Gluten-Free Orange Cupcakes

It's orange season, that favorite time of year when the amazing smell of fresh, ripe oranges seems to float on the air light a cool breeze.

Here in Southern California, our family loves to celebrate the coming of orange season by heading out to our favorite grove and picking our own fresh, delicious oranges. I know, it isn't fair that while most of the country is blanketed in snow, we're out in the fresh sun picking these citrus beauties, but, such is life!

With a bag of freshly picked oranges on hand, I knew I had to create the perfect orange recipe to get us out of this chilly winter feeling and spread a little SoCal sunny cheer across the nation. Then it hit me: Gluten-Free Cupcakes!

What better way to spread cheer than with delicious cupcakes the whole family can enjoy? Using our amazing Grandpa's Kitchen Gluten-Free Yellow/White Cake Mix, and some fresh oranges, we've created a cupcake that is sure to melt the winter blues away. Say hello to our Gluten-Free Orange Cupcakes!

Ingredients:
1 pack Grandpa's Kitchen Gluten-Free Yellow/White Cake Mix
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
3/4 cup Butter, softened
5 Egg Whites
Juice from 1 Orange
Zest from 1 Orange
1/2 tsp Himalayan Salt
1 1/4 cups Milk
1/2 cup Sour Cream

Orange Frosting:
8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup Butter, softened
Juice from 1 Orange
Zest from 1 Orange
2-3 cups Powdered Sugar

Yields: 24 cupcakes

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream together butter, egg whites, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla, and salt, until combined.

Add mix and milk and mix until a thick batter forms. Fold in sour cream and mix until fully combined.

In your USA Pan Muffin Pan, lined with muffin liners, drop batter into each cup 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Remove and let cool completely on a wire rack.

While cupcakes are cooling, make frosting by whipping together cream cheese, butter, orange juice, orange zest, and powdered sugar. Pipe frosting on to cupcakes, then serve.

Fluffy, light, and with the perfect orange flavor, these cupcakes are sure to brighten any gloomy day you're facing. The cupcakes themselves bake up so airy and light, while the rich cream cheese and orange flavors give you exactly what you're looking for in taste. Best of all, these cupcakes are completely gluten-free. How can you beat that?

Orange season is here, so celebrate it with these amazing cupcakes!