Chocolate-Orange Cupcakes with Pistachio Buttercream

Easy, fool-proof cupcakes inspired by the colors of Halloween. I wrote this recipe for a food-writing class! The olive oil in the batter makes them moist, and instant pudding mix gives the buttercream a hint of pistachio.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 301 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup white sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, or as needed
• 1 teaspoon shortening, or as needed
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• ⅔ cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 2 tablespoons instant pistachio pudding mix
• 1 ounce dark chocolate, grated

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups with shortening using a paper towel and dust with about 1 teaspoon flour or line with paper liners.

Step 2

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, white sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat 1 cup cold water, olive oil, orange juice, and vanilla extract into flour mixture on medium-low speed until batter is just combined, about 2 minutes. Fold orange zest into batter. Pour batter into prepared muffin cups, 2/3-full.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Step 4

Beat butter in a bowl using an electric mixer in medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Slowly pour confectioners' sugar into creamed butter and beat until incorporated, about 2 minutes. Beat pudding mix into butter mixture until just combined. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency of icing is reached. Ice the cooled cupcakes; garnish with grated chocolate.