These homemade orange cupcakes are the perfect treat for anyone who loves a refreshing, citrusy twist to their sweets. Light, fluffy, and bursting with fresh orange flavor, these cupcakes are made from scratch with simple ingredients. Whether you’re preparing them for a special occasion or just because, these cupcakes are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face with their perfect balance of sweetness and zest.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon orange zest (from about 1 orange)
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk
- Orange frosting (recipe below)
For Orange Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease the cups lightly with butter.
- Dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs and flavor: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the orange zest, vanilla extract, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined—do not overmix.
- Fill the cupcake tins: Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake tins, filling each cup about 2/3 full.
- Bake the cupcakes: Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the frosting: While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting by beating the softened butter with powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the orange juice, zest, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat for another 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Frost the cupcakes: Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, frost them generously with the orange frosting.
- Serve and enjoy: Garnish with a small slice of orange or extra zest for an added touch. Serve and enjoy the burst of citrus in every bite!