Orange Applesauce Cupcakes

Orange Applesauce Cupcakes
By Anand Lila devi dasi
Ingredients
•3 Tbsp butter, softened
•1 C packed brown sugar
•2½ Tbsp yogurt
•2/3 C applesauce
•1 Tsp vanilla extract
•1 Tsp grated orange peel
•1 C all purpose flour
•1 Tsp baking powder
•¼ Tsp baking soda
•½ C chopped nuts
Frosting:
•3 Tbsp butter, softened
•2 C confectioners’ sugar/icing sugar, sifted
•2 Tsp grated orange peel
•2-4 Tsp orange juice
Preparation
1.In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add yogurt and beat well. Beat in the applesauce, vanilla and orange peel. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda; add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the nuts.
2.Fill 12 paper lined muffin cups half full. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 F/180 C for 30-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Cool completely over wire racks before frosting.
3.For frosting; in a small mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar. Add orange peel and enough orange juice to achieve spreading consistency. Either, dip top of the cupcakes into the frosting, twist slightly and lift up or, spread the frosting over the top of the cupcakes.
Yield
12 cupcakes