee morning was a great success, hosted by friends of mine. If you’d like to host your own coffee morning, please visit the Macmillian Coffee Morning Website

It's for a great cause!

Love, Chloe xx

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