Orange Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon-Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

By carvalhohm

Ingredients

• 1 box spice cake mix
• 1 1/4 cups orange juice
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3 eggs
• Zest of one orange
• 1/2 pkg sugar free/fat free vanilla instant pudding mix
• Cinnamon-Orange Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe and ingredients follow)

Details

Adapted from thedomesticrebel.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 muffin pans with 24 paper liners. In large bowl, beat together cake mix, orange juice, applesauce, and eggs until blended, about 2 minutes. Stir in half package of pudding mix and orange zest until combined. Portion evenly into muffin cups and bake, approximately 15-18 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, and prepare frosting.

*Cinnamon-Orange Cream Cheese Frosting:*

1 pkg (8 oz) light cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tsp orange juice
1 tsp cinnamon
6 cups powdered sugar

1. In bowl of stand mixer, beat together cream cheese, butter and orange juice, about 2 minutes, or until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, or until stiff but spreadable consistency is reached (I used close to 6 cups, but use your own discretion as your frosting may thicken up with less). Add your cinnamon last, and beat for about 1 minute to combine into frosting. Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes. Will frost 24 cupcakes.