Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and lite Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and literally. Sometimes we don’t have to look very far and it finds us. ☀️
It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasand It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasandwichshoppe when a friend texted me a screenshot of their cheese butter. Up until last week I had never even heard of cheese butter but just two days later, I’m driving an hour round trip to get some. 😂 I was never one to succumb to peer pressure (I didn’t have my first drink until I was 21!), but when it comes to food finds, I am very easily intrigued. After all, that’s how I’ve discovered some of my favorite bites over the years … lardo from @butlerandtheboard, a spicy Italian sausage, and my love of chicharron. If you haven’t visited Mike’s in Nutley, it’s worth a visit. While there, I also got a small tray of meatballs (a bargain at $10!) and a delicious mortadella sandwich that is worth a round trip. ✨
The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter nee The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter need a little bit of color, so here you go. 😍 Love this chest of drawers. Discovered it buried in a local shop and bought it specifically for the green color (one of my favorites). Vintage Coke crate was a $10 score from a garage sale place on Facebook some ten years ago. And the assorted markers in Roy G Biv order (natch) that aren’t used anymore because my kids have sadly left that phase. 🙃
Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo s Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo style, hope you had a good one! ✨
A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
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Food and Life

Orange Marmalade Ricotta Cupcakes

March 29, 2009 · Narrative

Orange Marmalade Ricotta Cupcake

My mom has been working her way through a cupcake cookbook recently.  Two recipes down, and so far I haven’t had the chance to taste any yet.  She was killing me; she knows how much I like cupcakes!  I asked which cookbook it was and when she told me it was Cupcakes! From the Cake Mix Doctor, I went online to order a copy for myself.  As soon as I saw the cover, I stopped for a second.  I could swear I have that book somewhere.  I searched through all my cookbook shelves, one title at a time.  Nothing.  So either I’m losing my mind, I lost the book during the move, or I just remember seeing the cover online, perhaps from looking at Anne’s other books, and never actually purchased it.  After making sure I really didn’t have it, I ordered it.  You know how I am with cupcakes.  I couldn’t not order it, right? 

I had to go to Nick‘s school for a function last week, and I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to try out my first recipe from the cookbook.  I chose a recipe that my mom had already made, the Orange Marmalade Ricotta Cupcakes with Marmalade Buttercream Frosting.  She raved about it when she made it, so it seemed only right to start there, especially since I had all the ingredients on hand already.

Because Anne is “doctoring” a cake mix, you get to skip all those pesky steps of measuring flour, baking soda, baking powder and what have you.  In just a few minutes, the batter was in the oven, peacefully doing its thing.  Once they come out, you brush them with a marmalade glaze and then after they’ve cooled, you slather marmalade-enhanced buttercream frosting over the tops.

Some of us couldn’t wait that long.  Madeline is becoming quite the cupcake aficionado like the rest of us and as soon as she saw the rows of cupcakes sitting on the counter, she started shrieking for one.  She has inherited my mom’s sweet tooth, no doubt, and nothing was going to stand in her way.  She pushed the stepstool over to the counter and started climbing up to reach them.  I rescued the batch and started peeling off the liner of one of the frosting-free ones for her.

Hands down, these have got to be the moistest cupcakes I have ever had or made to date.  They are to-die-for moist.  The buttercream frosting was good, though I added a bit more sugar because I like mine a little stiffer (a la Billy’s Bakery).  With this being my first introduction to the Cupcakes! cookbook, I think we might be in a little trouble here.

*Besides being a popular cookbook author, Anne Byrn is also a contributor to Cottage Living magazine, among other places.  When I saw some of her recipes up on the MyRecipes site (part of the Cooking Light family), that reminded me that I’m a little tardy in telling you of some of my recent articles over there.  You can check out a favorite salad,  this piece on cooking classes, a delicious homemade pizza, chocolate covered pretzel rods, and … well, there’s plenty more, but that should keep you busy for now.  :)

Orange Marmalade-Ricotta Cupcakes with Marmalade Buttercream Frosting
Recipe courtesy of Cupcakes! from the Cake Mix Doctor

Prep: 20 minutes, Bake: 18 minutes, Cool: 5 minutes.

Makes about 20 cupcakes (I got 24)

  • 1 (18.25-ounce) package plain white or yellow cake mix*
  • 1  cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice, divided
  • 2/3  cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/3  cup orange marmalade
  • 1/3  cup vegetable oil
  • 4  large eggs
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons orange zest
  • Marmalade Buttercream Frosting (recipe below)

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Insert paper liners into 20 muffin cups; set aside.

2. Beat cake mix, 1 cup orange juice, and next 5 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer until combined. Scrape sides of bowl with spatula, and beat at medium speed 2 minutes or until batter is thick and well combined. Spoon about 1/3 cup batter into each liner.

3. Bake at 350° for 18 to 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

4. Brush tops of warm cupcakes evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons orange juice. Let cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.

5. Spread about 1 heaping tablespoon of Marmalade Buttercream Frosting on each cupcake. Store at room temperature in an airtight container up to 3 days, up to a week in refrigerator, or (unfrosted) up to 6 months in freezer.

*We tried several different cake mixes and found we prefer white over yellow.

