White Chocolate Cranberry Cupcakes

White Chocolate Cranberry Cupcakes

I LOVE cupcakes.

I like to look at them.

I like to smell them.

(that's all I can do right now)

They make me happy.

Cupcakes are a reflection of all that is good in the world.

I know that's a bit dramatic, but it's true.

That's all I'm sayin'.

I wish I could give you a first hand review of these cupcakes, but I can't, since I'm sugar-free.

I will tell you that after I made them, I teared up a little that I couldn't eat one.

Aaron moaned when he ate his.

Even Glenco mentioned how good they were, and he's not like that about sweets.

I smelled them. A lot.

I went to bed last night dreaming of floating on magic carpets of bacon, and sleeping on cupcake pillows in a land where it snowed powdered sugar.

Sigh.

White Chocolate-Cranberry Cupcakes
(adapted from Baker’s Chocolate)
6 (1 ounce) squares white baking chocolate
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
6 tablespoons orange juice, divided
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cupcake tins with liners. Chop 6 of the chocolate squares and set aside. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, orange peel, and 3 tablespoons of the orange juice; mix well. Add flour and baking powder; beat until well blended. Fold in chopped chocolate and the cranberries.Bake approximately 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove cupcakes to wire rack. Cool completely.

Frosting:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 (1 ounce) squares white baking chocolate, melted
3 tablespoons orange juice
3-4 cups powdered sugar
Beat butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Mix in white chocolate. Mix in orange juice and powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. Pipe or smear onto cupcakes.

Store tightly covered in a cool place.