Orange-Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

By exdircomp

Preheat oven to 350 degree F.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 vanilla beans, split and scraped, pods reserved for another use
• 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Swiss Meringue Buttercream
• Candied citrus slices, for decorating

Details

Servings 12

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Cream butter, sugar, vanilla seeds, and orange zest until pale and fluffy. With mixer running, add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl.
Combine cream, orange juice, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 batches, alternating with cream mixture, ending with flour; beat until just combined.
Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until testers inserted in the centers come out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. Undecorated cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to 1 day (or frozen for up to 2 months).
Using a serrated knife, trim tops of each cupcake to make level. Using an offset spatula, frost tops of each cupcake with some buttercream. Place a candied citrus slice on each cupcake. Fit a pastry bag with a small plain tip, and fill with remaining buttercream. Pipe dots around edges of orange slices. Cupcakes will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream -


Ingredients Makes about 5 cups
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 5 large egg whites, room temperature
• Pinch of salt
• 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, cut into pieces
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions
Place sugar, whites, and salt in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Attach bowl to mixer. Whisk on medium speed for 5 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high, and whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 6 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Use immediately, or cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth before using.)