Cranberry Orange Cupcakes

It’s Thursday. Almost the end of the work week, just one more day to go. Now it’s time to start planning what treat you’re going to make this weekend. And pssst…it should TOTALLY be these Cranberry Orange Cupcakes that I happen to be sharing to help support a very great cause.

Not only is it Thursday but it’s October 1st and the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I am partnering with KitchenAid for their program “10,000 Cupcakes One Great Cause“. For each person that posts an original recipe on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtags #10000Cupcakes and #Donate, KitchenAid will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen to help support the fight against breast cancer, up to $10,000.

These Cranberry Orange Cupcakes are my original recipe that I baked for the cause. To be honest, when it comes to cupcakes, I am usually a chocolate kind of girl. They are my favorite. But for this recipe, I needed something pink so I decided to think way outside of my cupcake comfort zone and wound up making (and devouring) these Cranberry Orange Cupcakes.

The cupcakes are studded with dried cranberries and have a hint of orange flavor from some grated orange zest. The frosting is simple vanilla buttercream. I added just a few drops of pink food coloring because I was going for the pink theme.

Now to make my Cranberry Orange Cupcakes and my vanilla buttercream, I turned to my trusty KitchenAid stand mixer for help. I got my first one about 5 years ago and won another at a blogging conference and I have never looked back. It is such an amazing help in the kitchen when it comes to baking. And, seriously, it makes some of the best whipped potatoes. EVER.

And that pretty ceramic polka dot bowl in the background is like one of the prettiest things ever. Well. That and this Raspberry Ice Stand Mixer:

I mean seriously just look at that color. Don’t you want one?

Oh you do?

Ok good, because, thanks to KitchenAid I am giving one away today.

Along with this lovely pink polka dot ceramic bowl:

Now, I don’t know about you but I am sure that would make a lovely addition to any kitchen.

All you have to do for your chance to win is leave a comment below telling me your favorite flavor of cupcake. And to learn more about how you can participate in the 10,000 Cupcakes One Great Cause check out the KitchenAid Cook for the Cure website.

GIVEAWAY RULES:

Open to US Residents only.

Only one entry per person.

Giveaway ends Thursday Oct 15, 2015. Winner will be chosen at random. If I do not hear back from the winner within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

Disclosure: KitchenAid is providing the Stand Mixer to the winner. All opinions are my own.

Cranberry Orange Cupcakes

Cranberry Orange Cupcakes studded with dried cranberries and a burst of orange flavor from orange zest. Topped with a decadent vanilla buttercream.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Servings 12 Servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Cranberry Orange Cupcake Ingredients:

• ▢ 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• ▢ 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 3/4 cup milk
• ▢ 2 teaspoons orange zest zest from one large orange
• ▢ 1 cup dried cranberries

Vanilla Buttercream Ingredients:

• ▢ 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• ▢ 2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 2 tablespoons milk
• ▢ 2 - 3 drops red food coloring
• ▢ orange zest for garnish

Instructions

 

• ▢
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake tin with cupcake liners.
• ▢
  In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after adding each egg. Beat in vanilla.
• ▢
  In another bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.
• ▢
  Slowly add in 1/3 of the dry mixture. Then add in 1/3 of the milk. Repeat alternating until all ingredients have been added.
• ▢
  Fold in dried cranberries and orange zest. Mix just until combined.
• ▢
  Fill cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full (about 1/4 cup of mixture). Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven, allow to cool completely.
• ▢
  Meanwhile make frosting by beating together butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in vanilla extract. Beat in 2 tablespoons milk until a stiff spreadable mixture forms. If too stiff, add remaining milk. Beat in food coloring and continue mixing just until frosting turns pink.
• ▢
  Place frosting in a piping bag and pipe onto cupcakes. Sprinkle orange zest over the top. Serve.

Notes

Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!

Keywords: cranberry, cupcakes, giveaway, kitchenaid, orange