Orange cupcakes with fluffy vanilla buttercream taste like an orange creamsicle and they’re a fun treat for summer or any time of year!
Let’s start out today with a very, very important question: Have you seen the Jimmy Fallon/Backstreet Boys video that’s been floating around? If not, watch it NOW. Go ahead. My cupcakes and I will wait.
Isn’t it amazing? I can’t get enough. Give me the Delia’s catalog and some body glitter and it’s high school all over again 🙂 #obsessed
But anyway. . .I know you’re not here to listen to me reminisce. Or maybe you are? Because today’s recipe is nostalgia-inspired.
These orange cupcakes with fluffy vanilla frosting were inspired by my love for orange creamsicles. In fact, you could call these orange creamsicle cupcakes because that’s legit what they taste like.
Was there anything better in summer when you were a kid than sitting by the pool eating a creamsicle and reading Nancy Drew? Surely not.
If you love the bright pop of flavor citrus gives desserts, then you’ll go cah-razy for these babies. And OH MAN will they ever take you back to childhood.
As I am wont to do, I used a cake mix to make these cupcakes easy. I flavored them with orange gelatin, orange juice, and orange zest.
One tablespoon of orange zest gave these cupcakes exactly the amount of orange flavor I was going for. You can certainly add more or less, just remember you can add zest but you can’t take it away so go slowly if you’re adding more.
The frosting is a standard American buttercream because I adore how easy they are to make. Just butter, sugar, salt, and some flavorings make a dreamy frosting to top cupcakes or to eat with a spoon. (Not that I know anything about the latter.)
Make a batch of orange cupcakes sometime this summer and be transported to the days when all summer meant was frozen treats and running through sprinklers. Which, come to think of it, isn’t all that different than my summers now.
One last thing: if you make these cupcakes–or any IBK recipes–let me know what you think by leaving a comment and rating below. And post a pic on Insta too—tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see! For more recipes and fun, like us on Facebook and follow along on Pinterest!
Orange cupcakes with vanilla frosting are easy to make and they taste like an orange creamsicle!
- 1 15.25-ounce white or yellow cake mix*
- 3 large eggs
- 1 3-ounce box orange gelatin
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 4 to 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 to 6 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- orange wedges for garnish if desired
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 22 to 24 muffin cups with paper liners and set pans aside.
- Combine all cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer set to medium for 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined. Divide batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups and bake 18 to 24 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool in pans for 20 minutes, then gently remove to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Beat the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer until very creamy. Add 4 cups of the powdered sugar, 4 tablespoons of the milk, the vanilla, and the salt, and beat on low until combined. Turn mixer to medium and beat until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if frosting is too thin and more milk if it’s too thick. Frost cupcakes as desired and top with a wedge of orange (if desired). Serve.
*I used Duncan Hines classic white cake mix.
Emma says
I am all for kitchen shortcuts. I use cake box mixes if I have to make large batches of cupcakes because its so much easier! Love the flavours of these beauties 😀
Kelsie says
YES! So much easier! Thank you, Emma!
grace says
i was a bbmak fan over all other boy bands…did you ever hear of them? british lads, yum. 🙂
LOVE dreamsicles and these cupcakes are divine!
Kelsie says
Thank you!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie says
OOOOO I adore these vibrant beautiful orange cupcakes. They seriously scream summer. And that delicious buttercream, I might just have to double the recipe….one bowl for me( you know for taste testing 😉 ) and the other bowl for the cupcakes 😋
Kelsie says
Thank you, Ashika!
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
I have to watch that video! My husband and I took our kids to see them years ago. What I remember most is the sound of the little girls behind us screaming throughout the whole concert. LOL! These cupcakes look fantastic, Kelsie! I love that they bring back a little bit of nostalgia.
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you, Thao!
Carlee says
You know creamsicle inspired recipes get my attention every time. These look fabulous!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Carlee!
