If you love the classic chocolate orange flavour combo, then these marbled chocolate orange cupcakes are for you!
Made with a marbled vanilla and chocolate orange sponge, filled with rich chocolate orange ganache and topped with vanilla buttercream, a chocolate orange segment and a chocolate orange drizzle, these cupcakes feel a little bit special without being fussy.
More is more!
I could have stopped at a simple marbled vanilla and chocolate sponge for these cupcakes but I decided I wanted to go a step further.
So to make them a little more indulgent, I included a few extra delicious elements.
These baked cupcakes are partially hollowed out and filled with a chocolate orange ganache. Then topped with a vanilla buttercream swirl before having a chocolate orange glaze drizzled over them.
And to finish a Terry's chocolate orange segment tops the cake.
The marbled sponge cake
For the sponge I divided the mixture into two and then flavoured one half with chocolate orange and the other half vanilla.
To make a marbled effect small spoonfuls of each sponge batter are spooned alternately into the cupcakes until the paper cases are around half to two-thirds full.
The two different cake mixtures are then rippled together to make a marbled effect, taking care not to over mix them.
Chocolate Orange Ganache
After baking the cupcakes are partially hollowed out and filled with a silky chocolate orange flavoured ganache.
The chocolate orange ganache itself was delicious. Having made the creamy chocolate mixture, I sampled it and soon found that I'd eaten two or three teaspoons of it! Beware - it's seriously yummy! The quantity below makes a little more than you will need to fill the nine cupcakes but any remaining ganache could be shaped into a few handmade truffles....that's if you have more will power than I do 😉
Vanilla Buttercream
The vanilla elements helped to lighten these cupcakes, producing a delicious cake which really worked. So for the frosting I chose to do a vanilla buttercream to reflect the vanilla and chocolate orange combination of the sponge in the frosting.
To Finish
The vanilla buttercream also makes a frosting that contrasts with a drizzle of chocolate and the chocolate orange segments that top the finished cake.
Easy to make
Even though there may seem to be many elements to these chocolate orange marbled cupcakes, each element takes only a few short minutes and are straightforward to make.
After a little effort you are rewarded with a batch of lovely cupcakes which will be warmly accepted by those who you choose to share them with.
Now, I'll openly admit that these delicious cupcakes may contain a few calories, but who's counting? If you fancy having a cupcake you might as well have one with bells and whistles.
So let's get to it and bake marbled chocolate orange cupcakes
📖 Recipe
Marbled Chocolate Orange Cupcakes
Equipment
- cupcake tray
- cupcake cases
- Electric hand whisk
- piping bag
- Piping Nozzle (I used a star shape)
Ingredients
For the chocolate orange ganache
- 120 ml cream (4floz) either single or double
- 1 whole Terry's Chocolate Orange 157g (I used the milk chocolate version)
For the sponge mixture
- 150 g butter (5oz)softened
- 150 g golden caster sugar
- 3 large eggs beaten
- 2 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 125 g self raising flour Divide into 75g (3oz) and 50g (2oz) portions
- ½ teaspoon orange extract
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
For the buttercream
- 150 g butter (5oz) softened
- 300 g Icing Sugar (10oz)
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the chocolate orange drizzle
- 7 Terry's Chocolate Orange Segments I used the milk chocolate version
- 1 - 2 tablespoon milk
For the orange segment decoration
- 9 Terry's Chocolate Orange Segments I used the milk chocolate version
Instructions
To make the chocolate ganache.
- Pour 120ml cream into a pan and set over a medium heat and heat until the cream is just simmering but avoid letting it boil. Meanwhile, break the segments from one whole chocolate orange into small pieces and place in a bowl. Pour the heated cream over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate is melted and forms a smooth ganache. Set aside to cool and firm up.
To make the cupcakes
- Pre-heat the oven to 190c / Fan 170c / Gas 5. Place the paper muffin cases into the muffin tray.
- Beat 150g butter and 150g sugar together until pale and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten egg a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Place half of the mixture into a second bowl. Add 1 tablespoon milk and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract to one of the bowls and beat well. Then sieve 75g flour into the bowl and gently fold in using a large metal spoon or spatula. This is the vanilla sponge.
- Add a tablespoon of milk and ½ teaspoon orange extract to the second bowl and beat to combine. Sift in 75g flour and 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and fold in to make the chocolate sponge.
