CHOCOLATE BEET CUPCAKES WITH ORANGE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Peel the beets with a vegetable peeler. Grate beets using lrg holes of grater (use gloves or beets will dye hands).
• Spray muffin tins with cooking spray.
• Combine sugars, oil, and eggs in lrg bowl, beat at med speed until well blended. Add beets and beat well.
• In seperate lrg bowl add flour, and other dry ingredients and whisk together until mixed.
• Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with milk. Beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Pour batter into cupcake tins and tap on counter to remove air bubbles.
• Bake at 350 for 20-30 min or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 mins on wire racks, remove from pans and cool completely.
• Frosting:.
• Beat rind, vanilla, and cream cheese with mixer at high speed until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat at low speed until blended. (don not overbeat).
• Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with walnuts if using.
• Store in refrigerator.