Creamsicle Cupcakes Recipe

Hi everyone. Did you know today is National Creamsicle Day?

Yep, that’s right. Remember those great frozen treats of a combo of vanilla cream and orange fruity ice on a stick?

So perfect on a hot summer day!  We had them all the time as kids and just loved them.

Well, that same wonderful flavor is captured in my Creamsicle Cupcakes. This recipe is just dreamy!

I’d love to share my recipe with you:

CUPCAKES:  Bake 12-18 minutes (depends on your oven)  Temp: 350 degrees (reg. oven) Makes 30 regular size

1- 3 ounce pkg. orange-flavor gelatin

1-  white cake mix

1-  4-serving-size pkg, cheesecake instant pudding and pie filling mix

1 1/4 cups orange juice

4 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

wooden craft sticks (optional)

cupcake liners

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Set aside 2 teaspoons of the gelatin for the frosting.  In a large mixing bowl beat the remaining gelatin, the cake mix, pudding mix, orange juice, eggs, oil, and vanilla.

Spoon into cupcake liners and fill only 2/3 full. You’ll want to smooth out evenly since the batter is thick.

Bake until the toothpick inserted comes out clean. (I don’t mine if it has a tiny cake on it because they will continue baking as they cool)

Take out and let cool on wire rack. (Important to cool on wire rack so they don’t get soggy on the bottom.)

FROSTING: ( a basic cream cheese frosting with a few orange ingredients)

1 -8 ounce pkg. cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

2 tsp. vanilla

5 1/2 to 6 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp. orange gelatin

1 tsp. finely shredded orange peel

few drops of orange food coloring (optional)

After the cream cheese and butter reaches room temperature, add the vanilla and beat in a large bowl on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until frosting reaches spreading consistency. This will make about 3 1/2 cups.

Place 1/4 of the frosting in a separate bowl;  beat in an additional 1/4 tsp. vanilla. To the remaining bowl of Cream Cheese frosting add the reserved 2 tsp. orange gelatin  from the cupcakes and 1 tsp. finely shredded orange peel. (add food coloring if you want) Beat all to combine.

Frost the cupcakes with the orange frosting and add a little white frosting on the top, then, insert your popsicle stick.

Hope you enjoy them and Happy Creamsicle Day!