These Maple Bacon Cupcakes are the perfect pairing of sweet rich maple cupcakes, maple buttercream frosting and crunchy salty bacon. Make using a Duncan Hines cake mix, these Maple Bacon Cupcakes are easy to make and sure to be any bacon lovers favorite cupcake.
There are things in life that are so wrong together but yet they feel so right. Maple Bacon Cupcakes fit into that category in the most delicious way. Let me explain…
I’m talking about purple and lime green as a color combination, Kid Rock together with the Bee Gees, pouring M&Ms into a bowl of hot popcorn. The list goes on and on and it also includes the most delicious pairing of all, maple and bacon.
I will admit that when maple bacon anything first hit the streets years ago, I was quite skeptical. Why would anyone think bacon and maple would go together like PB&J was beyond me. Until I tried it and then the Universe made sense and It was wise. The salty crunchiness of the bacon being used as a backdrop against the sweet, rich maple flavor automatically turns whatever that culinary creation is into edible gold. I was a believer.
These days there is maple bacon EVERYTHING… cookies, donuts, cakes and cupcakes. Everyone seems to have a recipe and I will be honest, I wasn’t sure what I could bring to the party that hadn’t already been brought. No one likes two identical taco salads at a potluck, get my drift? What makes these cupcakes different from the others is sheer amount of maple flavor packed into a little paper cupcake wrapper. The first batch of cupcakes I did were delicious and then I was told by my official cupcake tester (aka Big Scary Mike) MORE MAPLE. So back I went and added more maple and laid out another sample for him and I was told MORE MAPLE. Somewhat discouraged, I began thinking Mike was just trying to stockpile 6 dozen cupcakes all for himself. But I went back and added yet more maple and once again brought him his sample and was finally rewarded with a big thumbs up.
My job was done.
CAN I USE THE PRE-COOKED BACON IN A POUCH FOR MAPLE BACON CUPCAKES?
You can use the pre-cooked bacon in the pouches (usually found in the salad dressing aisle at your grocery store) in a pinch but I would suggest using real bacon you cooked up yourself for this recipe. I have tried both and I find the fresh cooked bacon has a better consistency and … well … tastes more like BACON.
HOW CAN I IMPROVE A BOX CAKE MIX TO TASTE LIKE A BAKERY CAKE?
If you want to make a box cake mix taste like a bakery cake, start by looking at the directions on the cake mix and add one or even two extra eggs than what is called for. Next, use melted butter in place of the oil and double the amount called for. Lastly, use whole milk instead of water.
HOW DO YOU MAKE MAPLE BACON CUPCAKES?
Easy! To make Maple Bacon Cupcakes, start with the bacon. Lay out your pieces of uncooked bacon on a cookie sheet covered in foil and bake for 15-20 minutes in a 400 degree oven. Once your bacon is crisp, remove the bacon to a paper towel covered plate to drain away the grease and set aside. Next, preheat oven to 350 degrees or whatever the boxed cake mix calls for and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
Combine your Maple Bacon Cupcakes batter as instructed but add in one extra egg white, substitute the water for milk and use melted butter in place of the oil and double the amount of oil called for. Add in the vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup and mix to combine. Fill your cupcake tins 2/3 of the way full with the batter and bake your Maple Bacon Cupcakes in the oven for the suggested amount of time on the box.
When your Maple Bacon Cupcakes are done, remove from the oven and let sit for 1 minute before moving Maple Bacon Cupcakes to a rack to cool. Once your cupcakes are completely cool, make your Maple buttercream frosting.
Start by adding softened butter to a large mixing bowl and beating until creamy. Sift in the powdered sugar and salt, then add in the maple syrup, vanilla and mix to combine.
If the frosting is too thin, add in more powdered sugar, if it is too thick, add a bit of milk to thin the frosting out. Frost your Maple Bacon Cupcakes and then using your fingers, lightly crumble the bacon into small pieces and then add it to the frosting and lightly press to make sure they stick.
