Chocolate chip cupcakes with orange zest topped with chocolate orange buttercream. Zesty, chocolatey and the perfect treat anytime!
These cupcakes are one of my favourite bakes on the blog. They are by far one of the most popular recipes with my readers and they always get rave reviews! What I love most about this chocolate orange buttercream is that it suits two varieties of cupcakes, my choice for you is a beautifully simple vanilla cupcake filled with fresh orange zest and chips/chunks of dark or milk chocolate. Or you can sit this luscious buttercream atop a classic chocolate cupcake, with it’s glorious fudgy texture and rich dark chocolate flavour. I’ve made this buttercream and used to decorate both types of cupcakes I described above, so pick whichever one you like!
If you love the chocolate orange combo then this cupcake recipe is for you! Rich and buttery cupcakes exploding with tangy orange zest, creamy milk chocolate chips and vanilla. After baking the cupcakes are decorated with a gorgeous (and pretty addictive!) chocolate orange buttercream, which I could happily devour by the spoonful. The batter is like the cupcake version of cookie dough!
The recipe all starts with an easy cupcake batter. I use a trusty sponge cupcake batter which I have made ever since I started baking. The only change I’ve made is I like to milk chocolate chips or chunks along with orange zest to the mix. They give the cupcakes are beautiful zesty and gooey chocolatey flavour in each bite. But if you’re a chocoholic, you can try this recipe using my chocolate fudge cupcakes.
Decorate these amazing cupcake anyway you like! I love topping each cupcake with a chocolate orange segment as a finishing touch and festive sprinkles.
(Makes 12)
Ingredients:
Cupcakes:
150g unsalted butter, softened
150g caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large free-range eggs, at room temperature
1 large orange, zested
100g milk chocolate chips or chunks
150g self-raising flour, sifted – or the same amount of flour + 2 teaspoons of baking powder
2-3 tablespoons milk
Chocolate Orange Buttercream:
150g butter, softened
250g-300g icing sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
157g orange flavoured chocolate, melted and cooled slightly (this is one whole chocolate orange)
2-3 tablespoons double cream or milk
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F / 160 Fan / Gas Mark 4. Line a 12-hole cupcake tin with paper cases.
2. To make the cupcakes: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, sugar and vanilla. Cream until really light and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one and beat to combine. Toss the chocolate chips/chunks in about a tablespoon of the flour and mix – this will stop the chocolate chips sinking to the bottom of the cupcakes. Add the flour, and chocolate along with the orange zest and mix to combine. Adjust the consistency of the batter with milk.
3. Scoop the cupcake batter into the paper cases and then bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Once cooked all the way through, allow to cool in the tins for 5 minutes or until they’re cool enough to touch, then transport to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. To make the buttercream: Melt the chocolate in advance and leave to cool very slightly. In a stand mixer beat the butter, icing and vanilla together on medium to high speed for 5-7 minutes until light and creamy. Add the melted chocolate along with the cream and mix until combined.
5. Put the buttercream into a piping bag fitted with your favourite nozzle. Pipe the buttercream onto each cupcake, then decorate as desired.
Enjoy!
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Wow! Your bake is so pretty! =)
Holy flip! They look a-ma-zing. Such pretty photos too. Thanks so much for linking up with #recipeoftheweek. I’ve Pinned, Stumbled and Tweeted this recipe and there’s a new linky live now – hope you join in 🙂
I love the combination of flavors! These look super duper delicious!
Hi Jess
My hubby is a big chocolate orange fan too so im making these for his birthday.
How much cocoa powder & cream do u use in the icing?
Thank u
Amy xx
Hi. I just saw your blog yesterday and it looks amazing, actually few recipes are on my to do list already. I couldn’t help noticing that you use free-range eggs in all the recipes I’ve seen so far. Is there any reason for that? I mean will I end up having different result if I use regular eggs? thank you.
Hi Hala – really happy you’ve found my blog and want go try the recipes. It’s just a matter of personal choice, it’s so I know the egg is good quality and free from any chemicals. But regular eggs are still perfectly fine to use.
