0
You have 0 items in your cart

Orange Cupcakes

4.59 from 12 votes

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These are Orange Cupcakes. Super light and refreshing with the perfect amount of sweetness. Top with frosting and sprinkles!

But if orange isn’t your thing check out these other tasty cakes: Perfect Carrot Cake RecipeVegan Cupcakes, Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe, and Lemon Raspberry Cake.

Orange Cupcakes

Orange Cupcakes | Light and Fluffy

These Orange Cupcakes! I wanted to make something springy and fresh, but slightly different. I originally thought I’d make lemon cupcakes since I’m a lemon freak and all but opted for orange because it’s kinda-sorta out of the norm. Meaning: you all should have oranges on hand or have at least heard of oranges. If you haven’t heard of oranges before, find some and get ready to live!

Cupcake Dry Ingredients

Main Ingredients Needed

To make Orange Cupcakes, start by gathering these ingredients from your pantry:

For the Cupcakes

  • Flour – needed for structure to hold these cupcakes together.
  • Sugar – used to sweeten.
  • Salt – helps to balance out and enhance the sweet flavors.
  • Baking Soda + Baking Powder – used as leavening agents. I like to use both in cupcakes for extra lift.
  • Milk – used for moisture and the protein in the milk gives a soft crumb texture.
  • Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil – helps keep the cupcakes really moist. Canola oil can be used in place of vegetable oil.
  • Vanilla Extract + Almond Extract + Orange Zest – all the zing you need for these delicious cupcakes. It’s a balance of flavors that works SO perfectly together.
  • Egg – used for structure.

For the Frosting

  • Butter – softened. One of the main ingredients for all frostings!
  • Orange Juice + Orange Zest – These ingredients make their way into the frosting that helps tie everything together! If you love orange you’ll love these cupcakes.
  • Vanilla – for flavor.
  • Powdered Sugar – brings the perfect sweetness to the frosting, and helps thicken it.

How to Make Orange Cupcakes|Directions

Here are the step by step directions to make Orange Cupcakes. Scroll to the bottom to find the printable recipe card.

Step 1: Prep

Preheat oven. Line muffin tins with paper liners and set them aside.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Stir with a fork to combine and make a large well in the center.

Step 3: Add in Wet Ingredients

Pour in orange zest, milk, vanilla, almond extract, egg and oil into the well and stir until just combined. This cake batter tastes REALLY good….not that I ate it by the spoonful or anything…

Side note: if you want to sub butter for oil, check out the notes at the bottom of the recipe. I think the butter tastes a little better. But, I used to eat straight up butter right out of the fridge when I was 3.

Step 4: Fill Tins and Bake

Spoon into prepared tins to be 3/4 full and bake 22 minutes for regular cupcakes and 12 minutes for minis. Cool completely before frosting.

Step 5: Make Frosting

In the meantime, whip some butter and orange zest up together and take a big whiff. Mmmmm….orange. Next, add orange juice and vanilla. Slowly stir in powdered sugar until it starts to mix in. Scrape sides and whip 30 seconds until light and fluffy.

Frost cupcakes and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

FAQs

Can I Make Ahead and Freeze Orange Cupcakes?

Yes you can! I would recommend freezing these in a freezer safe ziplock bag or container before frosting. When ready to use, let defrost completely and add whatever frosting you want! You can freeze with the frosting on, but it will be hard to keep them pretty through the process.

Can I Use Almond Milk?

Yes, you can use almond milk in this recipe. Doing so will not change the taste or texture of the cupcakes.

Can I Use Butter As a Substitute For Oil?

Using 1/2 cup softened butter in place of 1/2 cup oil is a great and tasty option. Whip butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in egg, zest, vanilla and almond extract. Alternate stirring in dry ingredients with milk, finishing with the dry. Scrape sides and mix again briefly. Spoon into pans and bake as usual.

Orange cupcakes with orange frosting on top and a little decorative chick

More Cupcake Recipes to Try!

