Triple Citrus Cupcakes

Before I became a full time Cooking Agent at read . cook . digest, I was a humble cupcake maker.  I needed a methodical way to destress from work.  What better way to make an accountant/auditor happy than to give her some measuring cups and an oven timer?

I am constantly on the lookout for citrus desserts.  I’m talking intense citrus flavor that makes your salivary glands go haywire.  I’m not a prim and proper, subtle lemon curd cupcake kind of girl.  I want in your face War Head cupcake… and that’s what I found at I Heart Cuppycakes.

Don’t be fooled by their looks — the intense citrus will sucker punch you.

Easy Triple Citrus Cupcakes adapted by Clara of I Heart Cuppycakes

Cupcake Ingredients
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 tbsp orange zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup whole milk
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting Ingredients
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel
3 tablespoons lime juice

INSTRUCTIONS
To make cupcakes—
Preheat oven to 325˚F. Prepare cupcake pan with liners.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer, fitted with a flat beater, combine cream cheese, butter, sugar, orange vest and vanilla extract until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Then beat in oil. Gradually add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk in 2 additions, ending with the flour mixture. Try not to overmix.

Fill cupcake liners about 1/2-2/3 full. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting.

To make frosting—
In a stand mixer, fitted with a flat beater, combine all frosting ingredients, until frosting reaches desired spreading consistency.

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The frosting on these were so yummy and I put more than probably necessary, but who doesn’t love an extra squirt of frosting.  I ended up having to double my recipe and ran out to a 24 hour convenience store at 11:30 just to pick up more confectioner sugar.  I agree with Clara.  These most definitely get an A+!

On a side note, I hope everyone in the Northeast survives the inevitable blizzard!