Venture Brothers and Orange Ricotta Cupcakes

My husband and I lazily spent New Years Day loafing on the couch and re watching the Venture Bros season 1, which we have both seen so many times we've lost count.  We just got the first half of season 4 on dvd, but I am disappointed we haven't been able to find the second half online. 
I was casually searching through the fridge for dinner and I realized the shelf life of the food we purchased last week was  nearing and end.  Despite my promise to myself to cook healthy I had to satisfy my need to bake.  Baking makes me feel at home.  The act of creating something beautiful, sinful and completely unnecessary warms my wicked heart. :)

I've spent a lot of time researching new recipes online, as well as asking my mother for my old favorites.  Some times the pay off is big, sometimes... its so bad even the husband won't eat it.  Luckily, I have had more success than failure.  This recipe was found on the cooking light/my recipe website.

Orange Marmalade Ricotta Cupcakes

1  (18.25-ounce) package plain white or yellow cake mix*

1  cup  plus 2 tablespoons orange juice, divided

2/3  cup  ricotta cheese

1/3  cup  orange marmalade

1/3  cup  vegetable oil

4  large eggs

1 1/2  teaspoons  orange zest

Makes 20 cupcakes.

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Insert paper liners into 20 muffin cups; set aside.
2. Beat cake mix, 1 cup orange juice, and next 5 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer until combined. Scrape sides of bowl with spatula, and beat at medium speed 2 minutes or until batter is thick and well combined. Spoon about 1/3 cup batter into each liner.
3. Bake at 350° for 18 to 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
4. Brush tops of warm cupcakes evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons orange juice. Let cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.

Marmalade Buttercream Frosting

• 1/2  cup  butter, softened
• 1  tablespoon  orange marmalade
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  orange zest
• 2 1/2  cups  sifted powdered sugar
• 2  to 3 tablespoons orange juice

Beat first 3 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until combined. Gradually add orange juice, beating at medium speed 30 seconds or until frosting is spreadable. Beat at medium-high 30 seconds or until fluffy.

This recipe is amazing!  highly recommend it.  The only difficult part of the whole thing is finding cupcake papers.  For 20 I spent 350 yen on the damn things.  The flavor is great. Not overwhelmingly orange, and I can't even tell there is ricotta involved.  It's just moist, fluffy and amazingly decadent.  The buttercream is perfect, and shockingly not that rich, which is what I like.