For the brownie layer:

1. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, vanilla, eggs, and sugar.
2. In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa.
3. Blend together, and add to the mixer, and blend until smooth and creamy.
4. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners, and fill the liners about 1/3 full of the brownie batter.

For the cake layer

1. In a clean mixing bowl, add the sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla, and mix until creamy and smooth.
2. In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt, and blend well.
3. Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl a little at a time, alternating withe the milk, until all flour and milk have been added.
4. Blend until the batter is smooth.
5. Add the Orange food coloring gel, about 1/2 a teaspoon to start, and mix to blend the color. If the color is not bright orange, add a little more food coloring gel until desired color is achieved.
6. Fill the cupcake liners with the orange cake batter, to about 2/3 full, on top of the brownie layer.
7. Place the muffin tin in the oven at 350 degrees, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. When the cupcakes are done, remove them from the muffin tin to a wire rack to cool. Allow the cupcakes to completely cool, about 2 hours.

For the frosting:

1. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, blend the shortening and softened butter until smooth and creamy.
2. Add the vanilla, and blend.
3. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, alternating with the cream until the frosting is smooth, thick, and creamy.
4. When the frosting is blended, remove half the frosting to another bowl, and add orange food coloring gel until the frosting is desired color. Stir well to blend.
5. Add the Brown food coloring gel to the mixer, and mix until the frosting looks like thick chocolate frosting. If the frosting seems it’s not quite thick enough, add a little more powdered sugar, and mix until desired consistency is achieved.
6. Do this with both the orange and the brown frosting. If the frosting seems like it’s too thick, add cream, 2 – 3 drops at a time until it thins a little.
7. On your counter, lay two pieces of Plastic wrap, about 6 – 8 inches wide, out flat on the counter.
8. Place the orange frosting in the center of one piece, and the brown frosting in the center of the other piece of plastic.
9. Roll the plastic wrap around the frosting, until you have a long tube like piece of plastic, with the frosting in it.
10. Trim the end off of the plastic wrap, and place the plastic wrap with the frosting, side by side in a pastry bag, with the star tip.
11. Starting on the outside of the cupcake, squeeze the pastry bag down toward the cupcake, and swirl the frosting around on the top, coming up to a point in the middle off the cupcake (see photo). This will give you the orange and brown swirl.
12. Sprinkle Fall color sprinkles on top of the cupcakes to finish decorating these wonder cupcakes.