Yes, you read that right. Bacon. In cupcakes. And guess what, they are actually pretty good.
Last weekend I decided to make something special for Hubs. It was Father’s Day after all. I wanted to make something just for him. Something that I would never make just to make it. Because honestly, they didn’t sound good to me.
Bacon? In a cupcake? Ummm, I think I’ll pass.
Yet Hubs LOVES bacon. He’s slightly obsessed with it. The poor man, all he ever gets at home is turkey bacon, because I can’t stand the greasy, chewy, fatty real stuff. So he never gets real bacon. Oh how he suffers.
So for Father’s Day I put aside my taste buds and made something just for him. I’m such a good wife. And you know what? They weren’t half bad.
Although, to be fair, my favorite part was the frosting. Actually, that’s my favorite part about any cupcake. If it doesn’t have good frosting, I’m not eating it. Okay, I’ll probably still eat it, it’s a cupcake after all, but I won’t be happy about it.
The thing that makes the frosting oh-so-delicious is that I used brown butter instead of plain old butter. What is brown butter, you may be wondering? Why, it’s butter, heated until little brown flecks form. The melted butter takes on a golden hue and gives off a heavenly nutty aroma. Oh. My. It’s delectable. I could eat it by the spoonful.
The frosting I mean. Not the butter.
So, for all of you bacon lovers out there who also happen to love cupcakes, this recipe is for you. Or for anyone who’s a little adventurous. Or for someone who likes a little bit of salty with their sweet.
Maple bacon cupcakes, sure to satisfy any cravings you may have, sweet, salty and everything in between.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-3/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted browned butter
- 1 tablespoon bacon fat {from the cooked bacon}
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup {the real stuff, not pancake syrup}
- 1/2 cup milk
- 12 slices bacon {reserve 2 tablespoons for the frosting}
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, browned
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup {the real stuff, not pancake syrup}
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons bacon pieces
Instructions
- Cook the bacon according to package directions. Crisp-cook the bacon, you don't want any chewy, greasy pieces.
- Place on a paper towel-lined plate and allow to cool.
- Crumble into tiny pieces, about 1/2 cup.
- Save 2 tablespoons of the crumbled bacon for the frosting.
- Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat for the cupcakes.
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- To brown the butter, heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add the butter, cut into pieces, and whisk as it melts.
- After the butter melts, it will foam up a little, this is supposed to happen. Brown flecks will start to form in the butter. Watch it closely.
- Once the butter has a golden brown color and a nutty aroma, it's done. This can happen rather quickly and the butter can go from browned to burnt in a matter of seconds. I learned this one the hard way.
- Pour the butter into a bowl and allow to cool. Don't let it cool in the pot, as it will continue to cook and could burn. {For a great photo tutorial, check out How to Brown Butter on Simply Recipes.}
- In a small bowl whisk together the flour and baking powder.
- In a large bowl of an electric mixer, on medium speed mix together the browned butter, bacon fat and sugar until fluffy.
- Add the eggs and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Beat well.
- Add the flour mixture and milk, alternating, on low speed until just combined.
- Stir in all of but 2 tablespoons of the bacon pieces.
- Using an ice cream scoop, evenly divide the batter between the prepared muffin tin.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Brown the butter as directed above.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter, maple syrup and milk together on low speed until combined.
- Add powdered sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
- If the frosting is too thick, add a few more drops of milk. If it is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
- Frost cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining bacon pieces.
Notes
Adapted from The Cupcake Bible Enjoy with a glass of milk. And beware, these babies are rich.
Ready to link up with Sweet Tooth Friday? I only have a few rules:
- Link directly to your recipe {sweet-recipes only please}, not to the main page of your blog.
- Link back to my blog and/or include the Sweet Tooth Friday button {code is below and in the side bar}.
- Visit a few of the other blogs. Spread the sweet-love!
- Subscribe to my blog, follow me on Twitter, or like me on Facebook.
- Stop by again on Saturday. Each week I pick my five favorite recipes. If you are featured I have a nifty button you can add to your blog.
This post is proudly linked up to Mondays: Mouthwatering Mondays, Made By You Monday, Simply Share It, Mingle Monday Tuesdays: Tuesdays and the Table, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,Tasty Tuesday, It’s a Blog Party, Tip Junkie Wednesdays: Show and Tell, Works for Me Wednesday, This Chick Cooks Thursdays: Ultimate Recipe Swap, It’s a Keeper Thursdays, Strut Your Stuff, Full Plate Thursdays Thrilling Thursday, Chic & Crafty Party, Recipes to Run On Fridays: I’m Loving It, Foodie Friday, Grocery Cart Challenge, Food on Fridays, Friday Pot Luck, Walnut Avenue: Foodie Friday Saturdays:Sweets for a Saturday Sundays: So Sweet Sunday, Nifty Thrifty Sunday
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
These look AMAZING! I have to surprise my husband with these!! I put bacon in corn muffins once and he freaked! He would love this! Awesome recipe!
