**UPDATED**
Extraordinary sweet and salty treat. Soft maple cupcakes with a hint of bacon topped with maple buttercream frosting, crispy bacon bits and a touch of maple syrup.
Desserts with bacon started sweeping the food scene a few years ago. It was such a craze that people tried adding bacon to just about every sweet treat. Maple/bacon and chocolate/bacon seemed to be the most popular combinations. Although, maple and bacon has been together for a long long time already.
I used to see people pour maple syrup over bacon strips all the time when I worked at the Cracker Barrel. I honestly thought it was the strangest thing until one day, curiosity took over and I tried it. Not gonna lie, it was interesting and tasty! It could have been just a southern thing but it was tasty nevertheless.
So I can definitely see how maple/bacon desserts became so popular. It’s not just cupcakes that feature that flavor combination, I’ve seen in in doughnuts, muffins, waffles, pancakes and cookies. Maple bacon doughnuts are still on my list to try.
These cupcakes were actually my very first expedience with bacon in dessert. My best friend’s son got married last weekend and his bride asked if I could contribute to their dessert table with some cupcakes. Of course I said “yes!”
They had a sweet, small wedding and everything was fun and non-traditional. So she wanted some kind of unusual cupcakes and decided on maple-bacon. You know the rules, what the bride wants, the bride gets! So I whipped up like five batches of cupcakes to get three perfect ones for them. By the end, I could make these cupcakes with my eyes closed.
I was so nervous to find out how everyone liked them since it was a whole lot of strangers trying my cupcakes. I was very happy to find out the next day that everyone loved them. Very happy!
****First and foremost, I want to THANK all of you for your patience in waiting on this recipe to be updated! It’s been quite a long wait and I’m so sorry for taking so long. It was a couple of trial and errors but I went a whole different route with these cupcakes. The technique using beaten butter and sugar is usually hit and miss for me. It seemed like it was a hit and mix for some of my readers too. I truly apologize for that and not being able to figure out what went wrong with the old recipe. So I remade these cupcakes using a recipe that I completely trust, that has not failed me yet. I’ve made these cupcakes a couple of times and sent them to work with my husband, for “taste testing.” The report came back very positive each time. No deflating, soft texture, and taste is right on point! I hope you will forgive the length or time it took for me to update this recipe.****
Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Ingredients
- Cupcakes:
- 4 egg whites room temperature
- 1 cup of white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup bacon grease grease from cooking bacon in the oven
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- Optional: 1 tsp maple extract
- Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 cups powder sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- Topping:
- 1/4 cup maple syrup for topping cupcakes
- 6-8 crispy bacon strips
- 1/4 cup maple syrup for topping frosting
Instructions
-
UPDATED recipe:
-
Preheat the oven to 350 and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. (I recommend parchment paper liners but you can use any your prefer.)
-
Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder together and set aside.
-
Combine vegetable oil, bacon grease, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. (And maple extract if using.)
-
Make sure your other ingredients are ready.
-
In a bowl of an electric mixer (use paddle attachment), beat egg whites for about 30 seconds and slowly start pouring in sugar. Beat for 2-3 minutes, until white and fluffy.
-
Start pouring in oil mixture, slowly, as the eggs are still beating on medium-high.
-
Lower the speed to low.
-
Alternating, add flour mixture and buttermilk in two parts. Mix until just combined. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl and low mix a couple more seconds until incorporated.
-
Divide batter among the cupcake cups, filling them about ⅔ of the day. (I recommend using an ice cream scoop so all the cupcakes are even.) Tap the cupcake pan on the counter a couple of times to help air bubbles come up.
-
Bake for 18-20 minutes.Take out of the oven and let them rest for 5-10 minutes. Gently take the cupcakes out onto the wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle about a teaspoon of maple syrup on to of each cupcake.
-
Cool completely before frosting!
-
Frosting:
-
Beat softened butter in the electric mixer, on medium-high speed, for about 2 minutes.
-
Lower speed to low and carefully mix in powder sugar, salt and maple syrup. Once sugar is incorporated, scrape sides and bottom of the bowl and raise speed to medium. Beat for another 2-3 minutes.
-
Transfer frosting into a piping bag with desired tip attached. Pipe cooled cupcakes.
-
Crumble crispy bacon and divide it on top of piped cupcakes.
-
Drizzle each cupcake with some maple syrup.
Recipe Notes
Recipe from Lyuba @ willcookforsmiles.com All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to share this recipe, please simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you!
Check out these great recipes from other bloggers:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes from Life In The Lofthouse
Monster Cookie Dough Cupcakes from Wishes and Dishes
Nutella Stuffed Raspberry Cupcakes from Handle The Heat
Rainbow Sorbet Cupcakes from The NY Melrose Family
_________________________________________________________
Make sure you follow me through your favorite blog reader (bloglovin or other), subscribe to e-mail or follow me through social media of your choice to keep up with the recipes!
