Chocolate orange sponge topped with smooth chocolate orange buttercream and topped with a slice of Chocolate Orange – Chocolate Orange Heaven!
A couple of weeks ago I decided to experiment with some new buttercream flavours. I thought it would be fun to create some along a Christmas theme and as it turned out I found not one, not two, but five new flavours. So this week is now officially Festive Buttercream Week 🙂 A week of different flavours, perfect for adding a festive twist to your cakes.
My first new flavour is chocolate orange. The reason these are first is that my parents were visiting last week when I was testing the recipe and my mum enjoyed it so much she’s been nagging me to share it so she can make some more.
Seeing as chocolate orange is such an amazing flavour, I thought that I’d go all out and make the sponge chocolate orange flavour too, and I topped each one with a slice of chocolate orange just to finish them off.
Rather than melting down actual Chocolate Oranges into my cupcakes and buttercream, I decided to add the orangey flavour using orange extract. The main reasons I did this is because Chocolate Oranges don’t like heat. The chocolate goes grainy and unusable far more easily than the chocolate you’d find in the baking aisle. This isn’t great to eat, and let’s face it, no one wants to waste Chocolate Orange. It would spoil the whole baking experience.
CAN THESE CUPCAKES BE MADE INTO A FULL-SIZED CAKE?
Absolutely!
After many requests, I’ve converted this cupcake recipe to make a full-sized Chocolate Orange Cake.
Not only can this cake be baked as a round layer cake; there’s also a handy calculator so you can work out the recipe for any size of round, square or rectangular cake.
Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Chocolate Orange Buttercream
INGREDIENTS
Cupcakes
- 150 g self-raising flour
- 30 g cocoa powder
- 175 g caster sugar
- 175 g soft margarine – or softened butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp orange extract
- 75 g milk chocolate – choose something from the baking aisle in the supermarket as it will cope well with the heat in the oven without going grainy
- ½ tbsp milk
- 12 cupcake cases
Buttercream
- 250 g unsalted butter – soft at room temperature
- 250 g icing sugar
- 150 g milk chocolate – choose a chocolate from the baking aisle as this won’t go grainy when it’s melted
- 40 g cocoa powder
- ½ tsp orange extract
- A little milk
To finish
- 12 pieces of Chocolate Orange
- Orange sprinkles
INSTRUCTIONS
For the cupcakes
- Pre-heat your oven to 160ºC/140ºC fan.
- Put your cupcake cases into a muffin tin.
- Grate the milk chocolate (75g).
- Put all of the ingredients into a large bowl (150g self-raising flour, 30g cocoa powder, 175g caster sugar, 3 large eggs, 175g soft margarine, 1 tsp orange extract, ½ tbsp milk and the grated chocolate) mix on a low speed until fully combined.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the 12 cupcake cases (I use a cupcake scoop to help split it evenly).
- Put the tin into the oven and cook the cupcakes for 20-25 minutes. After 20 minutes put a skewer in the middle and check if it comes out clean. If it does they’re done, if not pop them back in for a couple more minutes and check again.
- Once cooked, remove the cupcakes from the oven and leave them to cool in the tins for a few minutes.
- Remove the cupcakes from their tin and pop them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
For the buttercream
- Break the chocolate (150g) into pieces and melt it (either using short bursts in the microwave – stirring regularly, over the lowest possible heat in a saucepan – stirring constantly, or in a bain marie – stirring constantly).
- Once melted remove from the heat and pour into another bowl (this will help it to cool as it needs to be back to room temperature before mixing with the buttercream).
- Beat the butter (250g) until soft then add the orange extract (½ tsp), cocoa powder (40g) and icing sugar (250g) and beat until fully combined (it’s easier to avoid the cocoa powder and sugar flying everywhere if you add it a spoonful at a time).
- Once the chocolate has cooled to room temperature (DO NOT add the chocolate when it’s still warm as it’ll melt the butter and your buttercream will end up too runny) pour it into the buttercream and beat until fully combined. You should find that the buttercream is soft and spreadable. If it is a little stiff then add milk a tsp at a time until it is the right consistency.
Build your cupcakes
- Pipe your buttercream onto the cupcakes. Top each one with a slice of chocolate orange and some orange sprinkles.
NOTES
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Any nutritional information provided is the estimated nutritional information per serving. Please refer to my guide to Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen nutritional information if you would like to learn more about how this is calculated.
Free From/Suitable For…
The ingredients I used to make this recipe are all free from the following allergens. However, please check any labels carefully for allergens you need to avoid as brands can vary and product recipes can change over time.
- Suitable for Vegetarians
- Tree Nut-Free (Chocolate Orange may contain nuts)
- Peanut-Free
- Sesame-Free
- Sulphur Dioxide & Sulphite-Free
- Lupin-Free
Lily says
Am i able to melt the milk chocolate rather than grating, like in the “easy chocolate cake” recipe? or does it have to be grated for these cupcakes? Thank you 🙂
Charlotte Oates says
Yes. That will also work.
