Dreamy Orange Cream Cupcakes

Ready to have your mouth water? Crank up Sugar by Maroon 5 and dig in!

(Feel free to substitute anything in here as long as you know the new ratios)

...not much explanation needed... Go preheat it! And maybe set out a block of cream cheese to soften?

Yup! All you need a a white cake mix and orange drink packets

(***You can make any cake flavor with this method)

Ingredients:

-one boxed cake

-3-5 drink packets (to desired taste BUT save at least one for later)

Directions:

-mix it up a little

Ingredients:

-3 eggs

-1/2 cup canola oil

-3/4 cup water

-1/4 cup orange juice (feel free to do half juice and half water if you want more of a zing)

Directions:

-pour both juice and water into the dry ingredients

-don't feel obligated to mix just yet

Directions:

-try out some trick shots with those eggs! If you like crunchy cupcakes...

-really, crack and pour in the both white and yolk of 3 eggs (into the same mixing bowl as before)

-finally, pour in the oil

Directions:

-mix until smooth (about 2 minutes) and don't be lazy! Nobody likes a pocket of flour in their cake!

(*hand mixing could take longer to get an even mix... It'll be your arm workout for the day*)

Directions:

-use a standard issue cupcake dish

-put a liner in each cup (if you don't have any, spray oil is fine)

-fill each cup 2/3 of the way full

(***the batter will make 24 cupcakes, so you'll have to do this process twice if desired***)

Directions:

-bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes (or until a toothpick will come out clean when poked in it)

Fun Time!

-crank up and jam out to Maroon 5's "Sugar"! Show off your sweet dance moves to the neighbor looking in your window who also questions your sanity.

This is a whipped cream cheese frosting, my favorite, and perfect for an orange cream dream.

Ingredients:

-a tub of cool whip (or if you have a giant one, like me, it's half)

-an 8oz block of softened cream cheese

-1/2 to 1 cup of powdered/confectioners sugar

-1 package of instant vanilla pudding (for firmness)

Directions:

-throw them all into a smaller mixer bowl

-change the prongs of the mixer to the appropriate style (curl or hooks)
(Generic ones will work okay, but the ingredients may get stuck)

-mix until a decently smooth consistency is created

Directions:

-cover the frosting and stick it in the fridge until you're ready to frost
(this will create a firm and airy consistency)

*Pictures Before & After*

Directions:

-take your cupcakes out and check with a toothpick

-if the toothpick does NOT come out clean, stick the cupcakes in for another 2 minutes and check again

-when done, take them out of the pan and let them cool for 5-15 minutes (until cool to the touch)

Directions:

-take your frosting out and take about 3-5 spoonfuls out

-put those spoonfuls into an extra bowl

-take a single drink packet and mix it in

Directions:

-use a spoon or knife and press a square into the center of cupcake only going about halfway down the cupcake

-scoop out the cut and save it off to the side

-fill the hole with filling

-take the cut out portion you saved and cut off the inners of the cake leaving a thin lid for the hole

-place the cupcake lid on the hole

Directions:

-for this cupcake, I chose a raw frosting style: the scoop. I wanted to give it the feel of having a big ice cream scoop plopped on top

-finally, I topped it with orange star sprinkles because you always have to reach for the stars!

Your dreamy orange cream cupcake is done and ready to devour!