Shecky’s

Maple French Toast Bacon Cupcakes

Breakfast foods as desert, what a novel idea! These Maple French Toast Bacon Cupcakes (from foodnetwork.com) sound like heaven in a cupcake sleeve, and they’re the exact desert that dad will love.  Adding bacon to anything automatically makes it a fan favorite, so tell dad to sit back and enjoy the bacon!

What You’ll Need: For cupcakes: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup cake flour, 1 3.9-ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon potato starch, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature, 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 4 large egg whites, at room temperature, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 cup half-and-half at room temperature & 1/2 cup chopped cooked bacon (about 5 strips). For glaze: 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, & 3 strips bacon, cooked and chopped (optional).

What You’ll Do: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place paper liners in a 12-cup muffin tin. Prepare the cupcakes: Combine the flours, pudding mix, baking powder, potato starch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl with a whisk. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugars with a mixer on low speed until combined, 6 to 8 minutes. Gradually mix in the vanilla and egg whites. Scrape down the sides of the bowl; continue mixing until light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the maple syrup and half-and-half, mixing after each addition and ending with flour. Mix until the ingredients are just combined; do not over-mix. Fold in the bacon. The batter will be thick. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about three-quarters of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze: Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon; beat until combined. Spread on the cooled cupcakes; top with chopped bacon, if desired.

Image Credit: foodnetwork.com