Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes
(makes 12)
(from Williams Sonoma "Cake")

Ingredients:

3 tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 cup hot water
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 orange
2 eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 and line 12 muffin cups with liners.

2. In a small bowl, mix the cocoa and hot water togeter until it's dissolved and mixed, set aside.

3. In another bowl, sift together the flour, powder, soda and salt. Set aside.

4. Zest the orange and add to the dry ingredients.

5. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until they are combined well. Add the buttermilk, vanilla and butter. Whisk well. Add cocoa mix and whisk well.

6. Mix in the dry ingrendients to combine.

7. Fill the cup cake liners about half full, dividing the batter evenly. Bake for 15-20 minutes until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cupcake comes out clean.

8. Let cool completely on a wire rack.