Chocolate orange cupcakes

WHIP up a batch of chocolate orange cupcakes for national cupcake day next week Friday.  Joanne Wheatley devised these chocolate orange cupcakes as part of the television series The Great British Bake Off, and topped them with white chocolate and orange buttercream icing. However, you can choose a different icing if you prefer a plainer cupcake.

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE CUPCAKES

120g plain cake flour

140g caster sugar

1 teaspoon baking power

40g unsalted butter

50g dark chocolate, melted

1 free-range egg

125ml milk

1 orange, juice only

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

FOR THE ICING

125g unsalted butter, softened

250g icing sugar

2-3 tablespoons milk

50g white chocolate, melted

1 orange, zest only

100g orange chocolate

tablespoons rice etc

METHOD:

For the cupcakes: preheat the oven to 170ºC. Line a pan for 12 muffins with paper cases.

Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder together in a food processor. Add the butter and pulse until combined.

Whisk the melted chocolate, egg and milk together in a jug.

Stir the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture until just combined.

Spoon the mixture into the cases and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until risen and golden-brown and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the orange juice and granulated sugar together in a bowl. Carefully pour the orange juice mixture over the warm cakes and set aside to cool completely.

For the white chocolate and orange buttercream icing: beat the butter in a bowl until light and fluffy. Carefully stir in the icing sugar and continue to beat for five minutes. Beat in the milk, melted chocolate and orange zest.

Decorate the cupcakes with the buttercream. Use a sharp knife to make chocolate shavings from the orange chocolate and sprinkle on top.