Orange Chocolate Cupcakes

My 'part-time photog' has been pestering me to make another batch of the moist chocolate cupcakes that she absolutely loves. However, since i am still down with cold, i told her i'll make her a batch of cupcakes that is quick and easy.

Recipe from 125 Best Cupcakes Recipes by Julie Hasson. Uses orange zest as well as orange oil and chocolate chips. It's quick and easy and everyone in my family loves it and ate 2 cupcakes each at one sitting..so i believe the cupcakes must be good. (although my nose is blocked and i cant really taste anything...lol..i can smell the nice sweet orange flavor while the cupcakes were baking in the oven). However, i didn't really smoothen the chocolate icing properly..i added white chocolate to the hot dark chocolate mixture but didn't really stir it well to even it out..you can still see tiny blocks of white chocolate in the icing. I think it is ok - can't expect everything to be perfect when i am not feeling that well right? :)

Btw, i love the cupcake cases..so pretty imo and colors so vibrant! I just bought them in melbourne..and they are like so cheap and all over the supermarket! The cheap cases that are sold here are plain and not pretty and the pretty ones are expensive. :(

Orange Chocolate Cupcakes
from 125 Best Cupcakes Recipes by Julie Hasson
(i'm typing from memory and not copying from the book atm)
makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:-
1 cup of all purpose flour
1 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp of salt
1 tsp of of baking powder
1 tbsp of orange zest (15ml or 1 orange)
1/4 tsp of orange oil
1/4 cup of unsalted butter (50ml)
2/3 cup of milk (150ml)
1/2 cup of chocolate chips
1 egg

Oven: 305f or 180c

Method:-
1. Sift flour, salt & baking powder and set aside.
2. Cream butter & sugar till well blended.
3. Add in egg to butter mixture, followed by orange zest and orange oil.
4. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to the butter/egg mixture.
5. Add in chocolate chips.
6. Spoon mixture evenly into 12 cupcake cases
7. Bake in oven for 20-25 mins at 180c.

Book recommended chocolate fudge icing or orange cream cheese icing. I used neither..but just used the normal/usual chocolate buttercream icing that i usually use.