Spanish Orange Blossom Cupcakes

This cupcake recipe works best with ripe Spanish oranges such as Valencia. The flavoursome depth of the juice in this recipe will give these little gems the authentic taste of Iberia. This also works very well with our other citrous recipes, lemon and lime.

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 100g (4oz) butter or margarine
• 100g (4oz) caster sugar
• 100g (4oz) self-raising flour, sifted
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder (optional)
• 1 orange, finely grated zest of
• 75g (3oz) butter
• 175g (7oz) icing sugar
• 2 teaspoons orange juice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (Electric oven | Electric fan oven 160°C | Gas Mark 4) and place 12 paper cases into a muffin tin.
2. Using an electric whisk, food processor or wooden spoon, beat the butter, sugar and 1/2 the orange zest (save 1/2 for the icing) until very light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating each one in well before adding the next.
4. Carefully fold in the flour (and baking powder if using).
5. Alternatively, you can mix the ingredients together using a food processor. Use the pulse button to mix together in between adding the ingredients in the order above.
6. Bake in the oven for 10 – 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, check to see if the orange cupcakes are ready by inserting a cocktail stick into one of the cupcakes. If it comes out dry then the cupcakes are done. If not, then back in the oven for a few minutes more. Don’t overcook the cupcakes otherwise they will dry out.
7. Lift the orange cupcakes out of the muffin tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.

Orange Butter Icing

1. Using an electric whisk, food processor or wooden spoon, beat the butter until very soft.
2. Gradually add the icing sugar and the rest of the orange zest and beat into the butter. Add some of the juice of the zested orange until you have a smooth paste.
3. When the cakes are cool, drizzle some orange icing mixture over the top. These cupcakes are best eaten on the day they are made.