Bacon and Maple Syrup Cupcake

You can't beat the combination of bacon and maple... I usually have both on pancakes but decided to mix things up and combine both on a cupcake! The results were gorgeous

On to the recipe: 

Cupcakes - 

110g margarine

110g caster sugar 

2 eggs

2tsp vanilla extract

110g self raising flour

1 tsp milk (if the consistency needs changing) 

Dash of maple syrup 

Maple Icing - 

400g icing sugar

100g butter or margarine

4 tbsp maple syrup (give or take a few table spoons depending on the intensity of maple flavour)

2 rashers of bacon 

1. Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4 

2. Whisk together the margarine and sugar in a large bowl

3. Beat in the eggs gradually making sure both the butter and eggs are at room temperature to avoid scrambling 

4. Add the vanilla extract and stir

5. Sift in the flour and gently fold in 1/2 at a time

6. Add the milk depending on whether the dropping consistency is too thick

7. Place in the oven for around 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean from the center and the cupcakes are golden brown

8. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack

9. Fry off the bacon so it is crispy (using minimal oil) and allow to cool

10. On to the icing. Whisk together the maple syrup, icing sugar and butter together until it becomes a pale thick smooth paste

11. Place into a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe onto the cool cupcake 

12. Cut the bacon into strips and put on top of the icing

13. Drizzle the maple on top of the cupcake

There you have it, sweet and salty maple and bacon cupcake, Enjoy xx