Light and moist chocolate cake meets tangy and sweet blood orange to make this unforgettable blood orange chocolate cupcakes. These cupcakes are the perfect way to use up those gorgeous blood oranges!
I like winter. As crazy as it sounds, winter isn’t that bad to me. I love cozy sweaters and snuggling up under thick blankets and drinking hot chocolate. There is nothing better than looking outside at the snow silently falls. Of course, it hasn’t come close to snowing where I am this year. My favorite part about winter is the abundance of citrus fruits, especially blood oranges. As soon as winter begins, I start my search for these ruby red fruits at my local grocery stores. Last year I wasn’t able to find any until February, but I was fortunate to get my hands on a few bags already.
I really wanted to get the most out of my blood oranges this year and these blood orange chocolate cupcakes were the first idea that came to mind. I love chocolate and orange together and I love how blood oranges are such a delicious new take on that combination that tastes nothing like your typical chocolate+orange combo. Plus, I couldn’t get my mind off the vibrant color the frosting would take. To really celebrate the flavors, I decided the cupcakes needed a filling and since I am obsessed with curd, a blood orange curd seemed only natural. The curd adds a really lovely creamy contrast to the rich chocolate cake and the bright frosting.
As usual, I used my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe because, well, if it ain’t broke! I also made a blood orange syrup to brush on top of the cupcakes and flavor the frosting. I left some pulp in the syrup for the frosting because I loved seeing small specks from the blood orange, but feel free to be a little more pulp-free!
These cupcakes are even more delicious than they look, if you can imagine. And hey, if you happen to be thinking of Valentine’s Day already (the stores are already onto Easter – oh my gosh!) these blood orange chocolate cupcakes would be perfect!
