Bacon Maple Cupcakes

I know, it sounds weird. We have been watching cupcake wars on The Food Networ, and my 15 year old daughter had to try them. You know what, we actually liked them.

You have to be prepared, and know that you are biting into a bacon maple cupcake or it might throw you, and you will not like them. But if you are open to new ideas and flavors, give it a try. I would definitely make them again.

Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 tablespoons of butter room temperature
• 1/2 tablespoon of bacon drippings (left in the fridge to become solid)
• 1 egg
• 5 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 1/4 cup of self rising flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• tiny tiny pinch of kosher salt
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of minced bacon cooked and drained

Maple Syrup Frosting

• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• turbinado sugar (optional but recommended) - this is a raw sugar, found mine at Safeway
• coarse grain sea salt (optional but recommended) - definitely worth adding

Directions

• Cook some bacon in a fry pan (about 6 thick strips). Reserve the drippings and place in the fridge to solidify. Mince 1/4 a cup of the bacon. Save the rest for garnish on top of cupcakes.
• Beat the crud out of the butter and solidified bacon fat 'till light and creamy. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and beat well until combined.
• Add the egg and beat until incorporated.
• Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and powder together.
• Add some of the flour and mix, then some of the milk, then continue to alternate the dry and wet ingredients, ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in the bacon. Taste and add more maple syrup, flour, or milk if needed for desired taste. Keep in mind the maple frosting is very sweet, and to add in very small increments for alterations as maple syrup in large amounts can break a cake batter.
• Scoop into cupcake papers and bake at 350 F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

I likes that these weren't real sweet. We sprinkles the turbinado sugar on top with the sea salt, then sprinkles reserved bacon cut into bits on top of the frosting. They didn't last that long in our house. Which is saying a lot, since we don't eat a ton of sweets. Even my husband was asking if there were any left. Be brave and give it a try. Or else get out the same old same old cake mix and make your boooorrrrriiiinnngggg regular cupcakes.