There are very few sweet flavour combinations that beat the classic chocolate + orange duo.
I got given way too many chocolate oranges for Christmas this year. So of course, I had to use half of one to make some cupcakes for our BBQ on New Years Eve – how kind of me! 

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 hole muffin tray, lined with cases
• 4oz butter or margarine
• 3oz caster sugar
• 1oz golden brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4oz self raising flour
• 1oz good quality cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• Zest of 1 large orange 

For the icing:

• 2oz soft butter or margarine
• 4oz icing sugar
• 1/2 chocolate orange, melted 

METHOD:

1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4 or 180oC
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar
3. Slowly mix in the eggs, one at a time
4. Sieve and fold in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder
5. Fold in the maple syrup and orange zest 
6. Bake for 15 minutes, until a skewer comes out of the cupcake centre clean (or when you press the top, they spring back to the original shape)
7. Leave to cool on a wire wrack whilst you make the icing
8. Beat the butter to soften, slowly adding in the sieved icing sugar 
9. Once a creamy, smooth mixture has formed, carefully fold in the melted chocolate
10. Ice the cupcakes once the sponges are completely cooled
11. Decorate x