Orange Cream Cupcakes

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These Orange Cream Cupcakes are made with orange cupcakes and frosting and a light vanilla cream filling! Such a delicious cupcake and fun flavor!

Orange Cream Cupcakes

Orange Cream Cupcakes Recipe

Orange Cream Cupcake with bite taken out

Orange is totally one of those flavors that gets overlooked, even by me, yet it’s a flavor I love. I made an orange cream cake for my cookbook a couple years ago and was reminded of how awesome it is in cake form. Even during pregnancy, my number one craving was orange juice. I’m pretty sure I went through two or three cartons of it a week.

And yet, with the exception of this creamsicle poke cake and creamsicle ice cream cake, there aren’t any orange flavored recipes on the site. Such a shame! Orange is the member of the citrus family that is often overlooked, but not anymore!

Orange Cream Cupcakes displayed on white standclose up of decorated Orange Cream Cupcakes

To get started, make the cupcakes. You’ll want to cream the butter and sugar together and be sure to cream them fully. You’ll notice an actual change in the color and texture of the mixture – light and fluffy – when it’s done. Sour cream is added for flavor and moisture along with a little vanilla and orange zest.

Egg whites are used to give the cupcakes rise and structure (whole eggs will not work here) and then the dry ingredients are added, alternating with the wet ingredients which include freshly squeezed orange juice. I use actual oranges here rather than orange juice from a carton/bottle with added sugars and such.

Bake up the cupcakes and then it’s time to make the filling and frosting!

The filling is a whipped cream cheese filling flavored with vanilla. It’s light and easy to make and pairs perfectly with the cupcake. The frosting uses fresh orange juice and orange zest for flavor, plus a bit of gel coloring for color.

The final cupcake is light and delicious! I love a good filling in a cupcake and this one definitely has it! These are a great lightly citrus cupcake that would be great for any occasion – including Easter!

cupcakes on blue plate

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”lrkrnM4t” upload-date=”2018-03-26T16:44:37.000Z” name=”Orange-Cream-Cupcakes-BLOG” description=”These Orange Cream Cupcakes are made with orange cupcakes and frosting and a light vanilla cream filling!”]
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image of inside of Orange Cream Cupcakes
Recipe

Orange Cream Cupcakes

  • Author: Life, Love and Sugar
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 17 minutes
  • Total Time: 37 minutes
  • Yield: 12-14 Cupcakes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

These Orange Cream Cupcakes are made with orange cupcakes and frosting and a light vanilla cream filling! Such a delicious cupcake and fun flavor!


Ingredients

ORANGE CUPCAKES

  • 6 tbsp (84g), unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cups (155g) sugar
  • 1/4 cup (57g) sour cream
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tbsp finely grated orange zest
  • 3 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups (163g) all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) milk
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) water
  • 3 tbsp (45ml) freshly squeezed orange juice

CREAM FILLING

  • 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 1/4 cup (29g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 oz cream cheese, room temperature

ORANGE FROSTING

  • 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter
  • 4 cups (460g) powdered sugar
  • 34 tbsp (45-60ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/2 tbsp finely grated orange zest
  • Orange gel icing color

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Do not skimp on the amount of creaming time.
3. Add sour cream, vanilla extract and orange zest and mix until well combined.
4. Add egg whites in two batches, mixing until well combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
5. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then combine the milk, water and orange juice in a small measuring cup.
6. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until well combined. Add the milk mixture and mix until well combined. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not over mix.
7. Fill the cupcake liners a little more than halfway. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs.
8. Remove cupcakes from oven and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling rack to finish cooling.
9. When the cupcakes are cooled, make the filling. Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract to a large mixer bowl and whip on high speed until soft peaks begin to form.
10. Add the cream cheese and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
11. Remove the centers of the cupcakes using a cupcake corer or sharp knife, then fill with the cream filling.
To make the frosting, beat the butter in a large mixer bowl until smooth.
11. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
12. Add the orange zest and 1 tablespoon of orange juice and mix until smooth.
13. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
14. Add the remaining orange juice as needed for the right consistency of frosting and mix until smooth.
15. Color the frosting as desired, then pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. I used Ateco tip 844.
16. Decorate the cupcakes with orange slices, or your preferred decorations.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
  • Calories: 422
  • Sugar: 41.7 g
  • Sodium: 86.8 mg
  • Fat: 23.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 52.1 g
  • Protein: 3.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 62.9 mg

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Enjoy!

