Halloween Cupcakes

Just in time for Halloween ~ some yummy Orange Juice cupcakes!

Makes about 16 cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

Juice and finely grated rind of 1 orange

1 tablespoon lemon juice

a few drops orange food coloring {optional}

1.  Preheat oven to 350°F.  Mix flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.

2.  Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

3.  Combine orange juice and lemon juice and add enough water to make ⅔ cup.  Alternately, add flour mixture and liquid.  Add orange rind and beat batter until smooth.  Add food coloring if you are using it {I opted to not use any}.

4.  Spoon batter into cupcake papers, filling cups about ⅔ full.  Bake for 25 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and cool.

The above cupcake recipe is from Cupcakes Galore by Gail Wagman.

Buttercream Frosting

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 cup butter (softened)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream

In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

To tint frosting ~ add a drop of food coloring to frosting until you reach the desired color.  I made mine black for Halloween.

cupcake hugs, mb