If you’re still deciding about getting on the bacon-in-desserts band wagon, now’s the time. I have to admit I wasn’t always so keen on the idea, but after two attempts at merging the salty, smoky, crispiness with sweet baked goods, I’m pretty sold. I made bacon-chocolate chip cookies with maple glaze last year and was a huge fan of the mix of flavors. I mean haven’t you ever had a pancake, syrup, bacon bite on your brunch plate?
These cupcakes, a recipe from Lindsay’s new cookbook Breakfast For Dinner, were really wonderful. And if you’re on the fence about whether or not you are at all interested in this not so traditional flavor-pairing, this may be a good place to start. The bacon is candied in brown sugar in cocoa powder and broken into crisp little bits. The cupcake is full of brown sugar and maple syrup, and a chocolate maple buttercream sits on top. The candied bacon adds that little something special without being over-powering or “meaty.”
The cookbook, which is full of gorgeous photos and tons of recipes I’d love to try, comes out in a couple weeks, but in the meantime I’m giving away a copy here! (Giveaway closed 2/5.)
- 1½ cups all- purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup cocoa powder, sifted
- 2½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon maple extract (optional)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream, more or less as needed
- Topping- Candied Bacon (recipe below)
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners
- In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in maple syrup and vanilla extract.
- Mix in dry ingredients, a little at a time, until incorporated. Beat in buttermilk on low speed until just incorporated.
- Fill cupcake liners with a scant ¼ cup of batter (cups should be just under ⅔ full) Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick insterted in the center comes out clean. Transfer pan to a cooling rack; when pan is cool enough to handles, place cupcakes on rack to cool completely.
- Beat butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 1-2 minutes or until fluffy. Add cocoa powder an beat until smooth. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, until mixture is smooth. Beat in maple syrup and maple extract (if using). Add cream as needed and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. 2-3 minutes.
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- 4 strips bacon
- Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with foil, set an oven proof wire, baking rack on top of the foil and grease with cooking spray.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together brown sugar and cocoa powder until evenly mixed. Press bacon into sugar mixture to coat, shaking off excess.
- Arrange bacon on prepared rack, leaving plenty of space between slices. Bake for 3-40 minutes, flipping every 10 minutes, until bacon is browned and crisp. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Recipe from: Breakfast for Dinner, by Lindsay Landis and Taylor Hackbarth
Cristina A. -The Batchmaker says
My first experience with bacon was in Athens, GA at a doughnut shop. The doughnut was called “the elvis” it was a regular doughnut with maple syrup glaze and bits of banana and bacon on top. It was their best seller and you practically had to get there super early to be able to get one. Bacon and sweets almost taste like when you are having a big breakfast of pancakes and bacon and eggs and the maple syrup mixes into your bacon and eggs. Yummy!!!
Skylar moon says
I like any excuse to add bacon to a recipe ! Lol
They sound yummy !
Veronica says
i’m actually a vegetarian!! wah so no bacon for me but i’ll make these without bacon! :) that cookbook look fantastic..growing up we never had breakfast for dinner because my dad is from argentina and i guess they don’t do that haha but I want to do it because breakfast is my favorite meal!!!
SE in Oregon says
Love bacon, but just a hint of it in a dessert is plenty for me. But photo looks gorgeous as does the cookbook.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
I definitely enjoy bacon in desserts. Candied bacon changed my life! And it’s funny you should ask because I did a review of a Bacon cookbook today, complete with bacon cupcakes!
Lisa says
I love Bacon so anything with bacon can only be better! The Maple Bacon Cupcakes are going to be perfect for Sunday brunch – right before the Super Bowl!
Kaja says
I’ll be honest, I’ve never mixed bacon with anything sweet and I’m a bit wary…. but then again I believe everything should be tried before a real opinion can be formulated!! Kitchen, here I come!
cAROLINE says
I look forward to trying these out! I haven’t tried anything sweet with bacon but since I’m Canadian, I love anything with maple syrup (and I love bacon!) Thanks for sharing!
Deauna says
I think bacon in desserts are great! I make a french toast cupcake with maple bacon frosting that everyone loves.
nicole macvicar says
I love the idea of bacon in desserts, I made bacon chocolate chip cookies not too long ago and they were TO DIE FOR. Dying to try these cupcakes. Look delicious. I think my favourite way to have bacon would be in a dessert.
Cindy says
This sounds yummy. Over the years I’ve gotten a little “braver” and gone out of the box. There was a time when I did not like any sweet with my savory or savory with my sweet – but I’m really starting to like the combination with certain flavors, and BACON is a good one to incorporate. I’d love the book, it would force me more outside my comfort zone.
