Chocolate Orange Cognac Cupcakes

  

Craving cupcakes 🧁? (well, of course – who isn’t?)
Craving chocolate? (OF COURSE)
Craving citrus? (yes, we all love fresh oranges, and ’tis the season for citrus!)
Craving cognac? (if you’re not sure, you’ve not yet had the best of the best for creamy, buttery, sweet solace in a sip).
Craving4More (YES!!!!) 

Chocolate Orange Cognac Cupcakes

Orange Cognac Cupcakes:
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
½ tsp. sea salt
½ cup butter at room temperature (1 stick)
1 1/4 cup white sugar
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs, room temperature
2/3 cup whole milk, room temperature
1 Tbs. fine cognac
1/2 tsp. orange extract

 

Orange Chocolate Cognac Buttercream:
1 cup butter, room temperature 
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
⅛ teaspoon salt
2 Tbs. fine cognac
1 tsp. orange extract

 

Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line the cupcake pan with liners. 

 

Set aside.

 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: cake flour, baking powder, and salt. 

 

Set aside. 

 

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. 

 

Add vanilla and beat until incorporated. 

 

Then, add eggs and beat until light and fluffy, about a minute.

 

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in thirds, alternating with the milk, just until each ingredient is incorporated and the batter is smooth. 

 

Do not over-mix. 

 

Stir in the cognac and orange extract.

 

Divide batter among 24 cupcake liners, filling each about ⅔ full. Bake in preheated oven for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

 

Remove pan from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling.

 

Orange Chocolate Cognac Buttercream Frosting:

In a large bowl, add room temperature butter and beat until creamy, about 1 minute.

 

Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt, cognac, and orange extract. 

 

Beat until light and fluffy.

 

Pipe or spread the frosting with a knife onto cupcakes and serve.

 

Garnish with sprinkles and/or chocolate-covered orange peel.