Marbled Chocolate Orange Bonfire Cupcakes

“Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot.” Bonfire night, celebrated here in the U.K. on November 5th, each year remembers the over thrown plot, lead by Guy Fawkes, to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Bonfires are lit and fireworks set off in remembrance of this foiled attack. Standing around a bonfire with a hot chocolate and something sweet on a cold Autumn night only enhances the celebration.  While these Marbled Chocolate Orange Bonfire Cupcakes are ideal for eating, watching fireworks explode in the night sky.

While s’mores are traditionally eaten around a bonfire, this is not possible if attending an organised event. Something the Fire Services are increasingly urging us all to do for safety reasons. Yet these Marbled Chocolate Orange Bonfire Cupcakes can be eaten wherever you are. Even indoors watching through the windows, whilst keeping pets calm from the loud bangs and crackles. I love the idea of an edible bonfire that can be taken anywhere, without fear of danger.

Using Wright’s Chocolate Fudge and Orange Cake mixes, marbled together creates a delicious cupcake. I topped them with flame like, piped orange butter cream, jelly lemons, chocolate orange matchmakers and a sprinkle of edible glitter, not only are these cupcakes tasty to eat, they are also fun to make and look at! Also the ‘bonfires’ do not need to be checked for hedgehogs or other small mammals. Something that should always be done by anyone hosting their own bonfire party.

While the sparkles, whooshing sounds and spectacular colours of fireworks are stunning, for me, being close enough to feel the warmth of a bonfire on my face really is my favourite part of bonfire night. I love the crackle, hissing and spitting of wood as it burns is mesmerising. Also, wrapping jacket potatoes in foil and placing in the fire itself is so much fun. Unwrapping piping hot potatoes, slathering with butter before tucking into them with a fork is one of life’s simplest pleasures.

Meanwhile, while the potatoes are baking, mugs of steaming hot chocolate perfectly accompany these delicious cupcakes. Since juggling a hot drink and a cupcake can be challenging, I suggest removing the wrappers before serving. Hot drink in one hand, cupcake in the other, with no finger acrobatics needed to enjoy both.

Recipe: Marbled Chocolate Orange Bonfire Cupcakes makes 24

1 packet each of Chocolate Fudge and Orange Cake Mixes available from Wright’s Baking 

Note: If you are unable to obtain the cake mixes, alternatively use the recipe for Caramac Frosted Chocolate Cupcakes 

adding finely grated zest of one orange to the cake batter.

450g/1lb Icing Sugar

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

225g/8oz Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature

Scant Pinch of Salt – I use Maldon

Orange Food Colouring

1 Box Chocolate Orange Matchmakers

Optional – small lemon jellies and red/blue edible sprinkles

To make 12 cupcakes, use half of each bag of cake mix and icing.

Method: Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan, gas mark 4

• First of all, fill 2 deep muffin tins with 24 cupcake/muffin cases.
• Make both the Orange and Chocolate Fudge cake mixes up in separate bowls according to the packet instructions.
• Spoon half a dessert spoonful of orange cake batter into each cupcake case. Now scoop a whole dessert spoonful of Chocolate Fudge cake batter on top of the orange. Follow by adding another half of a dessert spoonful of orange batter on to the top of the chocolate.
• Using a cocktail stick, swirl the two different cake batters together.
• Place the cupcake tins, spaced evenly apart, into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes.

• As soon as the cupcakes are well risen and spring back from a light touch they are baked.
• Remove the cupcake tins from the oven and immediately transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack. Leave until completely cooled before decorating.
• To make the icing, sift the icing sugar into a large bowl. Add the softened butter, salt, vanilla extract and food colouring to the same bowl.
• Next add one tablespoon of very hot water. Immediately start whisking the ingredients together on a slow speed, increasing the speed as they combine.
• Continue whisking until the buttercream is pale and creamy, adjusting the colour if necessary.
• Once fully whisked transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a 1cm round nozzle.
• Staring in the centre of a fully cooled cupcake pipe a dot and pull away the piping bag. This will leave a small peak which will resemble flames.
• Continue until the top of each cupcake is covered.

• To create the bonfire effect, break up 2 or 3 matchmaker sticks and push into the icing so they look like logs on a bonfire.
• Follow by adding the jellied lemons. Angle them outwards from the ‘logs’ to give the effect of flames licking at the wood.
• Finally, to finish sprinkle first with red edible glitter and then again with slightly less blue edible glitter.

• Display the finished cupcakes on wooden boards, or slabs. Chopping boards and cheese boards can also be used to great effect.

The marbled combination of chocolate and orange can be seen and tasted with the first bite into a cupcake.

Easy to make and ideal for any firework party gathering. These cupcakes are sure to induce as many ooh’s and aah’s as the firework’s themselves.

Make ahead and store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Marbled Chocolate Orange Bonfire Cupcakes then you may also like these:

 

Caramel Crunch Rocky Road Bars

Spicy Sausage Rolls

Chocolate Sparkle Cake

Democracy is of upmost importance here in the U.K. Since this is exactly why we celebrate Bonfire Night. Since the very night that our democracy was due to be blown to pieces, by a group of men with different ideas, our freedom and democracy are celebrated and not taken for granted. While the very same can be said of terrorists and terror events in the modern day. People seeking disrupt and create chaos in countries where their ideas are not followed. Our privilege to speak freely, practice our own faith, without causing harm to others, is something that we must and should hold dear.

If you would like more information please see Important Stuff

Whatever you are making, baking and creating have fun preparing your feast. Also have a safe Bonfire Night.

Sammie xx

Wright’s Baking provided the cake mixes to create this recipe. All thoughts, opinions and content are my own. I was not paid to write this post.

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy