Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 regular-size muffin pans with cupcake liners.
Add the cake mix to a medium size mixing bowl.
Pour the orange soda over the cake mix.
Add the orange flavor/extract if using.
Using a handheld mixer on low speed, mix for about 1 minute until completely incorporated. (Be sure not to overmix the batter)
Fill the prepared muffin pan ⅔ full. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes away clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely.
Add the whipped frosting to a small mixing bowl. Add 3 to 5 drops of the orange gel food coloring and stir well until the color is uniform.
Add the tinted frosting to a decorator’s bag fitted with a Wilson 2A (large round) decorator’s tip or a gallon size Ziploc with a small corner of the bag snipped off.
Hold the bag ½ inch above the center surface of the cupcake. Using even pressure, gently squeeze the bag in a circle to cover the surface of the cupcake. Repeat for the remaining cupcakes.
Notes
Parchment paper liners can help prevent the cupcakes from sticking to the liners.
When mixing the cupcake batter, it is very important to keep the mixer on low speed and not overmix. Overmixing can cause the cupcakes to turn out very dry.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cupcakes at the lower end of the recommended baking time.