- Place half a teaspoon of the vanilla batter into the paper case followed by half a teaspoon of chocolate orange batter. Continue filling the case alternating between the two batters until the paper cases are around half to two-thirds full. Repeat to fill the other cases.
- Run the handle of a teaspoon through the two batters to ripple. Avoid over-mixing. Bake in the centre of the oven for 20-25 minutes until springy to the touch. Allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Fill the cupcakes with chocolate orange ganache.
- Once the cakes are completely cold and the ganache has firmed up, take a sharp knife and cut a circle out of the top of each cake about 1cm (½in) from the edge. Set the sponge tops aside. Scrape out a little more of the spongeto make a slightly deeper hole. Use a teaspoon to place some thickened chocolate orange ganache into the cupcake's hollow. Replace the sponge tops.
To make the vanilla buttercream.
- Beat 150g butter until very soft Add half of the 300g icing sugar Beat slowly until combined. Add the remaining icing sugar and beat until soft and creamy. Add one tablespoon milk and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and beat again.
- Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Pipe a swirl of the vanilla buttercream frosting onto the top of each cupcake.
To make the chocolate orange drizzle.
- Break up the chocolate orange segments into pieces and place in a heat proof bowl, melt over a pan of hot water or in the microwave.
- Add a tablespoon of milk to the melted chocolate. Stir the mixture thoroughly, it will seem as though the chocolate is seizing but thorough stirring will bring it back to being smooth and glossy. Add a little more milk as necessary, you're aiming for the chocolate to drizzle nicely from the spoon but without being too runny.
To finish the cupcakes.
- Use a teaspoon to drizzle some of the chocolate over the buttercream frosting, then place a chocolate orange segment into the top of each cupcake. Enjoy!
Notes
- The ganache can take a couple of hours to firm up sufficiently. To speed this up simply cover the cooled ganache and place in the fridge for about 30 - 60 minutes until it is firm enough to spoon into the cupcakes.
- If you have any ganache remaining after filling the cupcake hollows, consider using the remnants to make a few homemade truffles.
More chocolate orange bakes
If you like chocolate orange as much as we do you might like to try one of these other chocolate orange flavoured bakes
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Jenny - Monkey and Mouse says
Mmm, yumm! I love the look of these and the extra elements with the chocolate orange ganache and glaze sound mouth wateringly delicious! Thanks so much for linking these up to #Howtosundays x
Leandra Bramham says
Oh wow these look delicious! #howtosunday
Blissful Domestication says
These look and sound amazing! I'm trying to be good at the mo, so will have to wait for a special occasion to try them out x #HowtoSunday
Sarah James says
You got me at chocolate and orange Angela, always a winning combination and your cupcakes look so pretty as well as delicious. Thanks for sharing x
Rebecca Beesley says
wowee how amazing do these look! Fabulous photos. x
MissPond says
I absolutely LOVE Terry's Chocolate Orange (It's definitely mine)! I shall be pinning these to make in the future 🙂 #BakeOfTheWeek
Pebble Soup says
What a great bake, if mum said so, you can add it to the inheritance recipes challenge. 2 posts per bloggers, double the chances and moreover we love your recipes
Jo says
These sound seriously delicious. The chocolate orange ganache definitely adds a touch of luxury. I think I'd find it difficult to stop at one cupcake!
Coriander Queen says
Oh my goodness these look amazing, chocolate oranges are the best - and in a cupcake as well? YUM!!
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Simply delicious! I do have a weak spot for chocolate orange, it is such a perfect flavour combination! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Honest Mum says
They look utterly incredible!
Alison says
How pretty do these look. Almost too pretty to eat, but not quite!
Cliona Keane says
OH WOW! These look completely amazing! My mouth is watering and I have sudden very strong chocolate cravings 😉 Will definitely be rolling this recipe out for friends and family soon 🙂 x
Eb Gargano says
Oh my - these look gorgeous!! I bet they taste amazing...I love the chocolate orange combo. Eb x
Jasmin Charlotte says
Wow these look amazing! Chocolate orange is one of my fave flavours, I love having it at Christmas especially!
Jasmin Charlotte
Jenny says
i adore chocolate orange and will eat pretty much anything with these flavours! your cupcakes look so pretty - and pretty tasty! x