I have just made these and they are amazing!! Family and friends loved them, thank you so much for your recipe, will definitely be making them again 🙂
Hi Jess,
I tried your Biscoff Tart and brought it to home group and EVERYONE loved it. One person took the remaining because she was convinced it would cheer up her family who wasn’t in a good state at the time.
So easy!
Hi Beverley!
So pleased you’re enjoying my recipes. Glad everybody who tried the Biscoff tart loved it, that’s such a great feeling if you all like my recipes! Chocolate always cheers people up!
Thanks I must of miss read it, is it just normal butter in the topping or unsalted?
Hi Claire – you can use any either salted or unsalted butter.
Thank you I’m gona try it 2moro
Great recipe! Tried these out yesterday and made 10 gorgeous cupcakes. I love chocolate orange and I already made chocolate orange cookies so I had to try these. They came out great and were received very well by my friends (they’ve nearly eaten them all already). Will be sharing this recipe of yours on my blog https://studentbakercandlestickmaker.wordpress.com/ for even more people to try! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Can I keep the cakes out the fridge with the frosting keep x
Hi Lucy – the decorated cupcakes will be fine to be kept out the fridge at room temperature for up to 3 days. Enjoy the recipe!
I made these as a valentines treat and they went down so well. The flavour was delicious and your right the cupcake batter was addictive. I’m looking to trying some more of your recipes soon.
Thank you for the lovely feedback, Lola! 😀 I’m really pleased you enjoyed the recipe!
Hello Jessica
I love your recipes!! They are so easy to do. So far, I’ve only tried the sablés, they were really great!!
For this recipe, what can I put for the mousse if I don’t find Terry’s chocolate?
Thank you for your generosity 😊
Nath
Hi Nathalie! I saw your biscuits from my blog and thought how beautiful they were. 🙂 If you can’t get chocolate orange, use 100g of milk/dark chocolate and add about 1 teaspoon of orange zest or some orange extract.
It would be helpful if you also showed cup, tsp, tblspn
Hi Beverly – thanks for the feedback. I’ll definitely look into sharing cup measurements.
Just made these – so good, mixed it up and made an Oreo variation as well!!
I’m really pleased you enjoyed them! Love the Oreo twist! 😀
Analysed recipe and it’s only 450 calories a cupcake (and thats an overestimation if the mix makes 10, including the orange segment on top!!). So tasty
Hi could u use plain flour instead as my cakes never usually turn out
self raising
Hi Sam – yes, you can substitute the self-raising flour with the same amount of plain flour, adding 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Brilliant thank you and yes I will be making them Friday so will let you know
Made them they came out beautiful my dad loved them
Can’t wait to give these a whirl! Dad loves chocolate oranges so this will be a nice twist for Father’s Day 🙂
Hi Kirsty! I hope you all really enjoy them! 😀 Let me know how they go!
I just made a big version of this for my brother’s birthday cake, Terry’s Chocolate Orange is his favourite and I’m pretty sure he’s going to love me for this, haha! I’ve made the cupcakes before and they turned out beautifully so I adjusted things slightly for a sandwich cake because it’s my go to chocolate orange recipe 🙂
Hi Heather! Thanks for your comment! I’m really happy you like my cupcake recipe, that makes me happy to hear! Love the idea of baking a sandwich cake – definitely going to try that sometime.
Happy birthday to your brother, I really hope you all enjoy the cake! 😀
You definitely have a talent, these are great!
Hi Jess what type of nozzle do you use on your piping bag for these, I’m a bit rubbish at picking the right one! 🙂
Hi Stacey! I usually use a large open star tip for most the cupcakes I make. Hope you enjoy the cupcakes. Have a great Christmas! 🙂
This is my go to chocolate orange frosting recipe, it always goes down so well with all who try it. Thank you 😊
I always use your chocolate orange recipe and it always goes down well with friends and family, thank you 🙂