Maple Bacon Cupcakes

They say that everything's better with bacon, so why not add some of that crispy, salty goodness to desserts? You may be skeptic at first, incorporating this breakfast staple into something sweet, but trust me, these cupcakes are the perfect mix of maple-y and bacon goodness!

Here's what you need.

As per usual, start off by pre-heating the oven, 350 degrees
for these cupcakes, and then cream 10 tablespoons of butter.

Then add 5/8 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of maple syrup.
No white sugar in this cupcake, as you want that molasses,
 syrupy taste to go with the bacon!

Beat in some eggs as well.

Sift 2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and a
teaspoon of baking powder together and gradually
add that to your wet mixture.

Divide the batter into a prepared cupcake pan, each tin about
2/3 full, and then bake for  them for about 20 minutes.

While the cupcakes bake, you can start on the frosting by
creaming 2 sticks of butter.

Then whip in about 1/2 cup of maple syrup, depending on
how strong of a flavor you want your frosting to have.

Incorporate 2 1/2 cups of confectioner's sugar, a little at a
time until your frosting gets a smooth consistency.

Finish the frosting off with a teaspoon or two of cinnamon.

If you're still waiting on the cupcakes at this point, you can go
ahead and fry up some bacon - as much or as little as you like
- but i usually go for about a third of a strip per cupcake

Once your cupcakes are done, go ahead and frost and 
top them with bacon.

And then enjoy the sweet, salty goodness!

Maple Bacon Cupcakes Recipe (yields 16):
Ingredients:
For the Cupcakes
10 tablespoons butter
5/8 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
approx. 6 strips bacon, more or less to taste
For the Frosting
2 sticks unsalted butter (at room temperature)
1/2 cup maple syrup (more or less to taste)
2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin/cupcake pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, and eggs.
3. Sift the flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a separate bowl and then gradually add them to the maple mixture.
4. Divide the batter into the cupcake tins, about 2/3 full, and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out cleanly.
5. Start the frosting by creaming the butter and add the maple syrup.
6. Gradually mix in the confectioner's sugar and finish with cinnamon.
7. Cook the bacon until crispy.
8. Frost and top the cupcakes with bacon.