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shelter at home cupcakes with surprise inside

Recipe by
Pat Morris
Augusta, GA

Shelter at Home Cupcakes: AKA Make do with what you have...! During our Shelter in Place time; two of my older neighbors had birthdays. And so that they didn’t feel alone; since family and friends could not visit; I thought that I would make both of them some cupcakes (and leave them on their patio). At times like these, sometimes you have to improvise and use what you have on hand. I had to use my imagination and improvise somewhat but I ended up making these cupcakes with a surprise Orange-Apricot filling inside. I also made some chocolate cupcakes. They both turned out yummy!

yield 12 with one cupcake each
prep time 15 Min
cook time 20 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For shelter at home cupcakes with surprise inside

  • FOR THE CUPCAKES
  • 1 1/2 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 1 c
    granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp
    salt
  • 1/2 c
    unsalted butter, at room temperature; you can use salted; but leave out the 1/4 t salt
  • 2 lg
    eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 c
    sour cream
  • 3 Tbsp
    freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • FOR SURPRISE FILLING
  • 1 Tbsp
    apricot preserves, mixed with
  • 3 Tbsp
    prepared frosting
  • FOR FROSTING
  • 1/2 c
    unsalted butter (1 stick) at room temperature.
  • 2 1/4 c
    confectioners' sugar
  • 3 Tbsp
    freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 tsp
    orange zest
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • 3 Tbsp
    canned evaporated milk (or you can use whipping cream

How To Make shelter at home cupcakes with surprise inside

  • 1
    CUPCAKES: Preheat oven to 350 degrees; and lightly spray 12 muffin cups or line the muffin cups with paper liners.
  • Batter for the cupcakes
    2
    In a medium bowl, beat the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt with a mixer until combined.
  • These are the ingredients for the frosting
    3
    Add the butter, eggs , orange juice, vanilla extract, orange zest and sour cream or plain yogurt. At medium speed, beat the wet and dry ingredients together, until batter is smooth and satny --about 45-60 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to incorporate all of the mixture. Fill the muffin cups (or liners) evenly with the batter; and bake about 20-25 minutes; or until lightly brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and put on a wire rack to cool.
  • Apricot Preserves and Frosting to mix for Filling
    4
    SURPRISE FILLING: Once cupcakes have cooked completely; cut about a 1/2 inch hole into the center of each cupcake. NOTE: If you would like you can put the preserves in the prepared hole first; then put the frosting in the hole on top of the preserves (instead of mixing them--it is up to you). Be careful with the spoon or melon baller and don't go all the way to the bottom of the cupcake; or the surprise filling will come out the bottom. Then spoon or pipe the Apricot-Orange filling into each hole in the center of the cupcake. After putting in the surprise filling; place the top of the removed cupcake piece back in the hole. They are now ready to frost. ** You don't need a cupcake corer; but they are nice for making uniform holes for the filling. I got mine a few years ago at Bed Bath & Beyond; but I have seen them on Amazon for $3 and $4.
  • This shows a cupcake with the hole; waiting for the preserves and frosting; and a couple of cupcakes with the filling before being frosted; and the rest of the cupcakes with the surprise filling and frosted.
    5
    FROSTING THE CUPCAKES: Beat the softened butter with an electric mixer at medium speed, until soft and creamy. Continue to beat as you gradually add the confectioners' sugar. Turn off the mixer while you scrape down the sides of the bowl. After the butter and sugar are fully blended, add the orange juice, orange zest and vanilla extract; and beat in the cream---one tablespoon at a time; until it is of desired consistency. The frosting will frost 12 of the cupcakes with the surprise filling.
  • This shows how the cupcakes look completed; and exposing the surprise filling.
    6
    Enjoy!

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