Spezi Cupcakes with Orange Curd Filling

by Lora Wiley-Lennartz

Here in Germany a favorite beverage for kids, adults and designated drivers is an orange soda and cola mix called Spezi.

I wondered what this soda would taste like in cupcake form. After playing around with a few different combinations, the result is a Spezi flavored cupcake filled with orange curd topped with a dual buttercream swirl in orange and Spezi flavors.

Light, moist and delicious, the sweetness of these Spezi cupcakes is set off perfectly by the tangy orange curd. 

The buttercream frosting flavors complement the cupcake nicely but if I had to do it over again, I would make a much smaller swirl on the cupcakes. I love buttercream for realz but the cake was sweet enough alone. Too much frosting sets this cupcake close to sugar overkill category so swirl away at your own risk.

Spezi Cupcakes

For the Spezi Cupcakes:
(Adapted from Coca Cola Cupcakes Recipe by Nigella Lawson from
How to Be A Domestic Goddess)
Ingredients:
  • 1+1/2 cups flour
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
  • 2/3 cup Spezi (or any orange cola carbonated soda)
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa
Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.
  • Place paper liners in a cupcake tin.
  • In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugars, baking soda and salt.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the buttermilk, egg and extracts.
  • Warm the butter, Spezi and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Pour the hot liquid into the flour mixture stirring until everything is combined.
  • Add buttermilk egg mixture and stir until well incorporated.
  • The mixture will be quite thin. You can pour the batter into the tin but using a piping bag gave me more control in filling the paper liners.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes in the tin until removing them to cool completely on a wire rack.

For the Orange Curd:
Ingredients:
  • 1 cup strained fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1/4 cup brown granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Directions:
  • In a medium sized saucepan heat the orange juice until boiling then remove from burner.
  • Beat yolks and sugar together until foamy.
  • Add the cornstarch and flour.
  • Pour a bit of the warm orange juice into the egg mixture while whisking to temper it.
  • Pour egg mixture into saucepan with the rest of the orange juice and heat until thickened while stirring frequently.

For the Orange buttercream:

Ingredients:
  • 1/4 stick butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • A few drops of orange food coloring (I used Wilton’s gel paste in Orange)
Directions:
  • Beat the butter with one cup of the powdered sugar and one tablespoon of the orange juice until combined.
  • Add the remaining sugar and orange juice and beat until combined.
  • If desired, add food coloring to tint the icing.
For the Spezi Buttercream:
Ingredients:
  • 1/4 stick butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons Spezi (or any orange soda/cola mix)
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa
Directions:
  • Beat the butter with one cup of the powdered sugar and one tablespoon of the Spezi until combined.
  • Add the remaining sugar and Spezi and beat until blended.
  • Beat in the cocoa powder.


Assemble the Cupcakes:
  • Load the curd into a pastry bag fitted with a tip that has a large opening. Any round shape is ok.
  • Insert the tip into the middle of the cupcake and squeeze. The cupcake will expand a little and the curd will pop out the top.
  • Load both buttercream frostings into one pastry bag. One flavor on one side and one on the other.
  • Squeeze the first bit of frosting out onto a plate until you see the two colors are flowing together evenly.
  • Add buttercream frosting swirls to the cupcakes.

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6 comments

Anonymous June 21, 2011 - 4:17 pm

I have never heard of Spezi, but I love how you took that idea and ran with it – incorporating cola and orange into the entire cupcake. These look fab!

Reply
Ana June 19, 2011 - 11:57 pm

Very good suggestion!
Kisses.

Reply
Pondside June 19, 2011 - 3:06 pm

I've popped over from Mary's One Perfect Bite – and I'll be back. I think you live near where I lived many years ago – we were among the first posted to the nascent NATO base at Geilenkirchen in 1980 – so I enjoyed looking at your photos.

Reply
The Vanilla Bean Baker June 18, 2011 - 11:33 pm

What a combination for a drink and now for a cupcake! Your wonderful creation looks so moist and your frosting is cool! Best wishes with the challenge!

Reply
Lauren Hairston June 18, 2011 - 10:03 pm

I love the look of your swirled frosting! I've never heard of Spezi before–it sounds a little terrifying! Of course, I'm not a big fan of soda, so what do I know? But I do absolutely love orange and chocolate together (one of my favorite flavor combinations!). Good luck with the cupcake challenge. I hope you win!!!

Reply
Linda V @ Bubble and Sweet June 18, 2011 - 8:41 am

Wow orange flavored soda that sounds weirdly nice, and I'm sure the cupcakes are totally delish. Thanks for popping over and leaving a comment it's nice to see after my long absence there are still people out there. I'm looking forward to catching up on what's been going on and keeping track of everyone's blogs again Xx

Reply

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