Whole Wheat Orange Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Maple Walnut Glaze

I shared this over at KdBuggie Boutique last week and I wanted to share it with you also.  I hope you enjoy.
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 Whole Wheat Orange Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Maple Walnut Glaze, the name tells you that it is a GOOD cupcake, and I make it healthy, in this recipe you have to make the walnuts and put the brown sugar maple glaze on them, I was eating that by itself, the walnuts tasted like maple cinnamon and it was just delicious, ok let's begin before I have flashbacks.

There are four parts to this cupcake, but they are all pretty easy steps, because if I can do it, then anyone can!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp white vinegar

1 cup canola oil

1/2 fresh squeezed orange juice

1 tbsp orange zest

Set oven to 350

Mix wet ingredients, and then add dry ingredients until well blended. Fill cupcakes cups 1/2 way. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool on wire rack.

Walnuts

8 ounces whole shelled walnuts

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup fat free milk

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

Set oven to 350ºF. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

In a saucepan combine sugar, milk, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk over medium heat until all the ingredients combine together, then bring to a boil. Boil the mixture about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully stir in the vanilla. Immediately stir in the toasted walnuts. Set aside.

Glaze

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup water

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 tsp orange zest

1/4 cup walnuts mixture, chopped

Combine sugar, water, butter and orange zest in a saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, then add walnuts. Allow to cool before drizzling over the cooled cupcakes. (Watch out because the walnut glaze is addicting, I ate two and then kept eating, its a snack by itself)

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces of light cream cheese (softened)

1 stick of unsalted butter (softened)

3 cups of powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

orange zest and glazed walnuts for garnish

Cream butter and cream cheese, add vanilla, then add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until to the consistency that you want it.

Take your cooled cupcake, and drizzle the walnut glaze on the cupcake, frost and then garnish the top of your cupcake with the walnut glaze and some orange zest. This cupcake tastes just like orange sherbet, I could just eat the frosting on top that's how good it is.

Make sure you try this recipe, you won't be disappointed.

ENJOY! 

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