Chocolate. Orange. Cupcake. Three little words to instantly make your mouth water.
Because, few things are as joyful, as purely indulgent and as utterly scrumptious as chocolate orange cupcakes. I’m drooling over my keyboard just writing this.
So, let’s not waste any time. Let’s dive in headfirst and find out how to make these ridiculously delicious chocolate orange cupcakes!
Products you need for this recipe
Here are some of the essential items you’ll need at hand when you make this chocolate orange cupcakes recipe:
- Baking scales – baking is all about precision. Get a quality set of baking scales and make sure all your measurements are spot on
- Mixing bowl – a large mixing bowl is a key item in the kitchen of any baker
- Mixing fork – whether it’s a fork or a spoon, you’re going to need it to do some good old fashioned mixing
- Ice cream scoop – the perfect utensil to spoon your cupcake mixture into the cupcake cases
- Zester – a little bit of orange zest goes a very long way. A zester is a brilliant tool that comes in handy, not just when baking, but when cooking lots of different types of recipes. Lemon and orange zest can really transform a recipe
- Cupcake cases – 12 cupcake cases will be needed for this recipe
- Muffin tin – invest in a muffin tin and get baking!
- Piping bag and piping nozzle – a piping bag is the best way to get a perfect layering of buttercream icing on top of your delicious chocolate orange cupcakes
- Self raising flour – another stock ingredient, self raising flour is essential for any keen baker
- Caster sugar – quality caster sugar and...
- Icing sugar – quality icing sugar are an important part of this chocolate orange cupcakes recipe
- Chocolate orange – ah, the star ingredient! I’ve gone with the classic English chocolate, Terry’s chocolate orange. Feel free to experiment, either with dark chocolate orange or another type of chocolate orange
- Orange essence – orange essence or orange extract really adds a lovely depth of flavour and is a key ingredient that takes this chocolate orange cupcakes recipe to another level
- Orange food colouring - completely optional but handy if you want orange icing
Chocolate orange cupcakes recipe
This one is a real people pleaser. Sure, there are some people who don’t like the flavours of chocolate and orange together.
But they don’t like puppies or ice cream either. I’m guessing you’re not one of them, or you wouldn’t be here!
Okay, so this recipe is very simple and you’ll end up with cupcakes so delicious and moreish that will last hours – if you’re lucky. You may need to hide them from the rest of the family. They’re that good.
Bake them once and you’ll have the hang of it. It’s definitely one of those recipes that you’ll try again and again.
Birthdays, Christmas. Weekends… whenever you feel like putting smiles on faces, this is the recipe!
The first thing I’ll say is get to know your oven. This recipe calls for the chocolate orange cupcakes to be baked at 175°C, but every oven is different. That’s why it’s important to get a feel for how long different recipes take in your oven and adjust the times accordingly.
You’ll start by creaming the butter with the sugar. You can use a food mixer to beat the butter – especially if you’re doubling this recipe – but by hand is fine for smaller quantities.
Don’t mix too fast or for too long – you want a controlled speed, so that you’ll end up with light, fluffy cupcakes.
You’ll then measure the flour and add baking powder. Next, an egg will be beaten into the creamed butter and sugar, along with a teaspoon of flour.
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This is then repeated, one egg and one teaspoon of flour at a time. It’s my little tip to make sure you end up with a lighter mix.
Now comes the exciting part. The chocolate orange! Chocolate chunks work best, so chop that chocolate and add to the mix, along with a couple of teaspoons of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Add orange zest for a final hit of orange flavour.
Get an ice cream scoop to scoop your delicious chocolate orange cake batter into the cases. The chocolate cupcakes should take between 15-20 minutes in the oven. Check after 15… if the cupcakes are springy on top, they’re done.
Next, the chocolate orange buttercream. You want soft butter (ping it in the microwave until soft) and add icing sugar. Mix together and, if you really want that extra orange taste, add some orange extract or orange essence. It’ll add a lovely sweet tang to the chocolate orange buttercream.
Next, everyone’s favourite part… the decoration! Swirl the chocolate orange buttercream with orange extract onto the top of each of the chocolate cupcakes.
Add a little segment of Terry’s chocolate orange on the top, pop one in your mouth for a job well done, and marvel at these glorious little chocolate orange delights!
What’s the difference between a cupcake and a fairy cake?
A fairy cake is typically old-fashioned English – a light Victorian sponge topped with a small amount of icing. They are quite sweet and relatively light – think old English tea parties.