Rebecca Moore says
I’m not sure what’s happened here – I made them and followed the recipe exactly and after 20 minutes, I expected to just have to check with a skewer but they were wobbly – currently back in the oven for another 5 minutes at 160 – has anyone else had this problem???
Charlotte Oates says
How did they turn out after the extra time? Unfortunately all ovens operate a little differently and so what is the perfect time in one, may differ a little from others. Also, the position of your cakes in the oven or how full your oven is can also impact how they bake. This means cakes can sometimes need a bit of extra time (which is why I say to check them rather than simply taking them out after 20 minutes).
Hopefully after the extra few minutes they were just right.
Marie hodgson says
I was looking for a recipe that was easy but a bit different and wow this is the one it’s so moist and the prange flavour comes through beautifully and I did stick to the exact recipe it’s my daughters birthday soon so I will do a big sponge using this recipe x
Rebecca Norton says
Another amazing recipe, successful every time. My boys are not buttercream fans, so I just melted some chocolate orange and milk chocolate for the topping and placed the chocolate orange segment on top. Not quite as gourmet looking, but easy and tasty.
Denise says
These cakes are amazing !!
Nilu says
I made these the other day and they were a big hit with my family! I ended up experimenting and finely grated the mini terrys chocolate orange pieces and whisking the mixture till smooth for the cupcakes. Then for the butter cream I broke the terry chocolate orange pieces in half and put in microwave for short bursts whilst stirring until the chocolate was completely smooth. The result with both was amazing! The cake was so soft and the butter cream was very tasty. Thank you very much for this recipe.
Bec Swann says
Oh my gosh…. so I can’t bake … no matter how hard I try it always goes wrong I’m 100% a master of starters and mains… tried these during lock dock more so to occupy myself and I have people close to me who Love cupcakes and sweets! ….. I love chocolate orange so thought win win here I can have one and everyone else can get a treat. So easy to make! They taste amazing and coming from someone who could burn toast I shocked myself at how amazing these came out! Already got family requesting their batch so thank you for sharing they are delicious
Ying says
Hi Charlotte! Just wanted to tell you that these were a-ma-zing. Mindblowing!!!! My very picky mum straight up declared “these are so good.” Thank you for posting your simple yet delicious recipes, I look forward to trying your other recipes 🙂 stay safe during this period!
Iris Olgun says
Hi there,
I love this reciepe, I changed it up a bit. I melted 80g of Terry Chicolate Orange 40ml extra thick cream and 20g butter and made a ganache for the centre of the cakes. I know you said that Terry Chocolate Orange doesnt melt down well, if you five it a good beat, my ganache was as smooth as anything. I was thinking of melting some more Terry Chocolate Orange to put through the buttercream, but might just go with your recipe. I also put Cadbury Dairy Milk through the cake mix. Thanks for the reciepe. Take care.
Catherine henney says
So easy and the result is amazing.
We are giving these for our loved ones in lock down, sending much love.
Ryan Johnson says
If you don’t have extract can you use the zest from an orange ?
Charlotte Oates says
You can. It will still taste delicious although will have a slightly different flavour to if you’d used orange extract.
Anouska says
Amazing every time- my kids think I’m fantastic and ask me to cook them this recipe all the time!
Kay Hughes says
I made your chocolate orange cake and it was beautiful, have you got a recipe for a giant cupcake mould PLEASE.
Charlotte Oates says
I don’t – sorry.
Aliya says
Hi! Where can i buy the orange sprinkles you used to decorate your chocolate orange cupcakes?
Charlotte Oates says
I actually made them myself by shaking some white ones in a tub with some orange colouring, but I would really recommend that approach as the colour doesn’t stick so could stain your clothes if they fall onto them.
I have found eBay has a lot of sprinkles you can’t find anywhere else so I’d recommend having a look there.
judy bullen says
Made these for a charity fundraising event at work, sold all of them. How long do they keep for?
Charlotte Oates says
They should keep for about 5 days in an airtight container.
Anonymous says
Hey there , this recipe is so good any more you recommend love the chocolate orange fab !!
Charlotte Oates says
If you love chocolate orange then you should try my chocolate orange cake (A large version of these cupcakes) or my chocolate orange cheesecake.
NHF says
Is it supposed to be like a mousse when going into the cupcake cases? Rather than being a runny mixer than self levels?
Charlotte Oates says
Have a look at the video in this recipe. It’s a different recipe, but the consistency of the mixture is similar so it should give you an idea.
Genni says
Please in US measurements please
Charlotte Oates says
Click the BIG GREEN BUTTON just above the ingredients that says “US Cups/Ounces”
CC says
Made these tonight, are they supposed to be a bit dense? I’m guessing they will be fudgy because of the added choc to the mix but just checking in case I poison my work colleagues 🙂
Charlotte Oates says
The addition of the chocolate does make them a little denser than a regular sponge, but they should be too dense. That said, I double you’ll poison anyone even if they’re a little denser than normal.