Fresh Citrus Cupcakes With Orange Buttercream

Prep / Total : 2 hours  15 minutes  ...  Makes 6 dozen miniature cupcakes

1/2 ............cup butter, softened
1/2 ...........(8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
2 ..............cups sugar
4 ..............large eggs
1............. .tablespoon orange zest
2 ..............tablespoons fresh orange juice 
3 ..............cups all-purpose flour
1 ..............teaspoon baking powder
1/2 ...........teaspoon baking soda
1/2........... teaspoon salt
1 ..............(8-oz.) container sour cream
Orange Buttercream Frosting (recipe Below)

　
1.           Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Stir in orange zest and juice.
2.          Combine flour and next 3 ingredients. Gradually add to butter mixture alternately with sour cream, beating until blended. Spoon batter by rounded tablespoonfuls into lightly greased miniature muffin pans.
3.         Bake at 350° for 13 to 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 30 minutes). Pipe or spread Orange Buttercream onto cupcakes.
TIP:
To prepare regular-size cupcakes, spoon batter into 2 lightly greased 12-cup muffin pans, filling two-thirds full. Bake at 350º for 22 to 24 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool and decorate as desired. Makes 2 dozen.

Orange Buttercream Frosting :
Makes about 3 cups

1/2 ..................cup butter, softened
1 .....................(3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 .....................tablespoon orange zest
1 .....................(16-oz.) package powdered sugar
2 ......................tablespoons milk 
2 ......................tablespoons fresh orange juice 
1 ......................drop red food coloring (optional)
1 .....................drop yellow food coloring (optional)

　
1.           Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
2.          Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 1 Tbsp. milk and orange juice, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition.
3.          If desired, beat in remaining 1 Tbsp. milk, 1 tsp. at a time, until desired consistency. Beat in food coloring until blended, if desired.
Heart  healthy