Kate says
I love bacon. And I LOVE dessert. But I still haven’t worked up the nerve to actually try them together! It’s definitely on my “To Do” list…
Terri Betz says
Breakfast for Dinner is a great name for the book! That is just what bacon for dessert is! We’ve never had bacon with cocoa though! Excited to try this recipe! Who doesn’t love pancakes and maple syrup with sweet maple syrup? YUMMY! Thanks for the chance at a great cookbook that isn’t available yet! Have an awesome day! :)
karl says
I wrap our Thanksgiving turkey in bacon and baste with maple syrup. The bacon comes off candied in it and has a great sweet/salty flavor. I’ve never gone as far as doing something like that in a dessert but can see how it would work.
ANA r. says
Where was this recipe in November?! My teenager loves bacon and asked for bacon on his cake,lol. Birthday wish granted! I need to try this though, it looks delish.
Kimberly says
Yum!
Nicole s. says
Love bacon, love dessert.. just not sure about how i feel about them together!
Kira j says
I think Bacon should be included in everything. My first experience with bacon in something sweet was at Comet Cafe. I ordered the bacon pancakes and I thought I had died and gone to heaven :) I can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
amy williams says
bacon and dessert is a great combo!
Melissa fitkist says
my only experience baking with bacon was last year during Super Bowl time. I decided to make brownies that had bacon in them. they were not that great to be honest and they were supposed to be more Savery but they didn’t turn out that way I’ve never used bacon in baking since then.
erin says
I’m a vegetarian so I have to say no to bacon in desserts. i’d still like the cookbook though :)
Tash @ The Velvet Moon Baker says
These look beautiful I’m a lover of all things bacon especially if theiy top something sugary and sweet :D
Jessica L. @ The Lamppost says
These look amazing. I think I can definitely get behind bacon in desserts if they all are like this :)
Sue says
I can see I will have to try these for the next Church potluck. Audra, you make me look really good here in South Carolina!
Audra says
Hee hee :) Your church friends are very lucky to have you!
Cindy B. says
I LOVE bacon, but I must say I never had it in desserts before, but I’m willing to give it a try :) especially after seeing your cupcakes.
tracey says
I love salty/sweet – food, desserts, anything… :)
Stefanie W. says
I’m a huge fan of sweet and salty together and (since anything with bacon is delicious) I think bacon in desserts is a perfect combination!
Tara F. says
I am now craving bacon, love it. I’ve honestly never had bacon in/on a dessert. My husband had a maple French toast cupcake that had bacon and he really enjoyed it.
Sweetinsahmnity at gmail
Abby says
We love breakfast for dinner and I’ve got bacon brownies on my list to make this week :-)
Christy @ Life of a modern housewife says
Oh my! These look so good. I haven’t tried the bacon dessert combo just yet, but have heard wonderful things. And lets be honest, bacon makes everything taste better!! I actually had a smoke bacon bloody mary the other day for brunch (not dessert but still just as delicious). I think bacon in dessert would be just tasty. What a great giveaway and thanks for doing one!
Christy
reg says
I actually don’t really looooooove bacon like so many out there seem to, but in desserts, it is surprisingly yummy! One of the best bacon dessert recipes I have tried is a bacon blueberry breakfast cake from howsweeteats.com. ALARMINGLY DELICIOUS
Kelley says
Remember awhile back when bacon really seemed to be making a comeback? There were a few chain restaraunts that really jumped on the bandwagon and were offering special dishes featuring bacon. Well..one of those dishes happened to be an ice cream sundae with…BACON! Bacon and ice cream? You bet ! Now every so often my kids and I get a craving for that sundae..so we recreated it at home. A generous scoop of our favorite vanilla ice cream topped with crispy bacon and a hearty drizzle of maple syrup! Divine! I have been wanting to try the chocolate chip cookie with bacon….and now another recipe to try.. I have just been inspired :) The cookbook looks gorgeous!
fAITH says
I think bacon in desserts are really popular right now and for good reason…there is something so yummy about the sweet and salty savory mix of bacon and chocolate or a rich buttercream that is just so tasty ! I love the idea of putting bacon in pancake batters and waffle mix and also as a garnish or topping on cupcakes..
Shelly says
I haven’t tried bacon in my desserts, but I have a feeling I would love it. I’m a huge fan of sweet and salty!
Whitney says
I LOVE your blog! Just started following you late 2012, and all the recipes I’ve tried have been absolutely delicious! The Snickerdoodle Brownies are now my kids’ favorites — I send them in a foil-lined shoebox to them at college. Regarding bacon and sweets, I’m all for it! Your picture of the cupcakes has inspired me to make them for the Super Bowl. The ladies will like the chocolate and the guys will go for the bacon. Yum! If you ever come across it, chocolate covered bacon is to die for. . .