Orange Cream Cupcakes

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63 Comments
  1. Tammie

    Baked these over the weekend. Other than the cupcakes having flat tops the crumb was fantastic. I did add a little bit of orange extract to the batter and used blood orange juice and zest. They taste like my blood orange scones. I didn’t use the frosting. I instead made a sm batch of SMBC and flavored that orange by adding some zest, less than a tbsp of blood orange juice and again. A little bit of orange extract. The filling? Omgee. This was the first time I’ve made it. At 1st it looked like I over whipped it but instead of stopping I continued and it came together. I would love to make this into a cake. If I were to double the recipe do you think it’ll fit into 9in pans. If not, what size would you recommend? Thanks!






    1. Lindsay

      I’m glad you enjoyed them! You can certainly double it for a cake. I typically use 8 inch pans but you could use 9 inch. The cake just wouldn’t be quite as tall.

      1. Tammie

        Thanks for replying. Besides 6in pans I only have 9in ones so I’m happy to know it’ll work with those. I don’t mind the fact that they’ll be a bit thinner as I like my filling to cake ratio to be equal 😋 I’ll come back to let you and others know how it turned out. Thanks again…

      2. Lindsay

        You can actually use your 6 inch pans too. You wouldn’t need to double the recipe and it should work in the 6 inch pans as two or three layers.

  2. Christina

    This recipe was spot on! I make my own frosting, but the cupcakes were light and fluffy, the filling was perfect! I added 1/4 tsp of orange extract and 3/4 tsp of vanilla for the cupcake portion to give it a bit more of the orange flavor, but the original recipe would be great! Definitely recommend.






  3. Rebecca Bishop

    Looking for something different, I tried this recipe. It is SO good! A light and refreshing change from the standard flavors. They were loved by everyone and will be my “go to” cupcake whenever I need something a little extra special!

  4. Sara

    Turned out amazing! Just what I was craving! This is some people’s pet peeve, but I did make a couple changes: I used 3 whole eggs instead of whites (for a double recipe). And I didn’t do the filling, I just added orange extract to the filling recipe as the frosting. I baked mini cupcakes for 13 minutes and regular cups for 17 minutes.






  5. Dorothy Terrill

    I baked this as a 6 inch cake. Cake is so full of orange flavor. I used the cream filling in between the cake layers. I can’t wait for family to try this cake, it’s so moist and tasty.






  6. Tina Rutkowski

    The cupcakes turned out beautifully….
    Do you recommend adding orange extract for a super orange flavor? Hubby request






  7. Evy

    The crumb is fluffy and tender, there’s no denying that, but I was left searching for more of a pronounced orange flavor; it was just too subtle. Also, the doubled formula is calculated to make 24 cupcakes, but I barely came up with 15. This is my biggest complaint. Overall, I enjoy the delicate crumb of the cupcake. Thank you for sharing this recipe!






  8. Kim Morrison

    Do you think we would be able to make the cupcakes ahead of time, freeze them and then thaw, fill and frost the day before our shower?

  9. Michael Kane

    I made these yesterday and they came out beautiful and delicious! Well, I made the cupcakes and frosting on Sunday, then the filling and assembly yesterday! Got lucky, the oranges were sweet. Decorating isn’t my strong suit but even I couldn’t mess these up! Wish I could post the pix, I did post them to Instagram, @michaelkane60






  10. Marion

    YEP! I watched your video too & unless it’s just a “bad” day baking, I don’t know BUT I WILL NOT be defeated! I’ll try again this weekend.