Marmalade Buttercream Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon orange marmalade
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons orange zest
  • 2-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 2  to 3 tablespoons orange juice

Beat first 3 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until combined. Gradually add orange juice, beating at medium speed 30 seconds or until frosting is spreadable. Beat at medium-high 30 seconds or until fluffy.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Anne Byrn, Cooking Light, Cupcakes!, MyRecipes, Orange Marmalade Ricotta Cupcakes, The Cake Mix Doctor

Comments

  1. Maria says

    March 29, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    Love the cupcakes. They look superb!

    Marias last blog post..Jake’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Reply
  2. Claire says

    March 29, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    Yum…these sound perfectly yummy and springy! I love orange flavor. I bet you could change the icing around a bit and make this creamsicle like. Don’t all little kids love cupcakes? Does Maddy like the whole thing or just the icing?

    Claires last blog post..Spinach and Beer

    Reply
  3. Stacey Snacks says

    March 30, 2009 at 8:43 am

    I love ricotta cheese in all baked goods!
    I will have to find this book, isn’t there another version with just cakes that are doctored up?
    My friend makes the best cakes, and always uses a mix and add ins.
    Stacey

    Stacey Snackss last blog post..Duck Confit Salad w/ Pears & Goat Cheese Toasts

    Reply
  4. Kris says

    March 30, 2009 at 10:15 am

    These look yummy! Cute liners too!

    I love making cupcakes – they go so quick.

    Reply
  5. dawn says

    March 30, 2009 at 10:23 am

    Don’t you just love how ricotta makes cakes & cupcakes just taste so much better?
    These look good!

    dawns last blog post..butterscotch & banana bread

    Reply
  6. Magda says

    March 30, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    I wanted to make this recipe and do you believe my local grocery store did not have ricotta cheese? First the turrone, now this. It is easier to find exotic ethiopian ingredients. I need to go back to the east coast!

    Reply
  7. Sara says

    March 30, 2009 at 3:37 pm

    These sound so good, I’ve heard great things about the Cake Mix Doctor. Love the story about Madeline :)

    Reply
  8. annie says

    March 30, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    What is there not to love? They are so easy to make and look fabulous!

    Reply
  9. Linda says

    March 31, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    I love orange and these sound great. I love your blog!!

    Lindas last blog post..I Love to Cook, But Would Rather Be Outside!

    Reply
  10. Elyse says

    April 1, 2009 at 1:38 am

    Wow! These cupcakes sound fantastic. And with rave reviews from you and your mom, I know that they must be uber-delicious. I adore what ricotta does for a recipe, so I can’t wait to try these out!

    Elyses last blog post..Toddy’s first foray into baking…

    Reply
  11. Katrina says

    April 1, 2009 at 11:02 pm

    Yum! These look so good!

    Katrinas last blog post..TWD–Coconut Butter Thins

    Reply

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Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and lite Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and literally. Sometimes we don’t have to look very far and it finds us. ☀️
It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasand It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasandwichshoppe when a friend texted me a screenshot of their cheese butter. Up until last week I had never even heard of cheese butter but just two days later, I’m driving an hour round trip to get some. 😂 I was never one to succumb to peer pressure (I didn’t have my first drink until I was 21!), but when it comes to food finds, I am very easily intrigued. After all, that’s how I’ve discovered some of my favorite bites over the years … lardo from @butlerandtheboard, a spicy Italian sausage, and my love of chicharron. If you haven’t visited Mike’s in Nutley, it’s worth a visit. While there, I also got a small tray of meatballs (a bargain at $10!) and a delicious mortadella sandwich that is worth a round trip. ✨
The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter nee The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter need a little bit of color, so here you go. 😍 Love this chest of drawers. Discovered it buried in a local shop and bought it specifically for the green color (one of my favorites). Vintage Coke crate was a $10 score from a garage sale place on Facebook some ten years ago. And the assorted markers in Roy G Biv order (natch) that aren’t used anymore because my kids have sadly left that phase. 🙃
Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo s Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo style, hope you had a good one! ✨

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Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and lite Always looking for sunshine, figuratively and literally. Sometimes we don’t have to look very far and it finds us. ☀️
It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasand It didn’t take much to get me to @mikespastasandwichshoppe when a friend texted me a screenshot of their cheese butter. Up until last week I had never even heard of cheese butter but just two days later, I’m driving an hour round trip to get some. 😂 I was never one to succumb to peer pressure (I didn’t have my first drink until I was 21!), but when it comes to food finds, I am very easily intrigued. After all, that’s how I’ve discovered some of my favorite bites over the years … lardo from @butlerandtheboard, a spicy Italian sausage, and my love of chicharron. If you haven’t visited Mike’s in Nutley, it’s worth a visit. While there, I also got a small tray of meatballs (a bargain at $10!) and a delicious mortadella sandwich that is worth a round trip. ✨
The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter nee The long, dreary and grey months of the Winter need a little bit of color, so here you go. 😍 Love this chest of drawers. Discovered it buried in a local shop and bought it specifically for the green color (one of my favorites). Vintage Coke crate was a $10 score from a garage sale place on Facebook some ten years ago. And the assorted markers in Roy G Biv order (natch) that aren’t used anymore because my kids have sadly left that phase. 🙃
Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo s Weekend Photos in Review, old school still photo style, hope you had a good one! ✨
A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
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