Orange cupcakes with walnuts and cream frosting
Description
The recipe won't take much time. This recipe will yield 18 cupcakes.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. Spread walnuts on a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. Let cool completely. In a small saucepan, combine sugar, milk, cinnamon, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer gently until the mixture reaches 115 degrees, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and thoroughly mix in vanilla extract and walnuts. Pour the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread it out. Work quickly before the mixture hardens. Using a fork, break the caramel into large pieces. Let cool completely. Make cupcakes. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease and flour the cups. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time and beat well.
- 2
Step 2
2. Add finely grated zest, juice, and vanilla extract, and mix. Add one-third of the flour mixture and stir. Mix in half of the sour cream. Repeat this process with the remaining flour and sour cream. Beat the batter for 20–30 seconds. Fill paper liners with 2 tablespoons of batter each.
- 3
Step 3
3. Bake for 18-20 minutes for standard cupcakes or 10-12 minutes for mini cupcakes, until golden brown. Let cool completely.
- 4
Step 4
4. To make the nut glaze, combine brown sugar, water, butter, and orange zest in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes, until the mixture reaches a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract and chopped walnuts. Let cool for about 20 minutes.
- 5
Step 5
5. To make the cream cheese frosting, beat cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, and beat well. Mix in vanilla extract. Beat the mixture thoroughly, adding 1 tablespoon of heavy cream if the frosting is too thick. Drizzle cupcakes with nut glaze, then decorate with cream cheese frosting and top with pieces of nut caramel and an orange slice.