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says
You had me at orange Kelsie!!! I loooove this combo for summer and brings back fond childhood memories of the orange creamsicles for sure! Pinned for later!! YUM!~
Kelsie says
Thank you, Kim!
Miriam @londonkitchendiaries says
Orange flavour is so wonderfully summery – I had an orange polenta cake earlier this week and just thought that I should bake with this flavour at home too so thank you very much for the recipe and have a wonderful weekend ahead, Kelsie xx
Kelsie says
Thank you, Miriam! You too!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
Creamsicles totally remind me of my childhood, so I know I would love the flavor of these cupcakes. I love adding orange zest to muffins, so I definitely need to try adding it to cupcakes! Thanks for sharing such a fun summertime dessert and happy 4th of July Kelsie!
Kelsie says
Oooh I don’t think I’ve ever added orange to muffins. I’ll have to try it! Thank you, Leanne!
kitchenriffs says
Fun video. Terrific cupcakes. My day is complete. 🙂 Thanks. And Happy 4th!
Kelsie says
Thank you! Happy Fourth to you too!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
Hahahaha thanks for bringing me back to the good ol’ days of middle school!! These cupcakes though! Also bringing me back to childhood 🙂 yum!!
Kelsie says
Haha! Thanks Kelly!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
I’m so glad I read this post – that video totally made my day!! Plus, the Delia’s catalog…omg. Nostalgia!!! But these cupcakes – yum! Orange creamsicle was always my fave. Perfect summer cupcake, friend! XO
Kelsie says
Haha! It’s great isn’t it? Thank you, Katherine!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
Oh mannnn – I love orange creamsicles, and honestly – it’s been too long since I’ve had one! These cupcakes will more than do! Delicious!!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Annie!
Milena Perrine says
I clearly missed on orange creamsicles growing up, there was not an orange in sight during summer where I grew up. But can more than compensate for that today and will def make these! Happy almost Fourth, Kelsie!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Milena! Hope you had a great holiday!
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen says
Totally love that video Kelsie! And love all the reminiscing in this post. You’re bringing back memories! Delicious cupcakes you’ve got here too! Summer and creamsicles just go together perfectly! Happy 4th!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Mary Ann!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
As soon as I’m done commenting here I’m going to watch that video! I pinkie promise!! I used to LOVE me some orange creamsicles!!!! Like, those bring me way back to summers as a kid with slip-n-slides and creamsicles on repeat!!! Needless to say, these cute cupcakes have me swooning!!! I’m fairly confident I could polish off a few dozen of these!! I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July, Kelsie!! Cheers!!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Chey! You have a wonderful Fourth too!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
That video is hilarious! I can’t believe Backstreet Boys are back on the go!! I heard the other day that there was going to be a concert here sometime soon and there were all sorts of 90’s pop groups coming, including the artist that sang ‘Saturday Night’ Remember that one? That was my jam, lol. Anywho – these cupcakes look divine, Kelsie! Love citrus in desserts! You sure know how to kick off the week 😉
Kelsie says
I know! Kevin on güiro kills me :). I might have to come up for a visit if that concert happens because it sounds awesome! Thanks, Dawn! Hope you had a wonderful Canada Day!
David @ Spiced says
Oh my god. That video! I seriously just spent the last 10 minutes of my life watching it…thanks for sharing, Kelsie. So I wasn’t a Backstreet Boys guy in high school (imagine that). But a couple of years ago, my curling buddies and I did a rendition of this song as the Backsheet Boys (a sheet is the playing surface in curling). We changed the lyrics so they went with curling. And it’s still one of those epic moments that people around the club talk about. I’ve already sent an email to the guys saying I want to recreate this video for next year’s skit contest. 🙂 I’ll take a video of it and share. Haha! Oh, and these cupcakes also sound delicious, too!
Kelsie says
Haha! Welcome to my weekend–I watched it so many times that it was the soundtrack to my dreams last night. And I still want to watch it again. You’d BETTER record it and share if you recreate the video. That sounds amazing! Happy Fourth, David!