Orange-Chocolate Cupcakes

Do y'all watch Cupcake Wars?

I just recently got into the show

and now DVR every episode 

so I don't miss a one!

I just LOVE all the ideas

and cutting edge flavors

that are discovered through 

the pressure to impress.

About 2 weeks ago

there was a contestant who 

used a hallowed out orange

as the cupcake liner ...

GENIUS, right!?!

Needless to say,

that got my juices flowing!

Here's my take:

Ingredients for Six Cakes
{adapted from Stefani Pollack of Cupcake Project}
Cupcakes:
3 Oranges
1/4 cup Flour
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Instant Coffee or Espresso
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
2/3 cup Dark Cocoa Powder
2/3 cup Orange Juice
3 tbsp. Butter, melted
1 egg
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate, roughly chopped
Zest of 1/2 Orange

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut each orange in half and juice, reserving for later.

Hallow out the inside. Turn each half on it's side and slightly trim the bottom, giving it a flat surface to sit upon. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together until combined. Fill each half orange with batter, being sure not to over fill.

{ FYI: This is over-filled ... lol, made quite a mess! ;) }

Place each half orange on a baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when tested in cake. Let cool.

Nutella Ganache
1/4 cup Nutella
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate, roughly chopped
In a microwave safe bowl, place ingredients in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Cook for 30 more seconds and stir again. It should be a great ganache consistency.
Dip cooled cupcakes into ganache.

Candied Orange Butterflies
If you would like to make these super cute and yummy little butterflies, I followed THIS recipe from foodnetwork.com.
Top each cupcake with a butterfly and serve with a spoon!

I don't even have words

to describe how

flippin' fantastic 

these little guys are!

The cake is

moist,

rich and

chocolaty ...

the ganache is

creamy,

smooth and

nutty ...

and the orange flavor

seeps into the cake

to flavor each bite 

perfectly!

{Oh, did I forget the butterfly? It adds wonderful flavor and crunch!}

Try 'em!

You will fall in LOVE!

Enjoy and

Happy Baking!

PARTY TIME:
Sweets For A Saturday - Sweet As Sugar Cookies
Weekend Wrap Up - Tatertots and Jello
Fat Camp Friday - Mangoes and Chutney
Weekend Show Off - Ladybird Ln.
Show And Tell - Be Different, Act Normal
Shindig Saturday - Kims Kandy Kreations
Strut Your Stuff - Six Sister's Stuff
Sweet Indulgence Sunday - A Well Seasoned Life
Savory Sunday - The Sweet Details
Savvy Homemade Mondays - Home Savvy A-Z
M.M.M. - C.R.A.F.T.
Craft-O-Matic Mondays
Amaze Me Mondays - Dittle Dattle
Mingle Monday - Add A Pinch
Recipe Sharing Monday - jam hands
Show Me What Ya Got - Not Just A Housewife
Topsy Turvy Tuesdays
What I Whipped Up Wednesday - Sugar and Dots
Cast Party Wednesday - Lady Behind The Curtain
What's Cooking Wednesday - Extreme Personal Measures
This Chick Cooks
Whatever Goes Wednesday - Someday Crafts
Sweet Treats Thursday - Something Swanky
Show Off Your Stuff - Fireflies and Jelly Beans
Recipe Swap - Prairie Story