Cupcakes, on the other hand, are all about full blown decadence. They don’t hold back when it comes to flavour. Denser than their British cousins, cupcakes are normally topped with an elaborate decoration of icing.
They are also normally higher in sugar and are a lot bigger than fairy cakes.
Nowadays, the names are a lot more interchangeable than they used to be, so cupcakes and fairy cakes are mixed and matched.
How do you make chocolate orange cupcakes look professional?
It’s all about the presentation. For this chocolate orange cupcakes recipe I have sprinkled grated chocolate on top of each orange chocolate cupcake.
I then added a wedge of Terry’s chocolate orange, to give these chocolate orange cupcakes an extra professional look.
What makes a cupcake fluffy?
Fluffiness comes at the mixing stage. The air in your cake mixture is what’s going to give your cupcakes that lovely, light fluffy texture.
That’s why it’s so important not to overmix your cake mixture. Mix at a low speed and stop mixing as soon as all the ingredients have been properly blended together.
Why are my cupcakes gummy?
Make sure you leave your cupcakes on a wire cooling rack to cool for at least 10 minutes. If you don’t do this, the moisture at the bottom of your chocolate orange cupcakes won’t be able to escape. This will mean you’ll be left with gummy cupcakes – nobody’s idea of appetising.
Also, as I mentioned above, get the mixing right. Not too fast and definitely don’t over mix.
Why are my cupcakes dry?
This is either due to too many dry ingredients or over baking. Follow the recipe measurements below (don’t forget, you’ll need a good set of baking scales) and you won’t go wrong.
Follow the baking times and, again, you should be fine. If you do end up over-baking your cupcakes, you’ll need to adjust the baking times for the next batch. All ovens are different, so be sure to check your cupcakes after 15 minutes. They’ll be cooked when they are springy and return to shape when lightly pressed on top.
What can you use instead of orange extract?
If you can’t get hold of orange extract, double the amount of orange zest called for in this recipe. You could also use a teaspoon of orange liqueur, for a boozy little twist.
What can you use instead of cupcake cases?
If you forget to buy cupcakes cases, or you can’t get hold of them, there are a few alternatives:
You can use foil or baking paper to make your own cupcake cases. Just cut them into 4x4 inch squares, place each square over each cupcake compartment and mould it into place (use the bottom of a small glass to twist it into shape).
Once your chocolate orange cupcakes are baked, they’ll be really easy to take out of the cupcake tray.
You could also simply grease each cupcake compartment with butter.
More amazing cupcake recipes
If you had fun baking up these bad boys, check out these other irresistible cupcake recipes:
- Carrot cake cupcakes – soft, moist, fluffy and absolutely delicious, these are the best carrot cake cupcakes you’ll ever try!
- Pumpkin cupcakes – these little autumn beauties are a real treat. They are soft, fluffy and have a wonderful cinnamon flavour. They’re also really easy to make
- Oreo cupcakes – if you’re an Oreo fan, you won’t want to miss this recipe. Indulge a little and you won’t be able to forget the taste of these incredible cupcakes
- Chocolate fairy cakes with Amarula buttercream – fairy cakes, cupcakes… there’s not much difference. All I know is that these little chocolate delights are bound to put a smile on your face
- Drizzled lemon curd cupcakes – if you’re a lemon dessert fan, this one is a must. Cupcakes don’t get much better than this. Dangerously addictive… you can’t just have one!
- Creme Egg cupcakes – these aren’t just for Easter. When something is this delicious, it deserves to be devoured all year round!
- Chocolate cupcakes – simple, yet blissfully effective. The perfect tonic for chocoholics everywhere, this chocolate cupcakes recipe is a straightforward, no messing masterclass in how to make the perfect cupcake
- Salted caramel cupcakes – if you like your cakes with a salted caramel taste, these little cupcakes are the ones for you. Blissfully simple and unbelievably tasty
- Raspberry and white chocolate cupcakes – soft, fluffy and so deep in flavor they’ll make your taste buds explode! As pretty as a picture and as tasty as they sound
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Orange Cupcakes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Chocolate Orange Cupcakes are perfect to bake in cold weather and serve over the Christmas period. This recipe uses Terry's Chocolate Orange chunks.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 130g (⅔ cup) caster sugar
- 130g (⅔ cup) butter
- 130g (1 cup) self raising flour
- 30g (¼ cup) cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs
- 40g (⅓ cup) chocolate orange, chopped into small pieces
- 1 fresh orange, juice and zest
Orange Icing
- 125g (⅔ cup) unsalted butter
- 250g (1 ½ cups) icing sugar
- 7.5ml (1 ½ tsp) orange extract
- 10 drops orange food colouring [optional]
Instructions
- Cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 175°C / fan 155°C / 350°F / gas mark 3 (temperature varies on each oven so you may need to make your oven slightly hotter or cooler).
