Cocoa Orange Cupcakes

This months Cupcake Hero ingredient is cocoa. Great choice, but Laurie dear, you are going to be covered in it by the end of this month! :) I really like the combination of orange and chocolate, so when I came across this recipe, I knew that this would be my cupcake entry this month. I can't wait to see the round up!

Cocoa Orange Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream Frosting

For the cupcakes:
1/2 Cup cocoa
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp plus 1/8 tsp baking powder
1 cup plus 3 Tbsp buttermilk
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp grated orange zest
1/2 tsp orange extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, stir together cocoa and boiling water until smooth; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, shortening, sugar, salt and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs, mix well. Stir together Baking soda and buttermilk; add to butter mixture alternately with the flour. Stir in orange zest, orange extract and cocoa mixture. Divide evenly into cupcake lined pan and bake 12-15 minutes, or until done. (I got 2 dozen cupcakes.)

For the Frosting:

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
6 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp grated orange zest
1 tsp vanilla
juice of 1 orange
4-6 Tbsp milk

In large mixing bowl, beat butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, orange peel, orange juice, and vanilla until creamy. Add remaining powdered sugar alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency.