Orange Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

First of all, I run out of patience when I'm frosting cupcakes, so they always end up looking like this. That's something I need to work on. Secondly, the oranges on top were supposed to be candied, but it's Monday night and I am tired. Thirdly, these had good flavor, though I am probably biased because I love orange-flavored desserts. Also, I didn't have vanilla beans on hand, so these would be even lovelier with those, I'm sure. They get a 7 and the recipe came from annieseats.com.

Yield: about 24-28 cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

For the cupcakes:

• 1 cup (16 tbsp.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar I used 1 1/3 C. 
• 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise I sadly left these out 
• 2 tbsp. finely grated orange zest
• 4 large eggs
• 1½ cups heavy cream (or whole milk) I used whole milk
• ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. salt

For the candied oranges: I didn't candy the oranges

• 1½ cups sugar
• 1½ cups water
• About 30 small, thin orange slices

For the frosting:

• 1½ cups plus 2 tbsp. (3 sticks plus 2 tbsp.) unsalted butter, at room temperature I used 2 sticks
• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted I used 1 1/2 C. 
• Pinch of salt
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise I left this out 
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. heavy cream I left this out
• 1 tsp. orange extract

Here's the link to the instructions: http://www.annies-eats.com/2012/04/06/orange-vanilla-bean-cupcakes/