Pancake Cupcakes, Maple Buttercream Icing with BACON Garnish

Rarely is there anything as good as Bacon.  Eggs - WITH BACON.  Chicken wrapped - WITH BACON.  Steak - WITH BACON...  Pancake Cupcakes, maple buttercream - WITH BACON!  Whoa.  Hold the phones, back up the bus...   Pancake Cupcakes with maple buttercream AND BACON?   Oh yeah baby!  Bacon, bacon, bacon, oh yummy Bacon!

I have been wanting to make these for some time and was mulling over several recipes but none seemed to be what I wanted so I went to work in the kitchen.  I was skeptical I could come up with something I would actually like but these are amazing!  The cupcake part is a conglomeration of nearly every recipe I came across and the icing is my own personal recipe.   Made from scratch cupcakes, maple flavor real butter buttercream, oh my, and bacon, need I say more?

Pancake Cupcakes
2 1/2  cups Flour (if your batter seems to thin you may add a little more flour)
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
3/4 tsp Ground Ginger
1 stick unsalted butter, softened (make sure it's soft!)
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large Eggs
1 1/4 cups maple syrup (I use homemade.  Use my recipe here http://themixedupmama.blogspot.com/2013/05/home-made-waffles-and-syrup.html
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk (don't have buttermilk?  Mix 1 1/2 tbs lemon juice to just under 1 cup milk.  Mix and wait 5-10 minutes)

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ginger.  Set aside.

In large bowl beat SOFT butter and sugar together until nice and fluffy.  Add eggs, syrup, and vanilla. Mix well.

Alternate mixing flour mixture and buttermilk into butter/sugar mixture.

Fill either lined or buttered cupcake tins.  I use the foil cupcake cupcake liners which can be used on a cookie sheet and you can use as many as you can fit on there.  No need for cupcake tins.  You will see those in the picture.

Cook for approx. 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool then ice with Maple Flavored Buttercream Icing!  Garnish with real bacon (cooked and broken into smaller pieces).

Maple Buttercream Icing

2 lbs Powdered Sugar (approx 7 cups)
2 cups REAL butter softened(don't you dare think of using margarine!)
1 1/2 tbs maple flavoring
1/2 tbs + 1/4 tsp Vanilla extract
1/3 cup water


Cream butter, maple flavoring, and vanilla extract together.  Mix thoroughly.  Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.  Beat well between each addition.  Once all sugar is incorporated add water and mix well.  Mix for approx 5 minutes on med speed.  Icing should be nice and fluffy AND YUMMY!

Want one?  Try out this recipe and let me know what you think about these yummy treats!

Ta ta and Peace out - Brandy



P.s.  A little Bacon Humor for you...