One of the new recipes I tried for the Sail Away party was Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes. I am a total sucker for anything with the word creamsicle in the title! I picked a fun new cupcake magazine at the grocery store and there are so many I want to try but I knew as soon as I saw it that the Orange Creamsicle would be the first.
The frosting on these cupcakes is over the top yummy! It is an orange cream cheese, so good.
The recipe uses orange gelatin in combination with real orange juice and it makes for just the right amount of orangeness.
The recipe calls for tinting the frosting orange but since orange didn’t really go with the color scheme of the party I just left the frosting white and added some fun little white sprinkles.
This cupcake and it ‘s lovely orangeness would be perfect for lots of different events – a wedding, baby or bridal shower, birthday or just because. I vote for just because.
If you are an orange creamsicle fan put these at the top of your To Try list! Don’t worry the recipe for the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes is coming next week.
Orange Creamsicle Cupcake Recipe
Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 3 oz. package orange flavored gelatin
- 1 2 layer size white cake mix
- 1 small box of cheesecake instant pudding and pie filling mix
- 1 1/4 C orange juice
- 4 eggs
- 1/3 C vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
Frosting:
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese
- 1/2 C butter
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 5-6 C powdered sugar
- Reserved orange gelatin
- 1 tsp finely shredded orange peel
- orange food coloring if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Line cupcake pan with liners (makes about 24-27 cupcakes)
- Set aside 2 tsp of the orange gelatin for frosting
- In a bowl mix together the remaining gelatin, cake mix, pudding mix, orange juice, eggs, oil and vanilla
- Fill muffin cups with batter - about 2/3 full
- Bake for 18 - 20 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean
- Cool cupcakes before frosting
Frosting:
- Soften cream cheese and butter at room temperature for at least 30 minutes
- In a large bowl beat butter, cream cheese, reserved gelatin, orange peel and vanilla until light and fluffy
- Add in powdered sugar until desired consistency is achieved
- Add in orange food coloring if desired
Nutrition
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Hi Leigh Anne,
I just discovered your blog, and I’m so glad that I did! Your posts are so inventive and inspiring. I look forward to being a follower!
-Emily
Welcome Emily – glad you found me!
You are KILLING my diet ;), but I have to try these! The combination of orange and cream is my favorite! If you ever get to Atlanta, you must eat at their legendary fast-food restaurant called The Varsity and try the Frosted Orange. So yummy!
I have a good friend in Atlanta I’d love to get out and visit – now another reason to go!!
Good thing I got this post before I headed out to do my groceries for the weekend – the ingredients are on the list and will be on the Father’s Day menu. They look and sound yummy!
Thank you again. Another recipe to try, hopefully this weekend.
I have a big orange cream fan at my house. This might be need on the try it soon list. THANKS!!
When I think of orange creamsicle I think of my mom. However, she does have some food restrictions these days so I am trying to think of some things I could substitute it out with to get a good result. I won’t see her till she comes for the babies’ birth so I have four months! 🙂 Thanks.
What are her food restrictions? I’ve been working with food restrictions a lot lately with Cali.
I figured you could sympathize. Hers are more of her choice so I am sure she would cave for a little treat made by her daughter- just once. 🙂 But she stays away from gluten, dairy, and artificial sugars.
Hi! I was wondering if there was an answer about the food restrictions. My mother is lactose intolerant and therefore would not be able to have the pudding mix in the cupcakes. I can modify the frosting myself, but was wondering what to use as a substitute for the pudding mix?
Kristen, Not sure what to substitute so I would probably just leave out the pudding mix.
The pudding mix is just added to add extra moisture to the cake mix. I’ve seen people use an extra egg, or applesauce.
However, the most popular are pudding mix, sour cream, or plain yogurt.
I’m sure if you find gluten free recipes they will provide some alternatives. Good luck!
Don loves Dreyers orange cream fruit bars. These would make a yummy Father’s Day dessert.
I tried them at the graduation party and they were sooo good!
