Orange Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

(Sorry about the freaky font.  I am perplexed as to why it looks this way.)

Note:  This recipe called for real vanilla beans, but as I have no idea where to get them, I opted for vanilla extract instead.  Also, these taste much better refrigerated and were my favorite of the 2 recipes I tried.

Cupcakes

• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 t. pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Cream butter, sugar, vanilla seeds, and orange zest until pale and fluffy. With mixer running, add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl.

Combine cream, orange juice, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Sift togetherflour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, add

1. flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 batches, alternating with cream mixture, ending with flour; beat until just combined.
2. 

   Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until testers inserted in the centers come out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. Undecorated cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to 1 day (or frozen for up to 2 months).
    Frost and serve.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• (I also added a bit of fresh orange juice)
• Place cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula, soften cream cheese. Gradually add butter, and continue beating until smooth and well blended. Sift in confectioners' sugar, and continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla, and stir to combine.