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Maple Bacon Cupcakes

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My Maple cupcakes have the most amazing rich maple and plenty of salty bacon. These cupcakes are the best sweet and salty treat to ever hit your tastebuds.

a maple bacon cupcake with a bite taken out of it topped with crumbled bacon.

I've never met a cupcake I didn't like. Some of my all-time favorites include coffee and Nutella. My newest creation is so good you'll want to eat it for breakfast! These Maple Bacon Cupcakes are perfect for anyone who loves a salty-sweet combination. If you love sweet breakfasts like my cinnamon coffee cake, you'll love these too.

It has the sweet, smooth taste of maple with crispy, salty bacon.  Once you have tried these, you'll be grabbing one for every meal of the day!

❤️Why You'll Love This Recipe❤️

  1. Incredible Maple Flavor: These taste like the real deal, thanks to maple sugar and pure maple syrup.
  2. Super Moist Cake: Milk and sour cream create a cake that stays moist for days.
  3. Easy: No mixer or special equipment is required!
a plate of maple cupcakes topped with maple buttercream and crunchy bacon pieces.

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

ingredients including butter, maple sugar, sour cream, milk, maple syrup, and maple extract.

Our SEcret Ingredient

Maple sugar is made by boiling maple syrup. Look for it at specialty stores or online.

If you cannot find maple sugar, you can use white sugar instead.

  • Flour: Make sure to measure your flour by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it with a knife.
  • Baking Soda and Powder: Replace at least once every 6-12 months as it does lose its effectiveness over time.
  • Butter: Make sure your butter is softened. If your finger makes an indent when you touch it, you are good to go!
  • Shortening: I use both butter and shortening in my frosting. Butter provides great flavor, while shortening has a higher melting point to help the frosting hold its shape.
  • Milk: Use whole milk for the moistest crumb.
  • Pure Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup which tastes so much better than typical pancake syrup. The flavor is richer and more concentrated.
  • Bacon: Avoid thick-cut bacon, as it takes longer to crisp up. I like using microwave bacon to make this recipe quick and easy.
an overhead view of a blue plate filled with cupcakes topped with frosting and bacon.

How To Make Maple Bacon Cupcakes

cooked bacon on the left with bacon cupcake batter on the right.

For the Cupcakes: 

  1. Prep Work: Line a cupcake pan with paper liners. Preheat oven.
  2. Dry Ingredients: Combine sugar and dry ingredients.
  3. Wet Ingredients: Cream in butter and shortening. Add in all remaining ingredients.
  4. Bake: Fill liners about ¾ of the way full. Bake for 27-30 minutes.

For the Frosting:

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter, salt, and maple extract. Add in shortening and cream cheese until well combined.
  2. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes. Garnish with bacon and maple syrup if desired.

Leftovers

Storage: Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezing: Freeze frosted or unfrosted cupcakes for up to 3 months. Garnish with bacon just before serving.

️Tips️

  1. Use Room Temp Ingredients: Bring all ingredients to room temperature to help them incorporate more smoothly.
  2. Don't Overmix: This overdevelops the gluten which can make cupcakes tough and dense.
  3. Don't Overfill: Fill your muffin tin only around ⅔ of the way full as they'll rise as they bake.
  4. Don't overbake or they'll dry out. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with just a few crumbs.

More Brunch Foods To Try

maple syrup cupcakes garnished with crunchy bacon bits.

📖 Recipe

maple bacon cupcakes

Easy Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Maple cupcakes with rich maple buttercream and crispy bacon. The best sweet and salty treat to ever hit your tastebuds.
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 27 minutes
Total Time: 37 minutes
Servings: 17 Cupcakes
Calories: 413kcal

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

  • 1 ¼ Cups + 1 Tablespoon All Purpose Flour
  • ½ Cup Maple Sugar Can substitute white sugar here
  • ½ Cup White Sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • ½ Teaspoon Salt
  • Cup Shortening
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter Softened
  • ½ Cup Sour Cream
  • ¼ Cup Milk I used Whole Milk
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 ½ Teaspoons Maple Extract
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
  • ½ Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup

For the Frosting

  • ½ Cup (Plus 1 Tablespoon) Butter Softened
  • 2 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Maple Extract
  • ¼ Teaspoon Salt
  • 6 Ounces Cream Cheese Softened
  • ½ Cup Shortening
  • 1 Pound Bacon Cooked Crisp and Crumbled
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Instructions

For the Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
  • In a large bowl, combine maple sugar, white sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
  • Mix in shortening and butter, followed by sour cream, milk eggs, maple extract, vanilla extract, and maple syrup.
  • Fill cupcake liners ~⅔ of the way full. Bake for 27-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely

For the Frosting

  • In a large bowl cream butter until light and fluffy. Add in powdered sugar, salt and maple extract.
  • Beat in shortening and cream cheese. Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes.
  • Garnish with bacon and maple syrup if desired.

Notes

Ingredient Notes:
    • Flour: Make sure to measure your flour by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it with a knife.
      • Maple Sugar: Maple sugar is made by boiling maple syrup. Look for it at specialty stores or online. If you cannot find maple sugar, you can use white sugar instead.
      • Butter: Make sure your butter is softened. If your finger makes an indent when you touch it, you are good to go!
      • Milk: Use whole milk for the moistest crumb.
      • Pure Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup, which tastes so much better than typical pancake syrup. 
      • Bacon: Avoid thick-cut bacon, as it takes longer to crisp up. I like using microwave bacon to make this recipe quick and easy.
    Tips
    1. Use Room Temp Ingredients: Bring all ingredients to room temperature to help them incorporate more smoothly.
    2. Don't Overmix: This overdevelops the gluten, which can make cupcakes tough and dense.
    3. Don't Overfill: Fill your muffin tin only around ⅔ of the way full as they'll rise as they bake.
    •  
    •  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 420mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 435IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see!Mention @BakingBeautyBlog or tag #BakingBeauty!

     

    5 from 12 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




    7 Comments

    1. Anonymous says:

      5 stars
      This worked exactly as written, thanks!

    2. 5 stars
      Love this combo with added bacon just enough sweet with savory.

    3. 5 stars
      Made these for brunch and everybody was raving about them! Good salty sweet combo and something different. Thank you!

    4. 5 stars
      These muffins are phenomenal! Bursting with flavors in every bite! They're so good!

    5. Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert says:

      5 stars
      I just made these, and turned out fantastic! The blend of sweet maple and salty bacon was a flavor sensation that I'll definitely be making again!

    6. 5 stars
      Such a fantastic flavor combination in a cupcake!!

    7. 5 stars
      I absolutely adore these. Bacon is something that isn't added to sweet treats enough in my opinion. The smoky, salty flavor is so good with these cupcakes, especially the frosting.