I don’t go gaga on eating cupcakes but I LOVE looking at them. But my favorite color is orange and one of my favorite fruits is orange, so I might just hunt for orange-flavored cupcakes in my city!
My coworker made these awhile back and I fell in love with them!! Im beginning to learn how to bake more and always feel uneasy about doing a new recipe. Making these right now for Thanksgiving tomorrow. My house smells unbelievable! Hopefully I don’t eat them all! Thanks for the awesome and super easy recipe.
Enjoy your cupcakesI and happy thanksgiving
I found these after googling cupcake ideas this weekend and of course sent my husband out to get the ingredients. Seriously, one of the best cupcakes I have ever had. I cannot stop eating them! haha!
In your recipe – is it 1/4 cup of orange juice or 1 1/4 cups? Thanks
It is 1 1/4 C orange juice
Very good. However, I think next time I’ll add more orange gelatin. I made a double batch and I can barely taste the orange.
Made these this past weekend for my students today… and they loved it!!! They asked me why I became a teacher when I should have been a chef/baker. 🙂 Thanks for the awesome recipe!!!
http://www.toddlindsey.com/2012/05/orange-creamsicle-cupcakes.html
To intensify the orange flavor, I use orange cake mix and it is awesome! Wouldn’t change a single thing. Made them for a bridal shower and had NO leftovers 🙂
Great idea on using the orange cake mix. Thanks for sharing.
Mine turned out okay but I too would like more orange. I will use orange cake mix next time. I also added two teaspoons of orange extract to the icing.
Leigh Anne,
I have one thing to say. “You Are Amazing” Thank you for all of your ideas and tips!
Peggy
Thank you! So glad you enjoy the blog!
I found you via pinterest and when I saw this recipe I just knew I had to make them right away. I made these a few weeks ago and everyone loved them! And by everyone, I mean our family of 3, my next door neighbors, and some of my hubby’s co-workers. Needless to say, I am making them again for my daughter’s birthday party this weekend 🙂 This is such a yummy and easy recipe – thank you SO much!!
So glad you found the recipe and that you enjoyed it! It is one of my favorites
I hate to show my ignorance, but here it is..what are those amazing white dots on the frosting?
They are called non-pareils and you will find them in the cake decorating section of your store – with the sprinkles. Aren’t they cute!?
I was wondering how to make the frosting firmer to pipe on the cupcakes. I sampled these to try for a baby shower and I loved them, so I will be making these for sure. But my frosting was so runny. I don’t want to change it because it was so good. Help?
Just add in some more sugar to make the frosting stiffer. Make sure butter is soft but not too soft. Enjoy!
What is reserved gelatin ?
It is the orange gelatin that is leftover from the cupcakes.
Absolutely lovely!! Thanks for sharing….
These look gorgeous, I love orange. Can’t wait to give these a go. Yummy!
Do you use the OJ in place of the water on the cake mix box?
Just add in what the directions on the blog have you add into the cake mix. You do not follow the directions on the back of the cake mix box.
is the orange creamiscle cupcakes nut free?
yes they are – there are no nuts listed in recipe
I’ve tried these and they are definitely a keeper recipe. I would like to know if the cupcakes can be frozen and frosted,at a later day. My granddaughter wants these for her sweet 16 birthday rather than the traditional cake.
I’ve tried these and they are definitely a keeper recipe. I would like to know if the cupcakes can be frozen and froste at a later day. My granddaughter wants these for her sweet 16 birthday rather than the traditional cake.
Gladys, I haven’t frozen them but they should freeze fine.
I made these cupcakes in 2012 for my daughters 12th birthday. We were reminiscing about some of the favorite cakes and cupcakes that I used to make. This recipe was a hit with family and friends back then. My daughter is now a senior and wants to have them at her graduation party next spring. I was so excited to see your blog still up and running. I lost track of it with multiple moves since then. Just for old times sake, I am going to make these as part of the Christmas deserts. 🙂
So glad this is a favorite for you!