Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Bacon!!  Don't think your eyes are deceiving you, those are crispy bits of bacon on top of these cupcakes.  If you've ever "accidentally" gotten maple syrup from your pancakes onto your bacon, and thought you had found a little bit of heaven, then these maple bacon cupcakes have your name on them.

The batter is very simple. Only change I made to the recipe was using maple bacon, which I think helped blend the flavors together nicely without losing the sweet and salty contrast.  The hardest part about this recipe is cooking the bacon.  These are best still slightly warm, enjoyed immediately after frosting.  If you closed your eyes, you might even think you're enjoying a bit of a warm pancake topped with maple bacon. ;]

Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Adapted from The Cupcake Bible, Publications International, Ltd.
Makes 12 cupcakes

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temp.)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 8-10 slices of maple bacon (cooked crisply, chopped into bits)

Maple Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temp.)
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablspoons milk
• 3 cups powdered sugar

~Preheat the oven to 350 °F.  Prepare muffin tins with cupcake liners.

~In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter and sugar.  Add eggs and 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and beat until mixed.

~In another bowl, mix flour and baking powder to blend.

~Gradually add your flour mixture to your butter mixture, alternating with the milk.  You should start and end with the flour mixture.  Mix just until incorporated.  Stir in all but 2 tablespoons of your bacon.

~Fill cupcake liners three-fourths full and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 

~Once your cupcakes are done, cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely.

~For your frosting, beat your 1/2 cup butter, 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, and 2 tablespoons of milk in a large bowl. Slowly add in your powdered sugar, and beat until incorporated and slightly fluffy. 

~Frost your cooled cupcakes, and top with your bacon that you saved earlier.  Now enjoy your maple bacon cupcakes!