Orange-Nuts Cup Cakes

After trying out cranberry orange flavoured eggless cupcakes by adapting the recipe of a good baker friend of mine, Akshatha, it was time to try out another variation. This time, its walnuts, almonds, chocochips with the wonderful flavour of fresh orange zest and orange essence. These days, Neha is liking cupcakes with orange flavour. Made these for Neha and her friends and got really very good reviews about the taste and texture. Can’t believe eggless cakes can be so soft and fluffy. Very mildly sweet with the delightful crunch of walnuts, almonds and chocochips in every bite and a subtle orange flavour is worth a try.

Ingredients:

• All purpose flour 185 gm (1 1/2 cups)
• Baking soda 1 tsp
• Salt a pinch
• Sugar 125 gm
• Orange zest 1 tsp
• Orange extract 1-2 tsp
• Buttermilk 3/4 cup
• Oil 1/4 cup
• Chocochips a handful
• Almonds plus walnuts 1/4 cup

Method:

• Preheat the oven at 180 degree celsius for atleast 10-12 minutes.
• Sieve the apf, salt and baking soda 4-5 times.
• Take a bowl and add buttermilk and sugar to it. Mix it well till the sugar dissolves in it completely.
• Add the oil, orange zest and orange extract and stir.
• Pour the liquid ingredients into a bowl containing the dry ingredients and fold it gently.
• Slowly fold in the choco chips and chopped nuts.
• Pour the batter into a greased cupcake mould or a mould lined with cupcake liners. Fill it only till 2/3rd of its capacity.
• Bake in the oven for atleast 15-17 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and allow it to cool on a wire rack.
• Eat it warm with a cup of tea/coffee or milk.

Notes:

• To prepare buttermilk, take 1/2 cup milk at room temperature or mildly lukewarm and add a tablespoon of vinegar or 2 teaspoon of lemon juice and keep it aside for 5 minutes. Your buttermilk is ready.