These bacon maple cupcakes are absolutely delicious! The rich sweetness of maple syrup combined with the savory, salty flavor of bacon creates an irresistible flavor pairing. While maple syrup on pancakes with bacon and eggs is a classic breakfast favorite, this dynamic duo can be used in so many other creative ways.
INGREDIENTS
For the cupcakes:
- 1 box white cake mix (plus the ingredients listed on the box)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 ½ tablespoons maple syrup
For the frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crispy
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a cookie sheet with non-stick foil. Lay the 6 slices of bacon on the foil and bake for 15 minutes until crispy. Remove the bacon from the oven and place it on paper towels to drain excess grease. Set aside.
- For the cupcakes:
- Lower the oven temperature to 350°F (or the temperature specified on the cake mix box) and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- Prepare the cake batter according to the box instructions, then stir in cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup until fully combined.
- Pour the batter into the muffin tin, filling each cup about ⅔ full. Bake according to the package instructions or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely.
- For the frosting:
- Beat the softened butter in a large bowl until creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, salt, maple syrup, and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
- Adjust the consistency with more powdered sugar to thicken or a splash of milk to thin if needed.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes.
- Crumble the bacon into small pieces and gently press it into the frosting to help it stick. Serve and enjoy!
NOTES
- Cook and crumble the bacon ahead of time so you can even mix some into the cupcake batter—because there’s never too much bacon!
- Though cupcakes aren’t typically a breakfast food, bacon makes them feel brunch-worthy.
- If you prefer, you can decorate each cupcake with a whole piece of bacon instead of crumbling it.
