Maple Bacon Chocolate Cupcakes

….yeah, you heard me correctly.

The other day, a group of friends and I were professing our love for bacon. Bacon wraps, fried bacon, baked bacon, ham with woven bacon on top, bacon stuffing… and then I threw a wild card into the mix… CANDIED bacon. No one had ever heard of such a thing. I couldn’t believe it! I told them about the most wonderful dessert I’ve ever encountered: Maple Bacon Chocolate Cupcakes. Here is the recipe if you’re interested.

Candied Bacon
Ingredients:
12 slices bacon
1/3 cup light brown sugar

Directions:
-Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
-Put bacon slices in a bowl and toss with the brown sugar.
-Cover a baking sheet with parchment and arrange the bacon in a single layer on top. Sprinkle any sugar left in the bowl over the bacon. Top with another layer of parchment and top it with another baking sheet. (The baking sheet will flatten the bacon as it cooks.)
-Place the tray in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Cook it for 10 to 15 minutes longer if not crispy. Check it again. Be patient!

Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 box of your favorite chocolate cake
1 box of chocolate pudding
4 eggs (your boxed cake will only call for 3)
1 cup water (as per your boxed cake mix)
1/3 cup oil (as per your boxed cake mix)
3/4 cup sour cream

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
-In a medium bowl, mix the boxed cake mix, oil, sour cream, pudding, and water. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl, and then add them to the cake batter.
-Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
-Bake until center cupcakes can be poked with a toothpick and leave no residue. Typically between 15-20 minutes.
-Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.

Maple Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:
-Mix all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until syrup and sugar are incorporated.
-Increase speed and beat until mixture is light and whipped. Use immediately to frost cupcakes.
-Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container.

Once everything is made, wait for the cupcakes to cool completely and top with frosting. When done frosting, garnish each cake with a piece of bacon. When you are done, it should look something like this: