CREME-FILLED CHOCOLATE ORANGE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 12-cup cupcake pan with paper liners.
• In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together orange juice, canola oil, vanilla, and orange zest.
• Pour wet ingredients into dry mixture and whisk until thoroughly combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners until each cup is 2/3 full.
• Bake for about 17 to 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
• For the filling, combine first 3 ingredients in the bowl of a standard mixer.
• Beat on medium-high speed until combined.
• With the mixer running, add 1 tablespoon orange juice at a time, until the desired buttercream consistency is reached.
• For the ganache, use a double boiler or microwave to melt chocolate chips in a medium bowl.
• Whisk in coconut oil until smooth.
• If making Candied Orange Peel, peel thin slices of orange peel from the orange using a vegetable peeler.
• In a small saucepot, place the orange peels and add ½ cup water.
• Bring to a boil and let cook for 5 minutes.
• Drain the water, place the peels back in the pot, and refill with ½ cup water.
• Bring the water to a boil again, let cook for 5 minutes, and drain.
• Repeat this process one more time to release the bitterness from the orange peels.
• Bring ¼ sugar, ¼ cup of water, and the orange peels to a boil and let cook on medium/high heat until liquid bubbles away.
• Remove from heat, spread peels out to cool on parchment paper.
• Once the candied peels have semi-dried (about 10 minutes), roll them in the remaining sugar until thoroughly coated.
• Store in refrigerator or freezer.
• When cupcakes are cool, fill each with Orange Buttercream Filling using a pastry bag with a narrow tip.
• Spread Chocolate Ganache evenly over each cupcake.
• Top with two slices of Candied Orange Peel, if using.