Orange Filled Chocolate Cupcakes With Fondant Food

CHOCOLATE ORANGE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark 4, and line a cupcake tin with cupcake cases
• For the cupcake sponge, mix together the butter and caster sugar, ideally using an electric mixer, until smooth and fluffy
• Add the eggs and orange extract and whisk them in well
• Then gently whisk in the self raising flour, baking powder and cocoa powder
• Divide the mixture between the cupcakes cases, and bake them for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cupcakes comes out clean. Put them on a rack to cool completely
• Make the buttercream by mixing together the butter, cocoa powder and icing sugar, then add the orange extract and milk, and mix until smooth. You can do this by hand, but an electric whisk are stand mixer with paddle attachment will provide the best results. If the buttercream is too stiff, you can add a little more milk
• Spread or pipe the buttercream on top of the cupcakes
• Decorate with the Terry's chocolate orange segments and orange sprinkles
• Store in an airtight container in a cool place and eat within 3 days

CHOCOLATE ORANGE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Begin by preheating oven to 350°F / 175°C. Place 12 cupcake liners in cupcake pan.
• Sift 3/4 cup all purpose flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt into a large bowl and set aside.
• In a separate, large bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup orange juice, 2 large eggs, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 1 Tbsp fresh orange zest, 1 tsp vinegar, and 1 tsp orange emulsion or extract. Mix until combined.
• Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix together with a whisk or rubber spatula just until the batter in smooth.
• Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for about 18-21 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
• Let the cupcakes cool for 10 minutes in the pan before moving them to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
• While the cupcakes cool, make the orange chocolate buttercream. Beat 1/4 cup of unsalted butter on a medium speed for 30 seconds with a hand mixer until smooth.
• Mix in 1 Tbsp fresh orange zest, 1 tsp orange emulsion or extract, and 1/4 tsp salt on a low speed.
• Slowly mix in 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder, and 3 Tbsp of heavy cream on a low speed. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as need with a rubber spatula.
• Mix in 1/4 cup of cooled, melted dark chocolate.
• Beat on low until the ingredients are fully incorporated and the desired consistency is reached.
• If the frosting seems too thick, add an extra Tbsp of heavy cream. If it's too thin, add in another 1/4 cup of powdered sugar.
• Stir by hand with a rubber spatula to get the frosting SUPER smooth. Place into a large piping bag fit with a Wilton 1M frosting tip.
• If desired, remove the center of each cupcake with a small knife and fill with 1 Tbsp of orange marmalade.
• Pipe a rosette on top of the marmalade with the orange chocolate buttercream using a Wilton 1M piping tip.
• Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh orange zest and an orange peel spiral.

ORANGE CREAM CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the eggs and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium low; slowly beat in the melted butter, then add the orange zest and vanilla.
• Beat in the flour mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture; beat until just combined (do not overmix).
• Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then remove the cupcakes to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Bring the orange juice to a boil in a saucepan; reduce the heat to medium and simmer until reduced to1 1/2 tablespoons, about 8 minutes. Let cool.
• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the butter, a little at a time, until smooth. Reduce the mixer speed to low; sift the confectioners' sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth. Add the vanilla, the cooled orange syrup, orange zest and food coloring and beat on medium speed until combined. Refrigerate until spreadable, about 15 minutes. Spread the frosting on the cupcakes; top with candied orange zest.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Line muffin pans with 12 paper liners. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time. Mix in the chocolate syrup and vanilla. Add the flour and mix until just combined. Don't overbeat, or the cupcakes will be tough.
• Scoop the batter into the muffin cups and bake for 30 minutes, or until just set in the middle. Don't overbake! Let the cupcakes cool thoroughly in the pan.
• For the ganache, cook the heavy cream, chocolate chips, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.
• Dip the top of each cupcake in the ganache. Decorate with candied violets, if desired. Do not refrigerate.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the sugar, flour, cocoa, pinch of salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Whisk together the eggs, vegetable oil and milk. Gradually whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until you have a smooth mixture. Fold in the dark chocolate and orange zest. Put 12 cupcake cases in a 12-hole tin. Divide the mixture between the cases, then bake for 20 mins until risen. Leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the icing sugar and butter together until pale and fluffy. Whisk in 2 tbsp hot water to loosen and fold in the orange zest. Divide the icing evenly between two bowls. Add a few drops of orange food colouring to one bowl and stir until the icing turns bright orange. In the other bowl, add the cocoa powder and 2 tbsp milk, then beat until combined.
• Fill one side of a piping bag (use one with a large round nozzle) with the orange icing, then fill the other side with the chocolate buttercream. Pipe on top of each cupcake. Decorate with some extra orange zest and a grating of dark chocolate.

FILLED AND FROSTED ORANGE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 20 standard-sized muffin cups with muffin liners and spray lightly with cooking spray.
• Mix butter for cupcakes in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add sugar and beat for 2 more minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition until incorporated. Mix in orange zest.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the milk, beating batter briefly after each addition. Mix in orange juice. Pour batter into the prepared muffin cups until they are about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put a mixing bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• Remove bowl from the freezer and add heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla for filling. Whip with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form (make sure they don't fall over), 3 to 5 minutes. Don't overmix or your whipped cream will start separating and turning into butter. Put filling in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Cream softened butter for frosting with an electric mixer for 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low and gradually mix in powdered sugar. Beat for 2 minutes. Mix in milk, vanilla, and salt.
• Use a serrated knife to make a 3/4-inch hole in the center of each cooled cupcake. Fill the holes with filling and frost the tops with frosting. Garnish each cupcake with an orange peel.

ALICE'S FONDANT FILLING FOR CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• Combine ingredients in heavy saucepan. Boil until it reaches a soft ball stage. Pour into buttered dish to cool.
• After mixture is cooled, pour on clean surface and beat with wooden paddles until light and airy. Just as mixture "turns" mix in flavoring until thoroughly blended inches.
• Refrigerate to cool completely. Form into balls. Dip in desired chocolate.
• Variations:.
• Peppermint (peppermint extract to taste).
• Maple Walnut (maple flavoring to taste and finely chopped walnuts).
• Orange (orange extract to taste--a few drops to 1/2 teaspoon).
• Cherry (Maraschino cherries drained and quartered--pat dry).
• Cherry-almond (as above but add almond extract to taste).
• Almond (almond extract with a sliced almond on top of finished chocolate).
• Coconut (fine coconut plus vanilla).
• Rum (rum extract plus 1-2 teaspoons butter).