Chocolate Cardamom Cupcakes with Cinnamon Orange Buttercream

When Isannah visited for the second week this summer we decided to do some baking for her to take back to Olivia. I wanted to make something really special and different to take to her since she typically likes trying new things.I got the idea for these cupcakes from watching Cupcake Wars. The contestants were constantly talking about cardamom cupcakes and I decided to see why it is so popular among professional bakers. I wasn’t really certain what other flavors went along with cardamom so I pulled out my trusty food bible and decided to make a chocolate cardamom cake with cinnamon orange buttercream. This combination turned out to be an excellent idea.These cupcakes are not only light and fluffy, they are extremely flavorful. The cardamom shines through and the nutmeg and orange zest really make it pop. I’ve never worked with cardamom before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised by the finished product. It is a fantastic cupcake that is perfect as the weather turns cooler.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:96]