- Place 12 cupcakes cases in a muffin tray. Set aside.
- Measure out butter and sugar into the same bowl and cream together until well mixed and turned lighter in colour.
- Measure out the flour into a separate bowl and add the cocoa powder. Gently stir together.
- Add 1 egg to the creamed butter and sugar along with a tablespoon of the flour and mix well. Repeat this part of the process 1 egg at a time to give a lighter mix.
- Stir in the remaining flour, chocolate orange and orange zest and 10ml (2 tsp) orange juice.
- Scoop mixture into cases, about half full. An ice cream scoop is very handy for doing this.
- Place the mixture in the oven for approximately 15 minutes. Check to see if the cupcakes are cooked. If not, bake for another 5 minutes, or until they are springy and return to shape when lightly pressed on top.
- Orange Icing: Soften the butter. This works well in the microwave in 10 second bursts, checking each time to see if butter is softening.
- Carefully add icing sugar to avoid clouds of icing dust.
- Mix until fully incorporated and butter icing becomes whiter. You can do this by hand but a mixer makes it much easier – just keep the mixer on a slow speed.
- Add the orange extract or some leftover orange juice to the mixture to give it an extra “zing”.
- [Optional] Add the food colouring. Use as much or little as you like to achieve the desired orange icing.
- Using a large star nozzle, pipe swirls of butter icing onto the cakes.
- Decorate with a chunk of chocolate orange or sprinkles of roughly cut chocolate orange.
Notes
Want to make chopping of the chocolate a breeze? Use a Zyliss Easy Pull Food Processor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Cupcakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 355
- Sugar: 34.2 g
- Sodium: 144.7 mg
- Fat: 19.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 11.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1.6 g
- Protein: 3.1 g
- Cholesterol: 76.7 mg
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chinnaddington
Yummy! These are absolutely delicious and so easy to make. You, and your recipes, never disappoint me. Thanks for another keeper!
Renil M. George
Chocolates are made for being in cupcakes.
Genie
Had some of the same questions. Recipe calls for self-rising flour - which is flour with baking powder and salt already in it - but directions call for adding an undisclosed amount of baking powder. Doesn't make sense. Also recipe calls for "small chunks " of the orange chocolate while the directions above and the picture call for grating the orange chocolate. Going to try the recipe. Hope it works. But suggest better proof reading.
Michelle Minnaar
Genie, you're right. There was an error in the instructions, mentioning baking powder. None is needed for this recipe because self-rising flour is used.
I've now updated the recipe and photos. You can grate the chocolate or chop them in small chunks. Your choice!
jan
Self raising flour and bakin powder?
How much bp?
Michelle Minnaar
No baking powder is needed. The recipe has now been updated!
Bob
Self raising flour? whats that?
Michelle Minnaar
Self-raising flour is when raising agent is already added to plain flour, which means you don't have to use baking powder or bicarbonate of soda.
Eilís
These are brilliant. Plan on makeing them soon. Maybe I missed it but how much baking powder is need to make them ?
Michelle Minnaar
Sorry about my mistake. No baking powder is needed. The recipe has now been updated.
Sally - My Custard Pie
That mini camera is amazing.... and so are your beautiful cupcakes. Almost tempted to ditch the Buche de Noel in favour of these.
Laura@howtocookgoodfood
What a lovely combination. I adore Terry chocolate oranges, so good! I am hopeless at fine detail in cake decoration so I am beyond impressed by that camera!
Fiver Feeds
Omg! This is the best cupcake recipe I've seen so far, simply amazing!!!
Fiver Feeds
Omg! This is the best cupcake recipe I've seen so far, simply amazing!!!
Urvashi
Gorgeous! I love the little camera on the cake too. May I ask which nozzle you used for piping. I love that effect?
Ren Behan
Such pretty frosting and I bet they taste amazing! Great cake, too, love the mini camera!
Ren Behan
Such pretty frosting and I bet they taste amazing! Great cake, too, love the mini camera!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
These are absolutely stunning! I'm like you used to be - I prefer my chocolate without fruit or nuts, but I absolutely LOVE chocolate orange!