Orange Cupcakes

Little by little, I’m going to show you how to make some sweet treats just like grandma makes. Those traditional desserts you have at certain times of the year or that you can make for no other reason than you feel like it! Maybe you have a friend round for a coffee or maybe you just fancy something sweet. We all know there’s nothing like home-baking so let’s get on with it!

Today we’re making some orange-flavour cupcakes. The following recipe makes around 18:

Ingredients you’ll need:

• 220g of normal flour, i. e. not pastry flour or bread flour.

• 180g of sugar (you can use a little less for anyone who doesn’t want too much sugar in their diet but 180g is a good amount for this recipe).

• 4 eggs.

• 180ml of sunflower oil (olive oil is stronger and has a different flavour so use sunflower oil).

• ½ an orange (including the rind - no need to peel it)

• One packet of raising agent/baking powder

• Cupcake cases

• You’ll also need scales, preferably digital, so that you can weigh the ingredients accurately.

  

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC while you prepare the mixture.

2. In a large bowl beat two eggs (without separating the whites and yolks) with the sugar.

3. Add the oil bit by bit and continue mixing.

4. Once this has been mixed, add the flour and raising agent gently. You can use a mixer to help you with this.

5. After rinsing the orange under the tap, cut into small pieces, the smaller the better, and add to the mixture. Even though the orange pieces are small you'll still need to use the mixer so that it's all blended together. You would think the orange rind would make the cakes bitter but it doesn’t at all!

   

6. Spoon the mixture into the cases until they are ¾ full. The cakes will rise in the oven.

7. Put in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 170ºC-180ºC, they cook quickly so keep an eye on them. If the oven heats from both above and below, use this setting. If you have a fan-assisted oven use this setting too, the cakes will cook quicker.

   

As you can see, they’re very easy to make. As long as you've got the right measurements, you’ll end up with some delicious cupcakes. A quick and easy treat!

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