Believe me, when you crumble up that bacon and sprinkle it on top, every man in your household to suddenly find a reason to be in the kitchen. These Maple Bacon Cupcakes are a little off the beaten path but I promise you will not be disappointed. Take a little walk on the wild side and your day will look a little brighter… plus you will have cupcakes and that is never a bad thing.
ENJOY!!
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Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Ingredients
Maple Cupcakes
- 1 box Duncan Hines butter pecan cake mix
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 6 pieces bacon cooked crispy
Maple Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Lay out your pieces of uncooked bacon on a cookie sheet covered in foil and bake for 15-20 minutes in a 400 degree oven. Once your bacon is crisp, remove the bacon to a paper towel covered plate to drain away the grease and set aside.
- Next, preheat oven to 350 degrees or whatever the boxed cake mix calls for and line a cupcake tin with paper liners. Combine your Maple Bacon Cupcakes batter as instructed but add in one extra egg white, substitute the water for milk and use melted butter in place of the oil and double the amount of oil called for. Add in the vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup and mix to combine.
- Fill your cupcake tins 2/3 of the way full with the batter and bake your Maple Bacon Cupcakes in the oven for the suggested amount of time on the box. When your Maple Bacon Cupcakes are done, remove from the oven and let sit for 1 minute before moving Maple Bacon Cupcakes to a rack to cool.
- Once your cupcakes are completely cool, make your Maple buttercream frosting. Start by adding softened butter to a large mixing bowl and beating until creamy. Sift in the powdered sugar and salt, then add in the maple syrup, vanilla and mix to combine. If the frosting is too thin, add in more powdered sugar, if it is too thick, add a bit of milk to thin the frosting out. Frost your Maple Bacon Cupcakes and then using your fingers, lightly crumble the bacon into small pieces and then add it to the frosting and lightly press to make sure they stick.
Sorry did not understand about oil if using butter why more oil ?
Sorry for the confusion on this one. It was worded a little funny. What was meant was to say was replace the oil with butter and double the butter for the oil amount. I hope this clarifies this and we will change the wording to be more understandable. Thank you for using our recipe.
My cupcakes totally sunk in once cooked 🙁
I’m sorry to hear that, I don’t know what would have caused that to happen since the cupcake batter is a basic cake mix.
How much vanilla do I add to the frosting?
Hi Kara .. just half a teaspoon 🙂
I just made these cupcakes and everyone at work loved it!
So glad you and your coworkers enjoyed them Maria. If they liked them you should also try our chocolate bourbon maple bacon cupcakes. https://www.awickedwhisk.com/chocolate-bourbon-maple-bacon-cupcakes-2/
I always wanted to try this sweet bacon combo. These cupcakes surely look perfect and delicious. I know my husband would like these very much 😀 I’m saving this recipe to try.
Creamy, salty sweets. This looks like a tastebud dance.
This sounds so interesting and looks so beautiful. Can’ t wait to give this a try!
Oh look at all that luscious bacon! Between that and the frosting, I’m not sure I would even make it to the cupcake 🙂 These look so fabulous
Such an interesting combination of ingredients! I love sweet and salty going to have to give these a try!
These look so yumm!Totally loving the frosting,Awesome recipe.
When I first saw this recipe I thought SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY 😉 😉
But when I realised you were going to pop around with a batch I knew I had to make them for myself.
OH MAN!!! I am glad I did, these were just soooo good. And they didn’t last long in my bacon loving house!
Another batch coming up next week especially for a friend!
These cupcakes are as close to perfection as you can get. What an awesome flavor! It’s like breakfast for dessert!
I know at least ten people who would go crazy over this recipe! What an indulgent treat.
Uh, yum! I’m a fan of anything with bacon. Sweet or savory, it’s all delicious! The maple frosting sounds so good too, I’ll definitely be trying that when fall rolls around
This is so crazy and creative that I just have to make these! You can’t go wrong with maple butter frosting too – I can’t wait to try it with the bacon crumbles.
I have always been a fan of sweet and salty foods and these little gems will feed my craving! Thanks for sharing!
I love the flavor combo of maple and bacon, and I especially love it in cupcake form!! These sound amaaazing!