Maple Bacon Cupcakes…Oh Yes, I did

It’s the newest craze and I just can’t get enough. Maple bacon everything(s) are popping up everywhere, and no matter how gluttonous they may sound, I love them all. I’ve had the maple bacon donuts and am obsessed. Well, why not try a maple bacon cupcake?! Don’t mind if I do. Please make these and share them with the ones you love. They will love you for it. And if you’re like me, you’ll love you for it…because you didn’t finish them all on your own.

Maple Bacon Cupcakes

recipe adapted from I am Baker

•8 pieces of the best bacon you can find (I prefer the thickest Applewood Smoked bacon I can find)

•2-3/4 cup flour

•1-3/4 cup fine sugar

•2 tsp baking powder

•3/4 tsp salt

•3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

•5 egg whites

•1 cup milk

•2 tsp vanilla

•2 tsp maple extract

•1/4 cup diced bacon

Directions:
First, cook your bacon. I prefer baking mine for more even cooking. Pre-heat oven to 375˚. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place metal rack on top of aluminum foil on baking sheet. Place bacon on top of racks (so fat will drip down) and put in oven for 20-35 minutes. Once bacon is cooked remove and place on paper towel. Let cool, then set 4 pieces aside (you’ll want to cut these nice and thick for the top of the cupcakes). Cut the remaining 4 slices into very small pieces.

Turn oven down to 350°.

Prepare mini cupcake pans by lining with paper liners or spraying with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, super fine sugar, baking powder, and salt.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg whites, one at a time, until mixed. Add milk, vanilla, and maple extract. Slowly add the sifted dry ingredients, until just mixed. Fold in chopped bacon.

Fill mini cupcake cups 2/3 full. The mini cupcakes take about 12 minutes to bake. Just be careful to not over bake, or they will lose their moistness. Keep an eye on them and bake just until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool a minute or so in the pans and then remove to a rack to cool completely.

Maple Buttercream

•2 sticks unsalted butter at room temp

•3 cups powdered sugar

•1 tsp vanilla extract

•2 TBSP milk

•2 TBSP maple extract

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl combine softened butter, vanilla extract, maple extract, milk, and powdered sugar. Mix until combined. If needed, add more powdered sugar to thicken, or milk to thin. Place in frosting bag and pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Garnish with reserved bacon pieces on top.

Enjoy! And please, share <3