Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

Published December 27, 2012. Updated April 19, 2024

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Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes are a soft and tender, fresh orange-flavored cupcake finished with a sweet vanilla buttercream frosting. These are bright, sweet, and delicious!

Oranges and cream is such a blissfully fresh and excitingly delicious flavor combination. It’s one of my favorite combinations. Let me rephrase that, basically any fresh fruit with cream is my favorite combination. Which may explain my weakness for orange creamsicle flavored anything.

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Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

I saw the orange cupcakes at Martha Stewart and decided it would be perfect for these.

I made a few small changes such as removing the vanilla beans (simply because I wanted the orange flavor to shine through), then I increased the orange flavor by adding orange extract and increasing the orange zest. When you love orange, you go hard!

I also replaced the frosting with my own Vanilla Buttercream because it’s my favorite buttercream recipe, it even reminds me of ice cream so I figured it would make an excellent fit. Trust me—you’re going to love this buttercream.

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These cupcakes are simply fantastic. I love how the cupcake recipe contains heavy cream. It’s not too often you come across a cupcake recipe that contains cream in the batter. It makes all the difference, and the result is a show-stopper.

It gives these cupcakes such a delightful texture, with a dense and perfectly moist crumb. This is a charming cupcake that may just become one of your favorites. Enjoy!

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Orange-Lover Recipes to Try

There’s something about orange—it just pairs so well with so many different flavors! If you’re an orange lover, I have lots of great recipes for you to try. Let me know which ones you love!

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

5 from 3 votes

Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

A soft and tender, fresh orange flavored cupcake finished with a sweet vanilla buttercream frosting.
Servings: 14
Prep30 minutes
Cook25 minutes
Ready in: 55 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer set on medium-high speed, blend together butter, granulated sugar and orange zest until pale and fluffy, about 3 - 4 minutes.
  • Mix in eggs one at time, blending until combine after each addition. Measure out cream into a liquid measuring cup, stir in orange juice, orange extract and vanilla extract.
  • With hand mixer set on low speed and working in 3 separate batches, blend in flour mixture alternating with cream mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture and mixing just until combine after each addition.
  • Divide batter among 14 paper lined muffin cups, filling each cup 3/4 full. Bake in preheated oven 23 - 25, rotating muffin tins once halfway through baking, until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
  • Cool completely then frost with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and garnish with an small orange slice if desired (just before serving). Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

*If you want the pilled high amount of frosting then you will likely want to make about 3/4 of the Vanilla Buttercream recipe. If you don't want a ton of frosting then 1/2 of the recipe should be enough.
Cupcake recipe adapted from Martha Stewart
IMPORTANT NOTE: Nutrition estimate on this page is for cupcake portion only, follow link for nutrition estimate on vanilla buttercream frosting.
Nutrition Facts
Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 234 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 58mg19%
Sodium 136mg6%
Potassium 51mg1%
Carbohydrates 29g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 429IU9%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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69 Comments

  • Amanda

    Hello! These look delicious, and perfect for my son’s popsicle-themed birthday. How would this translate into a sheet cake (shape like a popsicle!) and what filling would work well in a creamsicle cake? Thanks for this recipe!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I think that should work okay just not sure how long it would take to bake, for a filling I’d just do a sweetened whipped cream.

  • TK

    I was so excited to use this recipe for an upcoming special birthday.

    I was very disappointed when they came out of the oven like muffins instead of cupcakes.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Sorry you thought so, did you use half and half? That should help have a lighter texture.

  • Sandy

    Every year I would make my Mom the Barefoot Contessa coconut cupcakes for Mother’s Day. When she passed away I switched this tradition to being the cupcake I make for my BFF on her birthday. Every year I look for a second cupcake to serve along with it. That is how I came across this recipe. It was delicious. I made it with half and half and it was not dense. It had a lovely light orange flavour and when topped with your buttercream I could so taste the creamsicle. Thanks again for another keeper.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      You’re very welcome Sandy! I’m so glad you enjoyed these cupcakes!

  • Bill

    If you don’t have the time. You can now take a short cut, Duncan Hines has a Orange Creamsicle cake mix and frosting flavor. Taste really great!

  • Shannon

    They are so good but when I made them they were a little dense how do you lighten them up?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Someone mentioned in a comment above that they used half and half instead of the heavy cream and they weren’t as dense. I’d try that out.

  • Angela

    MMM! These cupcakes have the perfect amount of orange flavor. I made them, and topped them with your butter cream for a 4th of July party. I can’t wait for others to taste them! Thank you for a fantastic recipe.

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