Chocolate Orange Cupcakes With Limoncello Frosting

Giada De Laurentiis' recipe. This uses a chocolate cake mix. You can buy candied orange peel at the store or make your own using one of Recipezaar's. The Limoncello can be substituted by lemon juice but the lemon flavor is more intense by using the liqueur.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• Cupcakes

• 1 (18 ounce) box  chocolate cake mix
• 1⁄3 cup  orange juice (instead of water in the cake mix)
• 3  eggs
• 1⁄3 cup  oil
• 1  cup chocolate chips
• 1  teaspoon flour
• 1  cup  candied orange peel, diced

• Frosting

• 2  cups powdered sugar
• 4  tablespoons butter, softened
• 2  tablespoons  limoncello
• 2  tablespoons  orange juice
• 1  orange, zested
• 1⁄4 cup  candied orange peel, finely diced for garnish

Directions

1. Make cupcakes: Mix the chocolate cake mix according to instructions substituting orange juice for the water.
2. Toss the chocolate chips with the flour.
3. Fold the chocolate chips and the candied orange peel into the chocolate mixture.
4. Line the muffin pan with cupcake liners.
5. Fill and bake the cupcakes according to instructions on package.
6. Let the cupcakes cool for 1 hour on a wire rack.
7. Frosting: Combine all ingredients except the candied orange peel in medium bowl
8. Using hand mixer, beat until smooth about 2 minutes.
9. Using a small spatula, place 1 Tablespoon of frosting on top of cupcake.
10. Top with small sprinkle of candied orange peel.