Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

They're not Terry's, they're mine!

Every Christmas, we find a Terry's Chocolate Orange in the end of our Christmas Stockings. Selection boxes and other goodies might not make an appearance, but a Chocolate Orange is guaranteed! Whenever I taste orange flavoured chocolate I think of Christmas.

I made these cupcakes earlier in the year, using Terry's Chocolate Orange Bars- but I think the actual Orange segments would work just as well, if not better.

The recipe is an amalgamation of two recipes from Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery book. Although the book has a recipe for chocolate orange cupcakes, I thought that a chocolate sponge mixture would be far too heavy, and I wouldn't recommend it. These cupcakes are rich enough without adding cocoa into the sponge. Instead, I mixed some chocolate chips into the orange zest and orange juice infused sponge, which was delicious!

I slathered on icing and immediately added a Chocolate Orange segment on top.The chocolate buttercream is incredible! One of the most chocolatey icings I have ever tasted. It was so thick and creamy and easy to pour over the cupcakes, like you would a ganache. As in almost all cases, the recipe makes a lot of buttercream, so you can half the quantities... Or whip up another batch of cupcakes! ;) 

These treats were easy to make- albeit with some preparation (zesting the orange, dividing the segments), but were so impressive! If you're a fan of Terry's Chocolate Orange, you will not be disappointed!

Orange Chocolate Chip Cupcakes [adapted from Cupcakes From the Primrose Bakery]
You will need:
110g butter, at room temp
225g caster sugar
2 large eggs
175g self-raising flour, sifted
90ml milk 
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
Zest of 1 orange
100g chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 160degrees Celcius, and line two muffin trays with cupcake liners.
2. Beat the butter and sugar until smooth.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition/
4. Add the flour and milk alternately, beginning and ending with the flour, beat well after each addition.
5. Beat in the orange juice and orange zest.
6. Stir in chocolate chips.
7. Transfer batter into cupcake cases.
8. Bake for 25 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
9. Allow to cool before icing.

Chocolate Buttercream Icing [produces a large yield]

You will need:

175g 70% cocoa solids dark chocolate

225g butter, at room temp
1 tblspn milk
1 tspn vanilla extract
250g icing sugar, sifted

1. Melt chocolate until smooth (microwave or hob). Leave to cool slightly.
2. Beat the butter, milk, vanilla and icing sugar until smooth.
3. Add the melted chocolate and beat until thick and creamy.
4. Spread/pour depending on the consistency you prefer, over the cupcakes and finish with a segment of Terry's Chocolate Orange.

Enjoy these decadent treats! The perfect gift for Chocolate- Orange lovers on Valentine's Day! 

Stay sweet! x