Maple Bacon Cupcakes with Beer

I while back...sometime in January, Betty Crocker posted a recipe  for Beer and Bacon Mancakes. Basically pancakes for your man that contain beer and bacon. Sounds pretty good, right? If you're into pancakes. Which I'm not. I'm probably one of the few people who do not order pancakes when she eats at iHop. I prefer crepes.

Ok, with that said...and by judging the above photo...I'm sure you can guess what came next.  Super simple.....very yummy...(if you don't mind a little "meat" in your cupcake, that is)....and a lot of fun.

Maple Bacon Cupcakes with Beer

1 box of your favorite white or yellow cake mix
What ever other ingredients that are call for on the cake mix box, minus the liquid. (probably just eggs)
1 12 oz bottle of beer (you won't use it all...the remaining is for your own personal consumption)
1 lb bacon

Preheat the oven according the the instructions on the box of cake mix. Line 24 cupcake cups.

Fry 1/2 of the bacon and crumble. (tip: with your kitchen shears, cut the raw bacon into squares and fry them up....then you don't have to "crumble" them)

Follow the instructions on the cake mix box except....instead of adding the suggestion water, replace it ounce for ounce with beer. If your not familiar on how to poor beer without creating a giant "head" of froth (which could make it difficult to measure)....just tilt the bottle or can and the measuring cup towards each other...almost level, and gently pour so that the beer is running into the measuring cup, along the 'wall'. I hope that makes sense.

Once the beer is poured into the batter, you'll have some frothy fun. Mix as instructed on the box. Fold in the crumbled bacon.

Divide the batter amongst the lined cupcake cups. Bake according the box instructions. Allow to cool completely before icing.

Meanwhile....you need to "candy" the remaining bacon.

Preheat your oven to 375'. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with foil (for easy clean up) and place a rack on it.

Get out some brown sugar...maybe 1/4 - 1/2 cup? Place the bacon on the rack and sprinkle generously with brown sugar. Place in the oven and bake for a maybe 10 mins? The time will vary depending on the thickness of your bacon. Basically, when they're halfway done and ready to turn over, you're going to sprinkle the other side with more brown sugar. Bake until done. Crumble and set aside.

Now this is where things get a little "fuzzy". I think it was Super Bowl Sunday when I made these. And I made the icing...ummm....after the game and definitely under the influence. Let's just say...I forgot to measure stuff. I know I started off with a basic icing recipe:

1 1/2 cups butter
4 ups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup or more of cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla....but wait. I didn't add vanilla. I poured in maybe 1 tsp? of maple flavoring.

Beat the butter for 2 minutes on medium-high speed. Reduce the speed to medium and add the powder sugar and cocoa powder 1/2 cup at a time. Beat until fluffy. Add the vanilla maple flavoring (not maple syrup....maple flavoring is concentrated). Taste it and adjust the cocoa powder and maple flavoring until you love it!

Ice the cupcakes and top with candied bacon

I really did have fun making these. If you're not into bacon...don't bother. If the idea of sweets and meat mixed together doesn't appeal to you....don't bother. Me? I love bacon. I love maple and bacon. The cupcakes weren't overly sweet.....and the icing was to die for!

There is one thing I'd do differently. I'd candy ALL of the bacon....even the bacon that gets folded into the batter.