_______________________________________________________
Some More Recipes From Me:
Teresa says
I LOVE these! They look so beautiful.
lyuba says
Thank you, Teresa!! 😀
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Seriously I don’t think anything could taste any better than a maple and bacon cupcake. This sweet and salty combination is my favourite kind!
lyuba says
Yay! I hope you’ll give them a try then 🙂
Thank you, Thalia! (Beautiful name, btw.)
Becca says
These look incredible! I could taste the salty-sweetness in my mouth just looking at your beautiful photos!
lyuba says
Awe, thank you, Becca!
rozj says
I am making these for work tomorrow. Do I need to refrigerate them?
lyuba says
I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you right away. I would recommend refrigerating if it’s more than just a few hours before serving just to keep them fresh. Cover and refrigerate and pull about an hour before serving so the frosting softens.
Hope you like them!
Diane S. says
These look so good! Donyou have to wait to put bacon and maple syrup on at the last minute before serving? Must you refrigerate?
lyuba says
Hi Diane!
Do you mean the topping? Do top with maple syrup and bacon otherwise maple syrup will soak the pancakes and make it soggy. You can refrigerate leftover and reheat later, just try not to add syrup to those you’re not serving so they don’t become soggy.
lyuba says
Oh goodness, I thought this was for the pancakes!! Lol, never mind the previous reply!
If it’s more than a few hours before serving, do refrigerate them. They will stay fresh better. Just pull them out about an hour before serving.
You can add bacon and maple syrup on top right away or before serving, that won’t matter much.
Louise says
Please recheck your ingredients. I thought 2 tbsp of baking powder seemed like too much but I followed your recipe anyway. Needed to say, it was a mess – and I had to throw everything away. – how wasteful! At least I can use the cooked bacon and icing butter for a different recipe. The pictures are lovely – too bad mine didn’t work.
Heather White says
Hello! I made this recipe twice and both times the cupcakes deflated into a yucky mess. I think the previous review is correct, the baking powder amount is way off. I have made a lot of cupcakes in the past, so I don’t think my technique was off twice in a row. The frosting was tasty, though 🙂
Carmen says
The previous reviews are correct, 2 tbsp of baking powder ruined these cupcakes. They were a disaster.
Christa Nielsen says
Mae these and followed the recipe perfectly, they are totally deflated like others mentioned. Sadly I’m baking tonight for a party and cannot go back out to the store to replace ingredients. I’m so sad because I am known for baking and this was a major fail 🙁
lyuba says
I’m so sorry about that!
I had a couple of crazy months due to family matters and the emails got away from me. I should have checked the comments above sooner. It was a mistake in the recipe. I dug up my notebook and in fact, it is 2 tsp of baking powder. I’m sorry about the fail and the mistake!
I’m sure you are still known as a great baker!
Helen says
I wish I’d read the reviews before I make I made these. Even after the adjustment was made for the amount of baking powder, they sunk down in the middle and were not very presentable. I was making these for a function for 100 people, and I cannot afford to replace the ingredients. Hopefully the icing will cover the deflated cupcakes.
lyuba says
I’m so sorry they sunk, Helen! I wish I could tell why they sunk in. I made 6 batches in a row of these and they didn’t sink. I feel terrible. I thin I will just hide the recipe and try to re-work it again. 🙁
I hope you and everyone enjoys the way they taste!
Liberty says
Your cupcakes look beautiful! My best friend loves maple bacon and I was looking for a recipe for a Thanksgiving treat. I’m so sorry about the previous cooks troubles but I would love love love to try this recipe. It’s the most appealing one I have found.
Please repost it! Or email me lib3rty007@gmail.com
Keeping my fingers crossed!
lyuba says
Hi Liberty!
This is long overdue. I have a new recipe for these cupcakes and I remade them using a different technique. It hasn’t failed be before and I’ve made this recipe a couple of times for my husbands work. I hope you will try them!
Thank you and I”m so sorry for taking so long.
Sarah says
why are you re-working the recipe?
lyuba says
It seems that quite a few people had a problem with cupcakes deflating. Since it didn’t happen to me when I was making them, I need to figure out if there was an error in somewhere.
Have you made them before I took off the recipe, Sarah?
lyuba says
Hi Sarah,
I just wanted to let everyone know that I did post the new recipe. I really hope you will give them a try! Thank you 🙂
Abby says
Hi I was looking for the recipe and I saw that it was being reworked last year…is is available as yet?
lyuba says
Hi Abby!
