Orange Almond Cupcakes

These delectable cupcakes are perfect for people who don't like frosting but still like an exciting and delicious cupcake. These are also my grandmother's favourite cupcakes!

Makes: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (113g) soft unsalted butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large orange zested

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup chopped almonds

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (for coating the chopped almonds)

For the garnish:

1/4 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup slivered almonds

Instructions:

1) Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a cupcake tray with cupcake liners.

2) In a medium bowl add the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk this together until well combined.

3)Make orange sugar, add the orange zest and sugar in a small bowl, and rub it with your fingers until fragrant.

4) In a large bowl cream the butter and orange sugar together with an electric mixer/whisk/wooden spoon until pale and fluffy for about 5 minutes.

5) Add the eggs, one at a time along with the vanilla extract. Mix this till combined.

6) Add a third of the flour mixture and roughly mix, then add in a third of the buttermilk and repeat till you have used all your flour and buttermilk. Make sure not to over-mix the batter and stop the moment you don't see any flour streaks.

7) In a small bowl combine the smaller amount of all-purpose and chopped almonds. Coating the almonds in the flour will ensure that they don't sink to the bottom of the cupcakes. Fold the flour-coated almonds into the batter.

8) Divide the batter into the cupcake liners using a spoon/ice-cream scoop. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full.

10) Let the cupcakes cool in the cupcake tray for about 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack and let them completely. cupcake and remove it to see if your cupcakes are ready. If there are a few crumbs on the toothpick, the cupcakes are ready. If it's still runny then bake for another 5 minutes and check until they are cooked.

10)Let the cupcakes cool in the cupcake tray for about 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack and let them completely.

11) Garnish by sprinkling the cupcakes with powdered sugar and decorate them with slivered almonds.

Enjoy!