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Orange Chocolate Cupcakes

Delight in the vibrant combination of zesty orange and rich chocolate with these Orange Chocolate Cupcakes. Each fluffy cupcake offers a burst of citrus and indulgent chocolate, making them a show-stopping dessert for any occasion. Whether you’re celebrating a special event or treating yourself, these cupcakes are sure to impress with their stunning appearance and irresistible flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk (adjust as needed)
  • 1 tbsp fresh orange juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
  3. In another bowl, beat sugar and eggs until light and fluffy. Add milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and orange zest; mix until combined.
  4. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Fill cupcake liners about two-thirds full with batter and bake for 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  6. Allow cupcakes to cool while preparing the frosting by beating softened butter with cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Gradually add milk until desired consistency is reached, then fold in orange juice.
  7. Frost cooled cupcakes generously with chocolate-orange frosting.

Nutrition

Keywords: To make these cupcakes gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend. Enhance flavor by adding a teaspoon of espresso powder to the batter for richer chocolate notes. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or refrigerate for up to one week.