This is LONG overdue but I do have a new recipe up. I hope that everyone will forgive me for taking so long to re-work the recipe. I hope you will give them a try too.
Thank you!
Abby says
pps. notwithstanding the earlier comments I would love to try the recipe for you to see whether I have any problems on my end …if you are interested and willing to share it feel free to reach out.
lyuba says
Ho there! Actually, I’m very close to a new recipes. I’m planning on testing out one little change this week and then post it.
I did come up with an easy version of a recipe too, using a box mix.
With the holidays and then the move and all the other family related stuff, it took me a little bit to rework the cupcakes. I can email you the recipe that I had on here before, but I’d feel bad id it would flop on you too. Email me at lyuba1118@gmail.com
Taylor says
This sounds like a really yummy recipe and I can’t wait to make it! Is the bacon grease absolutely necessary in the cupcake?
Lyuba says
Thank you, Taylor! The grease adds more flavor, but can be substituted with oil.
Pamela Edwards says
My 3 granddaughters are in a performing singing group. I am always looking for fantastic new recipes for them. I made a double batch of your marvelous muffins for them when they performed at our church. I have been asked to make more every week. Everyone loved them and they turned out perfect. Thank you and God bless.
Lyuba says
I’m very happy to hear that! Thank you so much, Pamela 🙂
Lan says
Oh My! These are my new favorite. My friend requested bacon cupcakes and I’m soooo glad I found your recipe! It’s a good thing I made them specially for the birthday girl because otherwise I would eat the entire batch myself. Thank you so much!! Now to look through your website for other goodies.
lyuba says
I am SO happy yo hear that, Lan! Thank you 😀
Samantha Dominguez says
We weren’t paying attention and realized that we didn’t use the vanilla extract due to following the recipe it never called for it With a table full of ingredients we neglected to notice it was with the batter ingredients.
lyuba says
Thank you for letting me know, Samantha! I fixed that part. Luckily, vanilla extract won’t change the texture 🙂
Morgan M. says
This looks great! I can’t wait to try them out! I was going to make mini cupcakes. How should I adjust the cooking time/ temp? How many minis do you think this batch will make? Thanks!
lyuba says
To be honest, I don’t have much experience with making mini cupcakes but after looking around at some mini cupcake recipes, I would estimate this recipe to make about 4 dozen mini cupcakes. Looks like bake time for mini cupcakes is 11-15 minutes.
I hope you enjoy them!
Morgan M. says
Lyuba, these turned out amazing! Perfect combination of salty and sweet! The cake itself was not very sweet which I appreciated and the frosting was just enough sweetness.
I made mini cupcakes and found that 11-13 minutes did the trick. It made just over 4 doz mini cupcakes and once cooled I added a bit of maple syrup to the top prior to frosting. I baked the bacon so it was really crispy and minced it so each mini got plenty of bacon sprinkles! I didn’t drizzle more syrup on top of the frosting because they were so tiny and I didn’t want them to be sticky. Everyone loved them! They were a huge hit and will certainly be made again!
lyuba says
I’m so happy it turned out well, Morgan!
I don’t like desserts overly sweet myself so I’m glad you appreciate that 🙂 I’m so glad it was a success!
Caye says
What decorating tip did you use for bacon cupcakes?
lyuba says
Hi Caye! I used 1M decorating tip 🙂
Ashley says
So I definitely did not get enough bacon grease from baking the bacon in the oven…. I had like 1/8 of a cup, and I used the thick cut bacon. Mayne options for a substitution bc bacon is too expensive to waste just to get grease…
Liana says
I am definitely going to try these! They sound delicious!
Liana says
I am definitely going to try these! They sound delicious!
lyuba says
I hope you will and let me know how you liked it 😉
Thank you, Liana!
Tami says
I, too, have a bride that wants a breakfast cupcake. The only difference is she wants minis. I picked 8 different recipes to try. This one was first on the list because I liked the ingredients. I am happy to say I don’t need to try the other recipes! This is delicious. I didn’t think I would like a breakfast cupcake, but I couldn’t stop eating these. It’s like something that would come out of Willy Wonka’s factory or Jane Jetsons food machine. It’s little, but you feel like you are eating a pancake and bacon breakfast!! Thank you sooo much for all the hard work you put into perfecting this recipe. It’s absolutely delicious!
lyuba says
Awe, you made me so happy, Tami!!
Thank you so much for letting me know and I wish your bride a lifetime of happiness!
Eunice says
Question some of the comments say 2 tsp of baking powder but your recipe says 1 tsp, what is the correct amount to use?
lyuba says
Hi Eunice!
This recipe has actually been re-worked and updated so some of the comments are old. The recipe itself is updated, so it’s 1 tsp.
I hope you like the cupcakes 🙂