Happy Monday! I made these cupcakes a couple of weeks ago for my husband’s birthday. As most guys (I think), he likes good bourbon and bacon! I was thinking how to mix those 2 ingredients into cupcakes, so I thought about this soft chocolate bourbon cake topped with maple bourbon buttercream frosting and garnished with little pieces of crispy bacon! I told him my idea and he was like omg yes!If you are not a bacon person (like me), give this recipe a chance! You would be very surprise how the salty bacon works so good with the chocolate, bourbon and maple!

Let’s start with the recipe!

Yield about 26 regular size cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups white granulated sugar

1 cup cocoa powder

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup hot espresso

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup bourbon

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For the buttercream

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup maple syrup

2-3 tablespoons bourbon

To garnish

6-8 pieces cooked bacon (very crispy), chopped into small pieces

Instructions

For the cupcakes

1.- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2.- In a bowl, sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

3.- In another bowl, mix milk, oil, eggs, vanilla and bourbon. Set aside.

4.- Put the dry ingredients in a bowl of a stand mixer and in low, just combine. Slowly, add the wet ingredients and mix. Add the hot espresso and combine for 2 minutes. After one minute, scrape down the sides of the bowl.

5.- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, just fill the cupcakes only half way up. If you fill them more, the batter will overflow. Bake for 20-22 minutes.

6.- While the cupcakes are cooking, cook the bacon. Remember to use paper towel to drain the grease. Once the bacon is cool and crisp, grab a knife and chop it into little pieces. Set aside.

For the buttercream

In a mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and mix it for about 5 minutes until creamy. Add the powdered sugar and salt, mix for a couple of minutes. Add the maple syrup and bourbon and mix to combine.

Frost your cupcakes (I used a star tip). Then sprinkle the sides of the buttercream with bacon pieces!

Enjoy!