These maple frosting and candied bacon cupcakes are my favorite mashup of breakfast and dessert; think pancakes and bacon breakfast-flavored cupcakes...but better! The saltiness of the candied bacon and browned butter in the cupcake are the perfect complement to the sweet maple frosting. You're going to love these!
This recipe was inspired by the maple-bacon doughnuts we like to order at one of our favorite doughnut places in Charleston: Duck Donuts. (We also had a maple bacon donut at Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland years ago.) Why not use those flavors we love in a cupcake?
Instead of just regular bacon, I took it one step further and topped these bite-sized treats with candied bacon too. Is this recipe a little more on the involved side? Yes. But I promise you it's worth it.
This recipe originally appeared in my cookbook, The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook. And yes, it does have mayonnaise in the batter. The mayo is my secret ingredient for the most tender cake--if you haven't tried it you really should. It's a game changer.
My plum-upside down cake is another cake from the book that uses mayonnaise in the cake batter. It's a favorite dessert for sure. Another Duke's dessert you should check out: blackberry and peach crisp. For that one, I use mayonnaise in the crumble topping for extra crispiness.
Finally, my bananas foster banana bread is another cookbook recipe that may be my most favorite of all. (I make it at least twice a month.) It has a brown butter frosting to drizzle over the top, so it can double as dessert and breakfast. But, let's get to why you're here. Let's make those maple bacon cupcakes!
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Ingredients
Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this delicious cupcakes recipe:
- salted butter
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- kosher salt
- Duke's mayonnaise
- light brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- whole milk
- vanilla extract maple extract
- real maple syrup
- powdered sugar
- Candied Bacon
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to get baking!
First, cook the butter in a small skillet over medium heat until the milk solids begin to brown and smell nutty. Set aside.
Next, make the cupcake batter: Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Beat the browned butter, mayonnaise, and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stir in the extracts.
Then, divide the batter evenly between muffin cups lined with cupcake liners. Bake at 350°F for 19 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, make the frosting: Bring the butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool completely.
Next, beat the cooled butter mixture and the powdered sugar with an electric mixer until combined. Add the milk and maple extract and beat until smooth and creamy.
Finally, spoon the frosting into a piping bag and pipe onto the cooled cupcakes. Cut the bacon slices in half crosswise and garnish each cupcake with a piece of bacon.
Hint: Don't have a piping bag? That's okay--a Ziplock bag works great. Spoon the frosting into one corner of the bag and snip the end before piping away!
Substitutions
Need to make some ingredient adjustments? Here are some ideas:
- Butter - I use salted butter in this recipe to balance out the sweetness. If you use unsalted butter, be sure to add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the recipe.
- Brown Sugar - The mellow flavor of light brown sugar is why I choose it, but if you want a richer, more molasses-forward cake, opt for dark brown sugar instead.
- Candied Bacon - I think the candied bacon makes this recipe spectacular, but feel free to omit it or use candied nuts instead as a garnish.
Variations
Check out these other variations of this bacon cupcakes with maple buttercream frosting recipe:
- Maple Cake - Spread the cake batter into a greased 13- x 9-inch cake pan instead of making cupcakes. You'll have a delicious sheet cake!
- Maple and Bacon Frosting - You can also chop up the bacon and fold the candied bacon pieces into the frosting. You'll want to spread the frosting on instead of piping it (the bacon will get stuck in the piping bag.)
- Nutty Maple Cupcakes - Add some more crunch these cupcakes and garnish with toasted pecans too.
Equipment
Here's the equipment you'll need to make this maple bacon cupcake recipe:
- muffin pans
- dry measuring cups
- liquid measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- electric mixer (either a hand mixer or stand mixer)
- small skillet
- large mixing bowl
- medium bowl
- ice cream scoop
- small saucepan
- cooling rack
Storage
Store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze, store the cupcakes, unfrosted, in an airtight container. Store the frosting in a separate container. Both will last in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Tasty Tip
Look for maple extract in the baking aisle of the grocery store. I've found it at Food Lion, Lowe's Foods, and Walmart but you can also order it online.
Frequently asked questions
Right?! I love the salty-sweet combo of the candied bacon. The texture is also perfectly sticky.
For ease, I like to spoon the frosting into a piping bag or zip-top bag and snip off the corner before piping. You can also use an offset spatula if you want to spread the frosting instead of piping it.
Definitely make sure the cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting. Otherwise, the frosting will melt.
I like to leave the cupcakes in the cupcake tin for about 5 minutes to allow them to set. Then, I remove them to wire racks to cool. That also helps prevent them from drying out due to carry over heat.
The toothpick test is the easiest way to determine if the cupcakes are done. Insert the toothpick in the center of the cupcake and if the pick comes out clean, it's done.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these maple and bacon cupcakes:
🍽Get the recipe
Cupcakes with Maple Frosting and Candied Bacon
Equipment
- muffin pans
- dry measuring cups
- liquid measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- electric mixer (either a hand mixer or stand mixer)
- small skillet
- large bowl
- medium bowl
- ice cream scoop
- small saucepan
- cooling rack
Ingredients
For the maple cupcakes:
- ¼ cup salted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup Duke's mayonnaise
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon maple extract
- Maple and Brown Sugar Candied Bacon
For the maple frosting:
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 16 wells in muffin tins with paper liners.
- Start the maple cupcakes: Cook the butter in a small skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter melts and the milk solids begin to brown and smell nutty. Set aside.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Beat the browned butter, mayonnaise, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until creamy. (You can either use a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.) Add the flour alternately with the milk in 3 additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stir in the vanilla extract and maple extract.
- Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups. Bake for 19 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, make the maple frosting: Bring the butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture bubbles and the sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool completely.
- Beat the cooled butter mixture and the powdered sugar with an electric mixer until combined. Add the milk and maple extract and continue to beat until the frosting is creamy.
- Pipe or spread the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. Cut the candied bacon strips in half crosswise, and garnish each cupcake.
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Keep these few food safety things in mind when making this recipe
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat or eggs.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat or eggs.
- Don't leave leftovers sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Tish says
The combination of sweet and savory is absolutely amazing in this cupcake!
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks so much for your note Tish! Glad you liked them!
Nicole Kendrick says
These cupcakes are proof that bacon makes everything better. I love them so much.
AshleyFreeman says
Yes! Bacon does make everything better 🙂
Lisa says
Oh my gosh, these are amazing! I love maple and bacon together and this is a really creative way to pair them. Great recipe!
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks so much Lisa!
Elizabeth Berg says
This sweet and salty combo is addictive! I'd never pass up maple frosting...yum!!
AshleyFreeman says
Same here! The maple frosting is everything!