Audra says
Thank you so much Whitney! Good thinking sending the Snickerdoodles blondies to your kids- I get they pack very well :)
Elin says
I love bacon, like fresh from the farm, cured bacon. However, I’m very much over bacon as a trend in desserts. Like what’s wrong with just bacon? Why does it need to be added to almost EVERYTHING? It’s starting, for me at least, to lose any sort of special quality and I’ve become almost a strict sausage as my breakfast meat kind of girl.
Barbara McCrary says
I haven’t yet been courageous enough to try bacon in desserts. Want to try it sometime!
Jordan says
I really want to try i think… Obviously, i am still very nervous!
Katie says
Never had it but I’m up for anything and these cupcakes look amazing!
Denise O says
I’ll take bacon in any form! It just makes desserts a little smokey & salty for me.
Audra says
Hey Denise! You won the giveaway! Please email me at AudraTheBakerChick@gmail.com with your address and it will be on the way!!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I still haven’t tried bacon in desserts, but I will, and I’m like 90% sure I’m on board with it! :P
Suzanne m. says
Haven’t tried it yet, but I’m pretty sure my husband would love it.
JohnZ says
I’ve tried it. Tastes good. Everything tastes better with bacon.
colette says
That buttercream is gorgeous!
Bacon in desserts is hot….this recipe, I’m willing to try!
Christopher Clickner says
I think Bacon in moderation in deserts can be a clever addition, but I think it has become overused by some cooks.
Corisa says
I honestly think its a fabulous idea! I just think about the salty – sweet aspect and that wins me over in a heartbeat!
debbie the ny baker says
What’s not to like bacon in just about anything?!?
Kim says
I have yet to try bacon in desserts, but my brother’s birthday is coming up in March, and I think that will be the perfect opportunity to try it!
Jessica says
I love bacon desserts! I have made bacon chocolate chip cookies and they were great!
Michele West says
I love bacon with anything! That includes dessert! Can’t wait to try this recipe and I’m going to need to search out the Bacon Chocolate Chip cookies!
Kara D says
I like bacon and I like desserts, but not together.
Gianna says
I’ve never actually had bacon in desserts, but these cupcakes loook great! :)
Allison S. says
It sounds…interesting. I do want to try it, but I’m not entirely sure. :)
Holly says
I’ve seen some amazing looking donuts with bacon involved. They look fantastic! I haven’t taken the plunge yet but I’m willing!
Jennifer Green says
Bacon is amazing with anything!!
Kimi says
Bacon in anything is awesome
Jennifer says
Bacon with maple awesome!!! Love dipping the bacon into the syrup now I can
Carry it around in this cupcake. :)
Doris says
Brownies made with bacon fat are fabulous with a deep chocolate flavor.
naomi murray says
I think bacon with certain desserts would be yummy, I’d have to try it though! Bacon and maple sounds delish….. Thanks for this giveaway, I’d love to have this cookbook!
Caitlin says
Maple and bacon are the best combination! It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty and each one makes the other one better. I first tried it in a cupcake from a shop, but I’m definitely going to try to make these, especially with the addition of the chocolate buttercream!
barbara n says
I can honestly say that I have never had bacon in a dessert before, but a salty sweet mixture does sound enticing.
CWONg96 says
Bacon? in DESSERT? yes please, I’ll need 3 servings thank you very much! The savory and the sweet go so well its a match made in the kitchen :D
Christie says
Yum! Those look delicious!!
Rebekah says
I’ve made some wonderful maple muffins but sadly without bacon. I have never tried bacon with any sweets, but I think it sounds very intriguing! Also, since I don’t normally comment, I would like to say that I really enjoy your blog, thanks for sharing your sweets, and your life, with all of us!
Audra says
Oh thank you so much Rebekah! I really appreciate you taking the time to follow along :)
heather says
i have not tried bacon in desserts yet but i sure want to
Dianne Shaw says
I’ve never tried bacon in desserts, but this recipe looks awesome. I would so try it.
chelsea @ serves two says
i am finally coming around to the whole bacon in dessert thing and this recipe may have done me in for good. these look and sound incredible! (and who can argue when you remind us of the deliciousness created when bacon gets dipped in syrup at brunch?)
Susan Christy says
I love bacon on donuts!
Amy S says
I love bacon anytime and I love the combination of the salty sweet when it’s on top of a maple bar!
Renee G says
I’ve never tried bacon for dessert, but I like other sweet/salty combinations. For example– kettle corn.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
Simply sweet justice says
I visited the momofuku milk bakery for the first time during my first visit to NYC! Thought of your blog! :)
Audra says
Oh yay! Did you like it! What did you try?
MaryB says
Bring on the bacon! Love it, whether it is part of the main meal or dessert. These cupcakes look delicious and who can resist that combo of maple and bacon? The last maple bacon thing I had was a maple bar topped with a strip of bacon. Thanks for offering the giveaway.