  11. Marion

    This is the FIRST time I’ve made your recipes & it did NOT turn out AT ALL! I am sooo SAD! I followed the directions EXACTLY! The cupcake itself was bland, a little dry. The filling NEVER got thick enough, it was so THIN & RUNNY. I made it twice to TRY & fix it but no. The frosting was good but I wasted 2 batches trying to make it right. WHAT DID I DO WRONG? I just HAVE to try again as creamsicles were the best ice cream treat EVER. My flour was fresh, as were all the ingredients so I have NO idea what I did.

  12. Marion

    I am SO MAD!!!! For some reason, the filling is VERY thin! I followed it EXACTLY…TWICE & STILL runny. What can I do to make it thicker?

    1. Lindsay

      Is the whipped cream getting stiff peaks? You really should just have to whip it. Are you sure you’re using HEAVY whipping cream?

  13. Emily

    I can’t wait to make these! I’m not a big fan of zest in icing though. Would it be okay to use a little orange extract in place of the zest in the icing? 

  14. Mari

    I made these today and they were delicious! Thank you for sharing and this recipe is a keeper! Very light, airy, and moist cake. Not dense at all. 






  15. Elisa Smith

    I am supposed to make this recipe tonight! I am very excited about it. Out of sheer curiosity, why is water added to the batter? Is it to make the orange juice less tart?

    1. Lindsay

      It’s to add more moisture to the cupcakes. The base of this cupcake is based on a chocolate cake of mine that uses water.

  16. Esme Roma

    One big video ad covered The upper half the screen and a smaller banner ad ran along the bottom. I didn’t see a way to close either one and the recipe was behind it so I just moved on to another web site. 

  17. Janis

    I think these should be called Orange Dream Cupcakes. They are delicious. Thank you so much for the recipe. I love your baking !!!






  18. Lisa

    Just finished decorating, so good!   I can still taste the orange :).   I love that it made 12 cupcakes, just enough.   I put the frosting on the cupcake bits and ate them as I went along.

    Thank you for the great recipe.

    Lisa






  19. Laura Cassidy

    HI Jenny, sorry, one more question!! How come some recipes call for beating butter and sugar well until light and fluffy and others say to beat until just combined? What will the results be for overbeating? Thanks!!

    1. Lindsay

      It really depends on the recipe. Ones that cream the butter and sugar rely on the addition of air into the mixture for helping the cake rise. Ones that don’t include that step use other ways of leavening the batter.

  20. Laura Cassidy

    HI, I can’t wait to try this recipe!! Can you use egg whites from a carton instead? Will it give you the same results, I just hate wasting a yolk?

  21. Penny

    These look amazing! Love the freshness……I would like to try this with lemon zest and lemon juice!!

    What do you think??

  22. Kara

    I am the resident baker in my family, and was inspired to make these for our family’s Easter brunch as a nod to the homemade Orange Julius my mom always made for Easter growing up, They were a huge hit! People tell me all the time that I need to open my own bakery, but if I’m being honest the credit mostly goes to you and your delicious recipes.

    1. Lindsay

      Thanks Kara! So glad they were a hit! And you should totally take some credit – you did bake them after all! 😉

  23. Jenny

    These look so yummy! I love orange flavour cake, so I’m definitely going to have to make these. The filling almost sounds like a no-bake cheesecake, so I’m all for that!

    1. Maria

      So I made these for Easter. Not knowing how to store them. We left them out on the counter top.. They were just fine the second day and nobody got sick.

  24. Hannah

    Do these need to be refrigerated?  They look delicious, but I’d have to travel with them to take them to Easter dinner! 

    Thanks in advance ????

    1. Lindsay

      Sorry for the delay! I hope you were able to enjoy them for Easter! For future – they should be refrigerated, but could sit out for several hours if making a drive somewhere.

    1. Lindsay

      It’s hard to give measurements of the gel, but you don’t need much to achieve nice color. You’ll want to add it after the frosting has been made.

  25. Christina @ North Coast Eats

    Yum! Usually I’m a chocolate person, but these look refreshing! I also need to make your Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream Cake!

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I'm a wife and a mom to twin boys and a baby girl! And I've got a serious sweets addiction! Bring on the treats!

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29