The bees are looked after by someone from the Hard Rock Cafe, vegetables from the garden are used to make soup for the homeless, and the wild flower section of the garden was donated by Bez from the Happy Mondays. Who knew all this was going on right above our heads! Bees are such fascinating creatures and so essential to our environment.
How to make Honey & Orange Cupcakes...
So in honour of our bee themed meeting I decided to make some Honey & Orange Cupcakes with cute little bees on top! To make the bees I started by rolling chunks of golden marzipan to make the bees bodies. I laid them onto baking paper.
I melted a few blocks of dark chocolate in the microwave and painted the bees stripes and eyes onto the marzipan bodies using a brand new paint brush. You could probably also do this with a cocktail stick.
I pushed flaked almonds into the bees to make the wings.
Soon I had a swarm of marzipan bees! I made 30+ cupcakes for my WI meeting, but I'll give you the recipe for 12 cupcakes, then you can double and triple it as you need.
To make the cupcakes I started by creaming butter, honey and caster sugar together.
I added eggs, the zest of one orange, orange juice and orange extract.
Finally I mixed in self raising flour.
I baked the cupcakes on for 15 minutes until golden brown. I got a new oven recently and it bakes things super fast so you may need to leave them in for 20 minutes depending on your oven.
Next I made some buttercream by mixing butter, honey, icing sugar and orange extract. I piped it onto the cupcakes when they were fully cool.
Finally I added the super cute marzipan bees! I loved the final effect, the little 'bees' looked so adorable. I got some really lovely comments when I presented the Honey & Orange Cupcakes at the meeting and was pleased to see them all fly off the table!
Recommended equipment & ingredients*
| Cupcake tin | Electric hand mixer | Piping bags |
| Orange extract | Yellow cupcake cases | Wilton 2D Piping nozzle |
| Zester | Wilton 1M Piping nozzle | Jem 1E Piping nozzle |
*I earn a small amount of money if you buy the products after clicking on the links. You will not be charged anything extra for this. Thank you for supporting The Baking Explorer!
Honey & Orange Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the marzipan bees
- 120 g Golden marzipan
- 6 squares Dark chocolate
- 50 g Flaked almonds
For the sponge
- 150 g Butter or baking spread
- 50 g Honey
- 100 g Caster sugar
- 2 Eggs large
- 1 Orange
- 1 tsp Orange extract
- 150 g Self raising flour
For the buttercream
- 150 g Butter or baking spread
- 50 g Honey
- 400 g Icing sugar
- 1 tsp Orange extract
Instructions
- To make the bees, roll chunks of golden marzipan into an oval shape. Lay them onto baking paper
- Melt the dark chocolate and paint the bees stripes and eyes onto the marzipan bodies using a small paint brush or a cocktail stick
- Push the flaked almonds into the bees bodies to make the wings
- Pre-heat your oven to 180C/160C Fan/350F/Gas Mark 4 and line a cupcake tin with paper case
- To make the cupcakes, cream the butter, honey and the caster sugar together
- Add the eggs, the zest of the orange, 3 tbsp of the orange's juice and the orange extract. Mix well
- Fold in the self raising flour
- Bake the cupcakes for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool completely
- Make the buttercream by mixing the butter, honey, icing sugar and orange extract together until smooth. Pipe it onto the cupcakes or spread with a spoon
- Finally add the marzipan bees
- Store in an airtight container in a cool place, eat leftovers within 3 days
Sponge recipe adapted from Rowse Honey.
Kate Glutenfreealchemist
I had no idea there are beehives up there..... How brilliant is that?!
The cakes are very cute..... love the little bee swarm! I hope the WI approved xxx
Kat BakingExplorer
I know, it's so awesome! It was lovely getting to see it.
The Happy Whisk
Looks lovely.
Kat BakingExplorer
Thank you!
belleau kitchen
look at those cute bees!... so adorable. I think honey and orange has to be up there with my most favourite flavour combos... I gladly welcome these to the Simply Eggcellent table!
Kat BakingExplorer
Thank you! They are almost too cute to eat (almost!)
Helen at Casa Costello
Just too cute - I love those bees!
Kat BakingExplorer
Me too! They are so cute 🙂
Lili Man
I really love the little bees too (and the cupcakes of course) - really want to make some soon! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kat BakingExplorer
Please let me know if you make them!
Bea
So excited to make these, why is there self raising flour in the buttercream? Did you intend it in the soonge? Also can I use all purpose flour instead?
thebakingexplorer
Sorry about that, I've amended it now! If you use all purpose flour you will also need to add 1 tsp baking powder. I hope you enjoy the cupcakes!
Vicki Wells
I made these cupcakes as they look lovely, but am slightly disappointed with the results as they came out very flat. I would usually expect a little baking powder in a cake recipe, but there was none mentioned, so I didn't use any. The flavour is nice though. I will certainly add some baking powder if I make them again.
thebakingexplorer
Hi Vicki, did you use self raising flour? It contains baking powder so you don't need to add extra. If you used plain or all purpose flour, then you would need to add baking powder separately. I hope that helps!