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Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes are a delicious and refreshing. They taste just like a creamsicle ice cream treat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- It’s easy! You are using a cake mix and pudding mix for easy assembly!
- Full of orange flavor! Thanks to the use of fresh orange juice, zest and the orange gelatin you have lots of great flavor.
- Tastes like summer! What screams summer better than creamsicle!
What is Creamsicle?
These cupcakes remind of my favorite childhood treat, a creamsicle (also known as a dreamsicle) It’s a frozen treat combination of orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream. Put these cupcakes at the top of your to make list if you are a creamsicle fan.
Ingredients Needed
- Orange flavored gelatin
- White cake mix. My favorite brand is Duncan Hines
- Cheesecake instant pudding and pie filling mix. If you can’t find cheesecake pudding use vanilla.
- Fresh Orange juice and zest. Squeeze an orange for best results.
- Eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Vanilla extract
- Cream cheese, room temperature
- Butter, room temperature. I use salted butter, if using unsalted butter add in a pinch of salt.
- Powdered sugar
- Orange food coloring, optional
- White sprinkles, optional
How to Make Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes
- Combine the dry ingredients including cake mix, gelatin (minus 2 tsp which is reserved for the frosting), pudding mix.
- Add in orange juice, eggs and oil and vanilla.
- Stir to combine.
- Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Orange Frosting Recipe
- Allow butter and cream cheese to sit at room temperature and soften for at least an hour.
- Cream together butter and cream cheese until soft and creamy in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer.
- Mix in orange zest, reserved orange gelatin, vanilla and enough powdered sugar until desired consistency is achieved.
- Frost cooled cupcakes. Use a piping bag if desired.
- Garnish with sprinkles if desired
Tips from leigh Anne
- Use a scoop to put the batter into the muffin tin for evenly sized cupcakes. This is my favorite one.
- Be sure your orange creamsicle cupcakes are totally cooled before frosting.
Do I Need To Refrigerate Cream Cheese Frosting?
You should always refrigerate any cake or cupcake made with cream cheese frosting. It can set at room temperature for several hours though to warm up and does not need to be served cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will orange creamsicle cupcakes last?
After frosting them, keep them stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for 3-4 days.
Can I freeze cupcakes?
I recommend freezing them before you frost them for the best results. Stored in an airtight container they will last for up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator. Frost after thawing.
For more delicious recipes try these:
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Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 3 oz. package orange flavored gelatin
- 15 oz. white cake mix
- 3 oz. cheesecake instant pudding and pie filling mix
- 1 1/4 cups orange juice fresh squeezed and zest from one orange for frosting
- 4 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
Frosting:
- 8 oz package cream cheese room temperature
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 5-6 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 2 tsp orange gelatin reserved
- orange food coloring if desired
- white sprinkles
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 zest and vanilla until light and fluffy
- Add in powdered sugar until desired consistency is achieved
- Add in orange food coloring if desired for additional color
- Frost cupcakes and top with white sprinkles
Hope says
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!
Miley says
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.
Leigh Anne says
Enjoy your cupcakesI and happy thanksgiving
Tina says
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!
Dawn says
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!
Mary Kathryn says
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.
Leigh Anne says
What are her food restrictions? I’ve been working with food restrictions a lot lately with Cali.
Mary Kathryn says
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.
Kristen says
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?
Leigh Anne says
Kristen, Not sure what to substitute so I would probably just leave out the pudding mix.
Jocelyne Santos says
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!