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.
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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
Zoe says
These were absolutely delicious. This is an absolutely faultless recipe and the cakes were super moist and spongy. Thank you, will definitely be making these again soon!
Worth the calories 😉
Donna Woodworth says
Wow, these cupcakes were so moist and delicious. Can’t wait to take some to work tomorrow, they will love them. I wonder if this recipe would work for an eight inch drip cake.
Charlotte Oates says
It would. It’s based on my chocolate birthday cake recipe. If you pop your tin dimensions into my calculator then it’ll tell you how much you need. You’ll then need to tweak the recipe to replace any vanilla with orange extract and make the drip.
Donna Woodworth says
Thank you x
Jade says
Hi there! I’m making a chocolate cake for my boyfriends birthday and would love to use the orange frosting from your recipe to fill and top it, do you know if the quantities for the cupcakes would be enough for a cake or should I double? Chocolate orange is our favourite combo and this looks delicious!
Charlotte Oates says
It depends on the size of the cake. What size are you making?
Judy bullen says
I’ve made these twice as they are so delicious, they don’t last long at home! I could try get orange sprinkles so used white pearls and mini chocolate orange slices, won’t be the last time I get asked to make these!
Charlotte Oates says
I cheated with my orange sprinkles. I put white ones in a small tub with some orange gel colouring and gave it a good shake. They looked good but the colour wasn’t set so marked anything it fell onto. I’m going to stock up at Halloween this year as that’s the best time to find orange.
Gemma says
Hi I have just made this recipe and I just wondered if they are suppose to have a crisp coating on top they are not burned lol my husband likes it I just wondered if I did something wrong they do taste delicious
Charlotte Oates says
They shouldn’t be crispy, I’m not sure what would have caused that. I’m glad to enjoyed them anyway though 🙂
Sally says
A friend and I made these for a charity event at work – they are delicious!
Charlotte Oates says
That’s fantastic. I’m glad you enjoyed them and I hope they helped you raise lots for your charity 🙂
Grace says
Hi, I’m going to make these Tommorow and I was wondering were you get your cupcake cases from,thanks! Xx
Charlotte Oates says
I bought them from Tesco. They’re either Dr Oetker or Tesco own brand (sorry I cannot remember which).
Jo says
These cupcakes are amazing. I’ve never baked a cake since school (I’m almost 30) so I didn’t have a clue, I followed the recipe exactly and they turned out perfect – thank you.
Emma says
Wow, these are gorgeous. I’m an atrocious piper so made them into butterfly cakes instead on the plus side makes them less messy for the kids to eat! I used orange essence in the same quantity and it’s worked fine.
Thanks for the great recipe!
Charlotte Oates says
I love the idea of making them into butterfly cakes. That might be a project for me and my boys to try over the Easter holidays.
Kate says
These were delicious! Everyone wants the recipe! I added chopped up choc orange segments instead of grated chocolate and then coated in flour before gently mixing into the cake batter. Yum!
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Kate, I’m glad you enjoyed them. I’ll have to give the chopped up Chocolate Orange a try next time.
Louise Savage says
Gorgeous recipe!
Dawn says
I made the chocolate orange cupcakes for a bake off at our RFC ladies day lunch, they are the easiest cakes I have ever made and tasted delicious, not only that I won the bake off with them.
Charlotte Oates says
Congratulations on winning your Bake Off. I’m glad everyone enjoyed the cupcakes.
Zoha says
Hey! Can I use orange essence instead of orange extract?
Charlotte Oates says
That should be fine. However essences can have difference concentration of flavour so the amount you need will depend on which one you use. There may be some information on the packing do give you an indication.
Katie (or should I say Cakey) says
I haven’t tried these but I look forward to. Interested to see you use orange essence, I make very yummy (so I have been told) gluten free chocolate orange brownies. I used to use dark chocolate and grate orange in for the flavour. However I have discovered an orange chocolate that melts well and that is Lidls 70% dark chocolate with orange. I look forward to trying them with this recipe. Lids’ dark chocolate with rasberry also works well with baking.
Charlotte Oates says
I’ve found other Lidl chocolate is brilliant for baking so I’m not surprised the chocolate orange works well too. Thanks for the recommendation.
Sal says
Hello. Can I use orange zest instead of orange extract?
Charlotte Oates says
I tried it and I don’t think it works as well. The orange favour is much more muted and the flavour changes as it’s cooked. You get a much more orange-y flavour if you use the extract.
Choclette says
Chocolate and orange is one of my favourite combinations. Your cupcakes look superb as always and one day I’m going to come to you for icing lessons. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa.
Charlotte Oates says
I learnt it from a quick video from This Mama. If you have a look at my vanilla buttercream post there’s a link to her video.
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
I love chocolate-orange…. but have they changed the shape of the segments??? x
Charlotte Oates says
I’ve no idea. I don’t look at them for long enough before eating them!
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
I’m a huge fan of chocolate orange combo Charlotte so I can totally see why your Mum pestered you to share the recipe. They look so good, and that buttercream is definitely one I’m going to try. Thankyou so much for linking up with #BakingCrumbs
Angela x
Charlotte Oates says
I hope you enjoy it Angela x
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
They look amazing and I adore chocolate orange! Thanks for linking up to #TreatPetite
Louise English says
These look delicious. I’m looking forward to seeing what other flavours you created
Charlotte Oates says
I’m busy writing another one up at the moment. Are there any flavours you’d particularly like to see?
Louise (Cooking with Kids) says
Well for Christmas chocolate i’d go retro and say After Eight. Maybe a Christmas pud inspired one. Rich,fruity and nutty, maybe a challenge for buttercream!
Charlotte Oates says
I published peppermint buttercream yesterday on chocolate cupcakes so quite After Eightish (I love those by the way). I love the idea of Christmas Pudding, although I think it would need to be cupcake with buttercream to get all of the fruit and nuts in. I’ve got brandy buttercream coming up which I think would be perfect for the top 🙂
Louise (Cooking with Kids) says
I’ve just eaten tea and thisthis has made me hungry again. I don’t normally make buttercream but I might need to give some of these a go
Charlotte Oates says
Definitely give it a try. My mum doesn’t usually like buttercream and tends to leave most of it as she finds it too sweet but she polished it all off on these cupcakes. I hope you enjoy it if you give it a try x
Charlotte says
Hi Charlotte made my little boys first birthday cake with your all in one vanilla sponge last year and this year was thinking about doing a chocolate orange round sandwich tins X 2 for his 2nd birthday cake. How do I adjust the ingredients for this from your cup cake one here?
Thanks
Charlotte
Charlotte Oates says
What size of sandwich tin do you have?