Orange Dream Mini Cupcakes

Name: Orange Dream Mini Cupcakes
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4 dozen.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1 cup sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1 tablespoon grated orange zest; 1 tablespoon orange juice; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup buttermilk; BUTTERCREAM:; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 tablespoons 2% milk; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 cup orange marmalade

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 1 hour Bake: 15 min. + cooling YIELD: 4 dozen.

The bright taste of these cute cupcakes reminds me and my friends of orange-and-vanilla frozen treats. —Jen Shepherd, St. Peters, Missouri

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
BUTTERCREAM:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons 2% milk
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup orange marmalade

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Line 48 mini-muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange zest, orange juice and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
2. Fill prepared cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 11-13 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
3. For buttercream, in a large bowl, beat butter and salt until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth.
4. Using a paring knife, cut a 1-in.-wide cone-shaped piece from top of each cupcake; discard removed portion. Fill cavity with marmalade. Pipe or spread buttercream over tops.

Nutrition Facts

1 mini cupcake (calculated without colored sugar): 96 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 72mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.