#50 Maple Bacon Cupcakes

I bet you were thinking that I'd given up on my cuppycake challenge. Nope just taking a little break but I'm back now and ready to show off these tasty creations. I'm also excited to see that I'm half way through my challenge too. I never thought I would have 50 different cupcakes under my belt! So back to the cupcakes.... Think IHOP pancakes and bacon. Just grab a cup of OJ and you have a complete breakfast! I'm not a huge fan of cream cheese frosting but in this case it complemented the cupcake well with it's perfect combination of sweet and salty.

Maple Bacon Cupcakes (courtesy of foodnetwork)
The only adjustment for next time would be to add more BACON!!!

The Goods

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup cake flour

1 3.9-ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon potato starch

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temp

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

4 large egg whites, at room temperature

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup half-and-half, at room temperature

1/2 cup chopped cooked bacon

The How To
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cook your bacon and set aside to cool.  In a large bowl whisk together the flours, pudding, baking powder, potato starch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

In the bowl of a stand mixer cream the butter and both sugar until light and fluffy about 3-5mins on med-high speed.

Turn the speed down to low and gradually mix in the vanilla and egg whites. 

Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the maple syrup and half-and-half, mixing after each addition and ending with flour. Mix until the ingredients are just combined; do not over mix.

Fold in the bacon.

Fill liners about two thirds full and bake for 20-25mins rotating halfway through the bake time.

While those little tasty morsels are cooling whip up the
Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

The Goods

8oz package cream cheese room temp

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temp

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoons cinnamon

The How To
Combine the cream cheese and butter with the mixer on medium speed until creamy.

Add the powdered sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon; beat until combined. 

 I also added a little extra bacon to the frosting :)

 Now frost and top with more BACON!!!

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PB & J Cupcakes