Joanne says
I’ve…actually never had bacon in desserts and probably never will now, but I do love all things sweet and salty! One of my coworkers is VERY skeptical of the bacon-in-desserts idea so I might have to make these for her to convince her otherwise!
TC says
Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever had bacon in my desserts either. Maybe because I don’t go gaga for the salty-sweet combo.
rachel says
I’m still torn on it…I tend to just like sweets for dessert. Savory items through me off.
Becca from Cookie Jar Treats says
I am not a fan of bacon in general, so I’m not really keen on having bacon in my desserts. But I still would love to try this recipe! That buttercream frosting looks to die for :)
roch F. says
I like the sweet and salty combo in deserts and bacon can add a little something on top of that. The smoky and crunchy flavor is a bonus to the sweet salty combo. I made some bacon brownies once and it was delicious.
halee says
Bacon in dessert is the best invention after the Internet!
Protagitron says
I’ll eat bacon in sweets – heck, I even had a bacon cocktail once – but I would rather have it own and taste its delicious saltiness solo. Maple syrup on the other hand… that belongs in everything.
Rebecca says
ok, I have to admit it… I am a vegetarian :) So not much of an opinion to give here, unfortunately :P However, I am seriously thinking about baking them for my boyfriend as he loves nothing in the world more then meat and sweets (ok and beer, but would that fit here?) :o Now can you imagine his reaction if I would combine these two? haha, I can’t wait :D
Take care and thanks for providing this lovely blog! I am seriously addicted :D
Rebecca
Genevieve t. says
I was a vegetarian for two and a half years. I was doing manual labor building hiking trails and working in national parks when I decided I needed to bring meat back into my life. Ever since then, I have had a newfound appreciation for bacon. I’m also a HUGE fan of salty/sweet combos. One night after a little too much wine, my mom and I made a batch of brownies and decided to sprinkle them with sea salt. Ever since then, I can’t eat a brownie that isn’t salted! So give me a cupcake, brownie, scone, whatever, with a piece of crisp salty bacon on top and call me happy!
BECKYLYNNE says
My best friend loves bacon. She has turned me on to adding it to some dishes I would not normally think of. I really like the idea of salty and sweet that I think the bacon with the chocolate cupcake would be wonderful. I can’t wait to try this. Prob make it for my best friend’s birthday in the next week.
rachel garber says
I’m still on the fence. I think I could embrace it better if it was hidden in the recipe! I have gotten over baking with sour cream though, so who knows, the sky is the limit I suppose!!
Karen says
Sweet recipes with bacon? Yes please.
ann Mc says
I think – with the right flavor combination – that bacon is delish in desserts! it is, after all, the candy of the meat world! FUN giveaway – thanks!
Carolyn says
I really like the idea of adding bacon , but I haven’t been able to use it, because I try to cook, bake and eat healthy so I haven’t been able bring myself to use it yet… that said, I bought a slab of bacon this week, so it looks like it will be in my baking future – especailly with a yummy recipe like this!
Bethany J. says
I made bacon peanut butter chocolate chip cookies about a year ago and my man has not stopped talking / asking for them since. I have yet to make them again due to the fact that he ate the entire batch in 1 day, which I’m sure was like 10,000 million calories.
I’m more of a chocolate covered bacon girl. Just give it to me straight up! No need to hide it in a cookie, man.
Lisa says
Can I get the recipe for those cookies?
Mabel says
Not sure I like bacon in my desserts. I hate some chocolate covered bacon and I definitely thought I’d rather have eggs with bacon and eat chocolate afterwards. The chocolate was too salty and the bacon too sweet. bleh
Nancy Redican says
I just had a chance to try a croissant with Nutella and bacon…… So good!!!!!!! I can’t wait to try other sweet bacon treats.
Campier says
This is perfect for a valentine’s treat for my husband who is a real bacon aficionado! Thanks for all the inspirational recipes.
Natalie S says
I don’t think I would enjoy bacon in my desserts. I think the flavor would be too strange for me,
Theresa J says
I have never tried bacon in desserts so I am not sure how I feel
Erin M. says
I’ve never tried bacon in desserts, but I’m totally on board with the salty/sweet combo!
lisa dehimer says
I can’t wait to try these! I love bacon w/dessert and the thought of maple syrup sounds delicious!
Jan R says
I like my bacon seperate…lots of it!
Mbb says
bacon in desserts is ALWAYS a good idea.
Troy says
how can bacon ever be bad….. I just don’t understand.
Judy says
I’ve not had bacon in desserts, other than the pancake thing, but I’m getting read to try. Might as well start with your recipe.
jacquie says
since i’m a vegetarian i’m not into bacon in dessert – nor any other place in the meal :)
a farmer in the dell says
will you be my valentine? This is the way to my heart! yum!