Orange Creamsicle Cupcake

Whether you're looking for the taste of summer or a Halloween appropriate treat, this cupcake has lots of flexibility.  Plus, it's both kid and adult friendly!  For this recipe you'll need...

• Vanilla Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water, but no water required for this one)
• 1 cup of Cream  (this will replace some of the water your cake mix calls for...feel free to use any cream you want like whipping cream, blend cream, or even coffee cream)
• Orange Juice
• Zest of Two Oranges (Some for the cake and some for the icing)
• Store bought Vanilla Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Orange Food Colouring (gel is preferred)
• Garnish Ideas: Candy Corn for Halloween or half a Popsicle stick 

On to the recipe...

Step 1: Preheat your oven as directed on the cake mix package.  Add all the ingredients your Vanilla Cake Mix calls for EXCEPT for the water.  Instead of the water, replace one cup of the called for amount with Cream and top the rest off with Orange Juice.  So, if your recipe calls for 1 1/3 cup of water, add one cup of Cream and 1/3 of a cup of Orange Juice. Then add the zest of one orange.  Mix the ingredients together until it is smooth.

Step 2: Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 3: For the icing, I decided to make it as authentic to a Creamsicle as I possible could, so I made the centre of the icing vanilla and wrapped it in orange flavoured icing.  To do this I had to make my icing in two steps, but it's really easy!  First, make the base of your icing by mixing together your vanilla icing and butter on high until smooth.  Give it a taste and if it's too buttery for you, add some icing sugar.  Once you're happy with the taste and consistency, you're ready to add a dab on top of your cupcake.  Try to put it as close to the middle as possible. I used a piping bag with tip #12 to make it a little easier.

Step 4: Now that you have your cream filled centre, it's time to make the orange flavoured icing!  Simply add the zest of one orange and a tablespoon of Orange Juice and mix it together on high.  To give it a true Creamsicle colour, add some Orange Food Colouring.  I prefer the gel food colourings because it doesn't alter the consistency of the icing.  Then, simply cover your vanilla icing over with the orange flavoured icing.  You can use anything you like to add the icing onto your cupcake, but it is easiest to use a piping bag.  And that's it!     

Happy Faking!