Orange and Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

Ingredients

• Orange juice (2 tablespoons)
• Powdered sugar (1 cup)
• Orange juice (1/4 cup)
• Milk (1/2 cup)
• Salt (1/4 teaspoon)
• Baking powder (1 1/2 teaspoons)
• All (purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups)
• Vanilla bean (1, seeds scraped)
• Orange zest (1 tablespoon)
• Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)
• Eggs (2)
• Granulated sugar (3/4 cup)
• Unsalted butter (1/2 cup (1 stick), softened)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract, orange zest, and scraped vanilla bean seeds.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk and orange juice. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
8. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and orange juice to make the glaze.
10. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cupcakes and let it set before serving.