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy your Easter weekend full of good food like these orange cupcakes and these little nests. Have a good one, friends! 🙂

4.59 from 12 votes

Orange Cupcakes with Orange Frosting

These are Orange Cupcakes. Super light and refreshing with the perfect amount of sweetness. Top with frosting and sprinkles!
servings 12 cupcakes
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 22 mins
Total Time 32 mins

Ingredients

for the cupcakes-

for the frosting-

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Stir with a fork to combine and make a large well in the center.
    dry ingredients
  • Pour in orange zest, milk, vanilla, almond extract, egg and oil into the well and stir until just combined.
    orange cupcake batter
  • Spoon into prepared tins to be 3/4 full and bake 22 minutes for regular cupcakes and 12 minutes for minis. Cool completely before frosting.
    baked orange cupcakes
  • To make the frosting, whip butter, orange juice, zest, and vanilla together. Slowly stir in powdered sugar until it starts to mix in. Scrape sides and whip 30 seconds until light and fluffy. Frost cupcakes and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
    orange cupcake with chick

Notes

*Using 1/2 cup softened butter in place of 1/2 cup oil is a great and tasty option. Whip butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in egg, zest, vanilla and almond extract. Alternate stirring in dry ingredients with milk, finishing with the dry. Scrape sides and mix again briefly. Spoon into pans and bake as usual.

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 58mg | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 0.7mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easter Cupcakes, Orange Cupcakes, orange frosting

Share a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




53 Responses
  1. Mal

    3 stars
    Nice idea, but the recipe definitely needs some tweaking. To start, the batter needs more liquid, and it needs a longer baking time. Not sure what else I’d adjust but if I ever try these again I’ll experiment.

  2. Ange A

    5 stars
    Omg these are the best ever I make them all the time and everyone loves them! So simple to throw together. I even put a little oj in the batter 😄 thanks Lauren👍

    1. Lauren

      Yes! Just be sure to freeze before you frost them. Then once defrosted, you can add whatever frosting you’d like. (You definitely CAN freeze them with frosting, but it would be hard to keep them looking pretty through the process.)

  3. Easter Chicks Orange-Almond Cupcakes | That Cupcake Site

    […] Never thought of plunking them on a cupcake. Doin’ this for Easter this year! Thanks to LaurensLatest for the terrific […]

  4. cloey

    I plan to use butter so do i need to add milk into those better? (after zest,almond and vanilla extract and egg? not in the dry flour mix) then pour dry one first then those liquid one and ends with dry mixture?

  5. Lauren Everson

    My friend just sent me this link as she’ll be making these cupcakes and bringing them over for game night Friday. I have to say that A) I happen to love your URL and B) I greatly enjoyed the writing style on this post and will be immediately searching through your blog!
    ~Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook

  6. Orange Almond Easter Cupcakes « The Cupcake Blog

    […] Almond Easter Cupcakes Via Lauren Share : Pin ItTweet Posted by Miss Cupcake in Easter Cupcakes, Fruit Cupcakes, Themed Cupcakes […]

  7. Orange Almond Cupcakes « The Cupcake Blog

    […] and recipe available at Lauren’s Latest Posted by The Cupcake Connoisseur in Fruit Cupcakes, Nut Cupcakes and tagged with almond, […]

  8. Natalie @ Cooking for My Kids

    I am behind on reading blog posts, so I did not get to make these adorable cupcakes for Easter. But, I have pinned them for next year. 🙂

  9. Jen @ The Scrumptious Pumpkin

    I’ve never heard of World Market, but now I have to start searching for one in my area! So adorable 🙂

  10. Julie @ Table for Two

    yum! these look so good and i love that it’s orange almond! that’s a combination you don’t see everyday 🙂 gorgeous frosting on them, too!

  11. Averie @ Averie Cooks

    I’ve made orange donuts that remind me of these, and with coconut in them, rather than the almond…gosh your cupcakes and the frosting is PERFECT!!

  12. Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious

    That pink measuring spoon is so cute. I love seeing unique measuring spoons. I’m kind of stuck with the Oxo ones. They’re great and all, just not all that fun to look at. Speaking of cute, those decorative chicks are just too precious. They kind of look like real chicks!

“logos”