Orange Glazed Mini Cupcakes

Same vanilla cupcake recipe as with Cottage Rose Cupcakes, except add:

zest of one orange
1 tsp orange extract

Spray mini muffin tin and gently scoop batter into the wells.  This recipe makes A LOT of minis so be patient.

Bake at 350F for about 12 minutes.

Glaze
zest of one orange
3-4 TBS fresh orange juice (a little more for thinner glaze)
1/2 tsp orange extract
1/2 stick butter salted
very light pinch of salt
2 1/2 C confectioners sugar sifted

Melt butter in pyrex mixing bowl in microwave just until melted.  Add juice, zest, extract, & pinch of salt.  Gradually add sugar and mix with electric mixer until smooth.  Add extra juice by the teaspoon if you desire a thinner glaze.

You can glaze the mini cupcakes  by two methods.  Dunk them individually in the glaze and then spoon them out onto waxed paper or line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and arrange the muffins on a gridded cooling rack.  Pour glaze over the cupcakes.  Allow the cupcakes to set up with the icing about 30 mins.  Enjoy!

I wish I could have brought some of my weekend baking to the library for co-workers to sample.  My friend Louanne is always so generous with the food she prepares, as she has learned to make extra. At my house, I can barely get the food off the stove before my two guys are sniffing around wondering if they can eat it.  It doesn't really matter what it is, they are always hungry, and they're both too big to scare off.  I'm lucky I can get a picture of it before it is snatched up.  Next time I'll just have to make more!

These little jewels were easy to make and were a huge hit with my husband who ate most of them.