These sweet and salty maple bacon cupcakes with whiskey buttercream hit every craving at once — perfect boozy dessert for adults.
These cupcakes hit every craving at once — sweet maple, salty bacon, a whisper of vanilla, and a generous swirl of whiskey-laced buttercream.
Perfect for brunch, birthdays, or making your friends say "wait… what?!"
🧁 Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups plain flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 strips bacon, cooked & crumbled
🥃 Whiskey Buttercream
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1¾ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2–3 tsp whiskey (like Jameson or Bulleit)
- Pinch of salt
🥓 Optional: Candied Bacon Topping
- 2 strips bacon
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- Tiny pinch of chili powder (optional)
🧑🍳 Instructions
-
Make the cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt.
- In a stand mixer, cream butter, sugar, and maple syrup until fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
- Alternate adding flour mix and buttermilk.
- Fold in cooked crumbled bacon.
- Fill cupcake liners ¾ full. Bake 18–20 mins. Cool completely.
-
Make the frosting
- Beat butter until creamy.
- Add powdered sugar, maple, whiskey, and salt. Beat until smooth and pipeable. Chill if too soft.
-
Make candied bacon (optional)
- Bake bacon strips at 200°C / 400°F for ~15 mins, flipping once and sprinkling with brown sugar + chili powder.
- Cool and crumble.
-
Assemble
- Pipe buttercream onto cooled cupcakes.
- Top with candied bacon crumbles and a tiny drizzle of maple syrup if you’re feeling fancy.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these without whiskey? Yes! Replace the whiskey in the buttercream with vanilla extract or maple syrup for a non-alcoholic version.
How do I store these cupcakes? Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 5 days. The bacon stays crispy for about 24 hours.
Can I make the candied bacon ahead? Absolutely! Make the candied bacon up to 3 days ahead and store in an airtight container. Add to cupcakes just before serving.
These are dangerous in the best way.
One bite and everyone's like "what's in this??"
(Answer: magic, butter, and whiskey.)
Looking for more fun cupcakes? Try Anzac Cupcakes with Salted Brown Sugar Buttercream.