1/4cupbacon greasegrease from cooking bacon in the oven
2Tbspmaple syrup
2cupsall purpose flour
1tspbaking powder
½tspbaking soda
⅛tspsalt
1cuplow fat buttermilk
Optional: 1 tsp maple extract
Frosting:
1cupunsalted butterroom temperature
3cupspowder sugar
1/4tspsalt
2Tbspmaple syrup
Topping:
1/4cupmaple syrupfor topping cupcakes
6-8crispy bacon strips
1/4cupmaple syrupfor 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.