
I don’t know how to feel about September. It’s here too soon. The past two weeks have been especially full of sound and fury in my kitchen (the best kind of both) and many baked goods that you have yet to see. Most of those treats were for a book trailer (more on that in a future post), and others were for special projects that I’m just dying to share. Definitely stay tuned – this fall season promises to be quite full!
September is prime time for apple-picking, but before I dive head-first into all things pomme, I wanted to have one last peachy hoorah. These orange-zested cupcakes are filled with the most delicious fragrant cooked peaches. They’re topped with peach schnapps-infused buttercream, which is all kinds of awesome, if you ask me. They taste like a peachy-orange creamsicle.

I topped these cupcakes with some unique candies called Satellite Wafers. They’re considered a nostalgic candy from the 1950’s, but they are new to me. Some people are downright obsessed with them, while others find them just… too odd! They are certainly different, but I like them. I’d categorize their weirdness with the likes of paraffin wax bottled Nip’n Nips or even the acquired taste of Necco Wafers. The outer portion is like a communion wafer – edible, though mostly tasteless and melts on the tongue. The inside is filled with crunchy, fruity nonpareils (which drew me in, of course).


These are a must for peach fanatics! If you’re not keen on using peach schnapps in this recipe, then consider using a small amount of peach flavoring. You can find that here, and I’ve also seen it in the candy-making section at craft stores. It really punches up the peach flavor, which helps it stand toe-to-toe with the bright-tasting orange zest in the cake batter and frosting.

Peachy Orange Marmalade Cupcakes
Ingredients
Orange marmalade cupcakes
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup orange marmalade
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream or whole milk
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon orange food coloring gel
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Peach filling
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 2 medium peaches ripe, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon peach schnapps liqueur I like Peachtree
- Or 1/4 teaspoon peach flavoring oil I like LorAnn
Peachy-orange frosting
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/4 cup peach schnapps
- Or 1 teaspoon peach flavoring oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Milk or cream
Instructions
- Make the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°. Line two 12 capacity cupcake tins with paper liners (if you only have one tin, bake in 2 separate batches).
- Beat butter, marmalade and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer in a large bowl; beat in eggs one at a time.
- Combine cream and next 3 ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt in a large bowl; add to butter mixture, alternating with cream, beginning and ending with flour. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pans, filling cups 2/3 full.
- Bake 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center to wire racks; cool completely.
- Make the filling: Combine the cornstarch and cold water in a small condiment cup. Mix well until blended and no lumps remain.
- Place the peaches in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the cornstarch mixture. Cook until the mixture bubbles and thickens slightly. Remove from the heat. Stir in the peach liqueur or flavoring oil. Transfer the mixture to a shallow dish and refrigerate until completely cool, about 30 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is cool fill the cupcakes. Use a small serrated knife to cut out a divot in the tops of the cupcakes (discard the cake cut-outs or save them for a snack). Fill the cupcakes with the peach filling.
- Make the frosting: Place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until creamy on high speed. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat on low speed until just combined (mixture may be crumbly). Add the orange zest, peach schnapps (or flavoring oil) and vanilla extract. Beat on high speed until fluffy. If the mixture is stiff or crumbly, add milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time with the mixer running, until the frosting is whip-able and of piping consistency. Beat until the frosting is light (almost white) in color, about 5 minutes more.
- Garnish the cupcakes with orange zest or candy. I used Satellite Wafers candies which can be found in bulk candy stores and online (see blog post for links).
What cute cupcakes! Love the fresh fruity flavors in here, especially the peach filling 🙂
These look too pretty to eat! I just recently saw satellite wafers, too. They must be making a comeback.
xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com
These cupcakes look amazing, I need to use this recipe!
These look fabulous and the candy is a trip down memory lane for me. In Britain they are called flying saucers and are filled with sherbet. Although the nonpareils are more appropriate for your recipe, nothing will beat the burst of sherbet as it explodes on your tongue!
Cupcakes filled with peaches! LIfe doesn't get any better! 😉
So cute !
Love how much peach filling there is in the middle! It's like a peach pie and instead of pastry it's cake! I definitely want to make these one day!! Yum!
This morning I was watching Nigel Slater's BBC show Life Is Sweets & he was speaking with a candy historian. Fun fact: satellite wafers were originally made of rice paper & used by Victorian apothecaries as a way of giving a dose of medication. I think I like them better filled with candy on top of those extremely cute cupcakes!
Oh wow – interesting!
Where do you find the beautiful cupcake wrappers?
These look perfect! Love the colours! Yum!
I can combine all my feeling seeing these cupcake In one word : FABULOUS
Do you have a source for the cupcake wrappers?
Hi Suzanne!
It took me a while to remember where I found them – and then last night I remembered! They are part of the "Sweet Soiree" collection and you can find them at HeyYoYo.com the following link:
https://heyyoyo.com/search.php
I think I'll reorder some. They are too cute!
-h
Er, this link rather:
http://heyyoyo.com/item/-Sweet-Soiree-Bake-Cups/1817
I just have to say I absolutely LOVE your blog! Your photography is amazing and these cupcakes are so beautiful!
Thanks! I tried to order thru their website, but the connection wasn't secure. I sent her a an email from her site instead. Love the idea that they're reusable, as long as you can get the guests not to throw them away!
I'm a peach lover and these cupcakes are just DIVINE 🙂
They look very beautiful and festive!
These have been the most elegant and beautiful cup cakes I have ever seen!
I made them for a party along with chocolate cupcakes, caramel apple cupcakes and lavender cupcakes. Almost everyone was afraid to try something different! So all the chocolate were immediately gone and people barely tried the others — which were all good. Next time I'll serve these on their own so people who want dessert have to open their minds to something new!!