Vegan Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

If you love the alluring combination of chocolate and orange, then these vegan chocolate orange cupcakes could be a new favorite! The cakes themselves have delicious cocoa depth, and are infused with fresh orange juice and zest. The frosting is also flavored with real orange, and has a sweet, natural taste and hue.

Festive Vegan Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

Many years ago, I featured Sakura’s vegan chocolate orange cupcakes for Halloween. Sakura was a vegan food blogger, but she has since moved onto new things and closed the virtual doors on her blog. However, her cupcake recipe lives on! We think it’s the perfect blast-from-the-past treat to feature for Halloween and Christmas!

Recipe FAQs

Why Isn’t the Frosting More Orange?

The flavor is definitely orange, but there is no added food coloring, so the color is just lightly orange. You can use natural food coloring (use red and yellow) for a deeper hue.

Can I Use All Orange Juice for the Non-Dairy Milk?

Technically, yes. This will affect the taste and the rise, so I can’t guarantee results without testing it.

Can I Use Plain White Vinegar?

Yes, white vinegar will work just fine if you don’t have apple cider vinegar on hand.

Do I Have to Use Canola Oil?

You can use your favorite oil for baking. Extra-light olive oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and others will work just fine. If you are only concerned about GMOs, you can get non-GMO canola oil.

Special Diet Notes: Vegan Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Just be sure to choose milk and butter alternatives that suit your dietary needs.

Sakura

Vegan Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

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The chocolate cupcakes are infused with a hint of orange, and topped with a naturally orange flavored frosting.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 332

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

• ¾ cup plain dairy-free milk alternative
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup cocoa powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• ⅓ cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon orange zest

Orange Frosting

• ½ cup dairy-free butter alternative
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoon fresh-squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest or to taste

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. Measure the non-dairy milk and orange juice in a glass measuring cup. Add the vinegar and stir to combine. Let it sit and curdle.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until no lumps remain.
4. Pour the milky mixture into a mixing bowl and add the sugar, oil, and zest. Beat to combine. Add the flour mixture and mix just until no large lumps remain.
5. Divide the batter between your prepared cupcake tins. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
6. Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack, and let them cool completely before frosting.

Orange Frosting

1. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter alternative and zest until well combined and fluffy.
2. Add 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon orange juice, and beat to combine.
3. Add the remaining 1 cup powdered sugar, and beat to combine.
4. Mix in more orange juice, as needed, to get your desired consistency.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake (with frosting)Calories: 332kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 2.1gFat: 13.4gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.8gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gSodium: 181mgPotassium: 97mgFiber: 1.3gSugar: 38.4gVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1.2mg

Notes

Frosting Options: You can sub all or part shortening for the dairy-free butter to make a firmer frosting. For more intense flavor, you can add some orange extract. I would start with 1/4 teaspoon, and add more to taste.

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Also Try My Vegan Butterscotch Cupcakes!