Dreamy Orange Cupcakes Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Beat together the orange cake mix, creamy salad dressing, whipped topping mix, 3/4 cup orange juice, eggs, and 2 tablespoons orange zest in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until mixture is moist, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then increase speed to medium and continue beating until well blended, about 2 minutes more. Fill the prepared cupcake cups about 2/3 full of batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
• To make cream topping: Beat the marshmallow creme, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, and 1/2 cup shortening in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Top each cooled cupcake with a 1/2-inch thick layer of the cream topping, using a knife to spread the the topping flat. Allow about 1/2 inch of the orange cupcake to show below the white layer.
• To make orange butter cream: Beat 1/2 cup unsalted butter and 1/2 cup shortening together in a bowl until light and fluffy. Mix in 1/4 cup orange juice, zest of 1 orange, vanilla extract, and food coloring until well combined. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until smooth.
• Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, and pipe a decorative layer of orange butter cream, ending in a peak, over the cream topping on the cupcakes.

Steps:

• Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F Prepare baking pans with cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, whisk baking soda, flour and salt. In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk and sour cream; set aside.
• In separate bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter until smooth. Slowly add sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.
• Add extract and 2 to 4 drops food coloring (optional), mixing well.
• Add flour mixture alternating with buttermilk mixture. Mix until well combined.
• Pour into baking cups to 3/4 full. Bake approximately 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven, and allow to cool completely on wire rack before assembling.
• Orange Buttercream Frosting: Blend butter until smooth; slowly add confectioners' sugar until combined. Add vanilla and water; mix at low speed 1 minute, then at high speed for 5 minutes. Set aside 1 cup frosting. Add extract and food coloring to remaining frosting, mixing well.
• Vanilla Buttercream Filling: In a medium bowl, fold in non-dairy whipped topping, 1/2 cup at a time, into the 1 cup of reserved frosting. Whisk until smooth.
• To assemble cupcakes: Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large open star tip with Vanilla Buttercream Filling. Insert the tip halfway into the center of the baked cupcake; press until the top of cupcake begins to rise slightly. After filling cupcakes, frost as desired.