Rich and decadent, with a hint of orange, this creamy chocolate and almond dessert hits all the right notes!

My dad’s birthday was yesterday!  (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!)
To celebrate, my mom, fiance, and I surprised him at their weekly Bible Study with some (almost) homemade cupcakes.

After much deliberation, I settled on a rich, chocolate cupcake and a white frosting (my dad’s favorite).  You know me, though, I couldn’t just keep it simple.

I HAVE ONE HARD AND FAST BAKING RULE:

Use a boxed mix if you have to, but always make your own frosting!

Frosting is so easy to make, and so much better than the canned stuff.  Save yourself a trip to the dentist, and top these easy cupcakes with an equally easy and oh-so-delightful Almond Cream Cheese frosting.  The hint of orange evens out the heavy-handedness of the almond and adds a great layer of flavor to the chocolate.  Substitute the Orange and Chocolate Lindt Truffles for the Extra Dark, and you’ll really up the flavor quotient.

Get the recipe here!