Happy New Year Cupcakes!

These are my Happy New Year Cupcakes, although you can make them any time of the year. I've made these many times. People will love love love the vanilla orange frosting.

Chocolate Cupcakes

12 TB unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 TSP pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
2 TB brewed coffee
1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 TSP baking soda
½ TSP salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars with hand mixer. Then add the eggs 1 at a time, and add the vanilla. Mix until fully combined. In another bowl, combine buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. Then in another bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Then add buttermilk mixture and flour mixture to butter/sugar/eggs in large bowl. Add in increments until everything is fully combined.

Use 1/4 measuring cup to scoop batter into cupcake pans. This will make about 22 – 24 cupcakes. Cook for 18 – 20 minutes.

Vanilla Orange Frosting

3 cups confectioner's sugar
1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
1 TSP vanilla
1/4 cup heavy cream, regular milk works too
1/2 cup orange marmalade


Butter needs to be softened and then creamed by itself in a bowl with hand mixer. Add sugar and beat with hand mixer. Stream in heavy cream until frosting forms. It won't take much liquid. Then beat in orange marmalade

*The cupcakes must be cool when you start frosting them, otherwise the frosting will melt.