Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Limoncello Frosting

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Candy/Halloween

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (57)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
24 cupcakes

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 1 hr 0 min
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 1 hr 50 min

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Ingredients

Cupcakes:

1 box chocolate cake mix
Orange juice (instead of water in cake mix)
1 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 cup diced candied orange peel (about 8 ounces)

Frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons butter, softened (1/2 stick)
2 tablespoons limoncello (you can substitute with 2 tablespoons lemon juice for minors)
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 orange, zested
1/4 cup finely diced candied orange peel, for garnish
Special equipment: cupcake liners, 2 muffin pans

Directions

To make the cupcakes: mix the chocolate cake mix according to package instructions, substituting orange juice for the water. Toss the chocolate chips with the flour. Fold the chocolate chips and the candied orange peel into the chocolate mixture. Line the muffin pan with the cupcake liners. Fill and bake the cupcakes according to package instructions. Let the cupcakes cool for 1 hour on a wire rack before frosting.

To make the frosting: combine all the ingredients except the candied orange peel in a medium bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Using a small spatula, place about 1 tablespoon of frosting on top of each cupcake. Top with a small sprinkle of candied orange peel.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Limoncello Frosting
cheryl Allen, TX 11-17-2009
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Halloween Treets
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Made these for family. cupcakes are excellent but frosting recipe needs adjusting in consitency. I just added water while... beating till it was right consistency .Read more
recipe Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Limoncello Frosting
tanya knoxville, TN 11-07-2009
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Very Unique Flavor
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is one of my favorites recipes to share with family. The orange and chocolate are perfect together. I use Orangecello... instead of the Limoncello for the icing and it is fantastic. The trick with the flour and chocolate chips is so important. I love the chips throughout the cupcake.Read more
recipe Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Limoncello Frosting
null null, null 11-03-2009
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Decadent and delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

After reading the other reviews mentioning the runny frosting, I doubled the butter and used an entire stick. That resulted... in a great consistency, and just the right frosting to cupcake ratio! I couldn't find orange peel in the store, and didn't have time to check out a specialty food shop, so I also made my own. The end product was delicious (I think I'll make orange peel again just as its own sweet treat), but that did add to the prep time of this cupcake recipe. Regardless, I loved how the fruity frosting and chewy orange peel balanced out the chocolatey cupcakes. Everyone loved it for Halloween. I'll definitely hold onto this recipe!Read more
recipe Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Limoncello Frosting
JoAnn Tampa, FL 11-02-2009
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Will have to try again
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

Checked in three stores and couldn't find the candied orange peel, so I made my own. Maybe that was my downfall?!? The... cupcake centers were gooey and the chips sunk to the bottom. (I did flour them beforehand.) After reading all the great reviews, I'll have to try these cupcakes again using store-bought peel. My frosting was runny and not flavorful. I'll try using cream cheese next time. Wish me luck on my next batch!Read more
recipe Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Limoncello Frosting
Janine Manchester, IA 10-31-2009
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Moist and great flavor!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I could not find the candied orange peel so like another comment I put orange marmalade in a fine strainer and ran warm water... over it and added the orange pieces to the cake mix. It was still somewhat jellied and that may have added to the moist cake. Since I didn't have nearly a cup I added orange zest to the cake and also the frosting. After reading the comments I used less liquid and cream cheese instead of the butter in the frosting and added a heaping tablespoon of the orange maramalade. Also, made a 9x13 cake pan instead of cupcakes. Read more
recipe Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Limoncello Frosting
null null, null 10-30-2009
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great cupcakes
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

i think it was great!! but not perfect! the iceing was runny but she was right about the orange and chocolate combination