Alison, this looks interesting. I’m going to give it a try.
Thanks for hosting. ~ Sarah
Mmm- bacon! I didn’t buy it, but I saw a cookbook once that was called Everything’s Better With Bacon. There ya go!
I am sharing my recipe for Coconut Mousse. This recipe is almost dairy free, with only 1 tablespoon of butter for 6 servings. If you love coconut, you will love this mousse!
Thanks for hosting!
You must be very excited and eager to meet your baby boy! I still remember the feelings on my very last month’s pregnancy! Couldn’t wait until it’s all over and hold the baby in my arms.
Best of luck to you on everything.
These Maple Bacon Cupcakes are gorgeous. I’m sure your hubby was a happy camper seeing and seeing them. What a lovely way to celebrate Father’s Day!
Thanks for inviting me to the Sweet Tooth Friday linky party. I’m sharing my Nutella macarons with you. And thank you for hosting as well.
Please take good care and have a lovely weekend.
Amy
http://utry.it
Thanks for inviting me over to join in with your party. I have linked up the oreo cupcake post.
Best wishes and take care,
Natasha.
Thanks so much for hosting! Bacon cupcakes are on my list of things to bake. The list is so long I haven’t gotten to them! These look delicious. My husband would love them.
I have never been one to like sweets with salt but you might have just twistedmy arm. These look delicious. Linking up my S&R hand pies!
Wow, those cupcakes look amazing! Thanks again for hosting
I linked up my cookies-n-cream ice cream.
Thanks for hosting, Alli!
these look great! I’ve been meaning to try a bacon’d up cupcake one of these days
How exciting & congratulations! I linked up some cookies this week–thanks for hosting.
Alli- those cupcakes, yum.
Thanks for hosting, I linked up a couple treats for ya!
Aimee
Thaks for hosting Sweet Tooth Friday! I love the idea of sweet and savory. This would be a cupcake that would go over big at my house!!!!
Yvonne
Oh man, maple and bacon? I am so there. Just linked up with my Ultimate Stand MIxer Chocolate Chip Cookies. They totally deserve the name.
I think that is the perfect cupcake for Father’s Day!
What an interesting flavour combination – and the cupcakes look gorgeous too! Thank you for sharing them, and for hosting. Have a lovely weekend!
OOOH!! I love bacon. I cannot wait to try this one out!! My kids will go crazy!! Thank you!!
Those cupcakes look incredible!!!!
What an unusual recipe. I have a male friend who would love this.
Good luck to you as you welcome your little son.
First off..awesome pictures!!! Second..hmmm very interesting but if the hubbs liked them I would say that is a success!! What a sweet wife you are to make them..no pun intended
XO Lindsay
These are fabulous cupcakes and you made them look beautiful. Do link them to Bake with Bizzy, please.
http://bizzybakesb.blogspot.com/2011/06/baket-with-bizzy-6.html
Looks delish!
We’d love for you to share this recipe with us at
Simply Delish Saturday
Wow! Another yummy recipe!!! I’ve been seeing this idea around and everyone swears its delicious…guess I’ll have to give it a try!
If you get a chance, I’d love to have you share this recipe at the Tuesday To Do Party!
http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com/2011/06/tuesday-to-do-16-and-15-list-makers.html
Smiles!
Jami
These look incredible! I have heard about this and seen some things like it on cupcake wars and such, but never tried them. I think I will have to do this now! And thanks for the printable! If you don’t mind me asking, how did you do that? I have been trying to find a way! Thanks for sharing the recipe and so glad I found your linky party, I linked up one of my own! Can’t wait to follow along!
I use a Wordpress plugin called WordPress Print This Section. It’s really easy to set up and use. Good luck!
Oh my goodness. I have made bacon- maple cookies, but not cupcakes. How fun. Hubby will like these. Thanks for linking up to TMTT and sharing your goodness with us.
Hi Allison,
Your Maple Bacon Cupcakes are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back real soon.
Hope you have a great week end!
Miz Helen
What an interesting recipe!! Thank you so much for sharing and linking it up to {nifty thrifty sunday} last week as well!
xoxo,
Vanessa
Hi Alli – I just stumbled on your blog from Tip Junkie and these maple bacon {!} cupcakes sound so amazing! I would LOVE it if you would link your recipe to our Month Long Cupcake Party celebrating all things cucake!
http://shakentogether.blogspot.com/2011/07/were-declaring-july-cupcake-month-and.html
Happy Weekend!
Keri
These were absolutely delicious!
Just made these for my husband’s birthday. They were AWESOME! My 11 year old daughter now says they are her favorite cupcakes. My mother-in-law happened to be here and agreed with her!
I thought bacon cupcakes sounded dreadful. But, I heard rave reviews and thought I would try them. These turned out great. Thank you
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