Syd’s story on Faces of Beauty brought tears to my eyes…
The mission: create the most ridiculously scrumptious cupcakes the world has ever seen.
The ingredients: anything in the entire universe.
The result: Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Whipped Ganache Frosting and Maple-Roasted Bacon.
And for the people who might have been scared of the bacon? Same cupcake with almonds on top. Still delicious, but let’s face it: almonds are never going to be bacon.
Especially bacon with maple syrup all up on it.
Sorry almonds, it’s a fact of life.
So what was this all for, you ask? Well Kraig, my friend and the Executive Pastor at our church asked me to do this as part of a sermon on skillful living (I’ll share the link the moment it’s up), where he was kind enough to share my story of finding freedom from disordered eating and learned to love food again. That’s something worth celebrating…and what’s more celebratory than bacon?
Champagne’s got nothing on it. OK, that’s going overboard, but you know what I mean.
So first off, you want to use this recipe for the cake part of the cupcake. It’s the most flavorful, ridiculous, sinful chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten whole had, and if you don’t use it then I forgive you in advance. Bake them at 350 for 18 minutes instead of the normal cake baking procedure.
Second, you want to make the whipped ganache frosting as found here by simmering heavy cream, whisking in chopped chocolate, cooling, and then beating it with 2 sticks of softened butter. I also added about 1/2 cup of powdered sugar because it’s how I roll. Why follow a recipe exactly?
Finally you make the bacon. OH LORD THE BACON!
ROASTED MAPLE SYRUP BACON
- bacon (I used 2 lbs…one for me to eat and the other to put on the cupcakes)
- maple syrup
- sea salt
Preheat your oven to 325. Line the bacon on a rack over a baking sheet and roast at 325 for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with maple syrup, then return to the oven and roast for 3-4 more minutes until the bacon is crispy and the syrup is bubbly and caramelized. Sprinkle with sea salt (just a bit!) immediately and let cool. Chop and sprinkle on top of the cupcakes.
Y’all I seriously “taste tested” about 12 slices of this. Fine, 16, but who’s counting? And for my sweet husband who was so wary of the bacon-topped treats?
Let’s just say he’s recanted 😉
Mary says
Is there a statute of limitations on responding to your blog? I know I am 6 days behind…but I went on vacation with no internet and just returned. It was fabulous, but I love catching up on your blogs…especially the ones on bacon. I love it!
Can’t wait to see the link to your pastors serman…I bet it was a great one. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Heather says
I pretty much adore those cupcakes. Just FYI.
Ashlee (ashandlewplus2.com) says
Thank you for sharing this. My husband is a pastor and I cannot wait to show him this post, he will love the idea. We live in Tennessee and are just a tad bit jealous of you living in Colorado. We love snowboarding and find our selves heading out west every year. A friend of mine and a blogger Whitney (https://whitneysamusebouche.blogspot.com/) is moving to Denver this spring. Anyhow love the idea and the bacon. Have a great night
Ashlee
LiveForTheRun says
OK I love dipping my bacon in syrup, this is sounding amazing.
Ashley says
Yes please!! Chocolate stout cupcake…yummmmm
kathleen says
i walk by a chocolate shop on the way to the doctor’s. they have a sign in the window for bacon-chocolate bars. who knew bacon and chocolate went together =)
Salah says
I’ll take half a cupcake with twice the frosting 🙂
KeepItSweet says
omg i wish i had these right now… nicely done:-)
Kate says
Let’s not forget the congregation who was smitten after eating these =) I feel honored to have been a part of that! Thanks, Heather!
Becca D. says
oh. my. goodness.
those cupcakes just made me want to be a better woman.
🙂
Dorry says
How cool that your story was part of the sermon! I’m looking forward to seeing it when you post the link. Your cupcakes look awesome – I think I need to make these for Billy – he wouldn’t know what hit him!
Shanna, like Banana says
I’m impressed…and for those anti-bacon lovers, tell ’em to use a veggie bacon and get over it 😉
Natalia - a side of simple says
Thank YOU for accepting this mission, dangerous as it sounds, and for sharing 🙂
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
Sweet and salty bacon – yum Heather! That’ll take any dessert to the top.
Katie @ Health for the Whole Self says
Very neat about the pastor sharing your story!
I wonder, will I ever be able to enjoy a non-bacon-ified cupcake again after I make this one? 😉
Jessica @ How Sweet says
So glad you went with the bacon!!
Marg says
I must try bacon on cupcakes soon!
Amy @ Second City Randomness says
I love the combo of sweet and savory. I’ve mixed bacon into batter before and it’s yummy, too!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says
There’s no reason why this wouldn’t be amazing. Bacon? Love. Cupcakes? Love even more.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
You’re killing me with those cupcakes!! They look amazing!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
How cool that you got to share your story with others in your congregation. Isn’t it amazing how God can use us? And sharing delicious treats certainly fits into that as well. 😀
Anna says
Okay, you could charge $$$ for these. Beautiful!!!
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
You know, only the cool kids are making cupcakes with bacon nowadays 🙂
Evan Thomas says
Yes, please. Pass the bacon, I mean, cupcake.
Kristi says
I love the idea of bacon on a cupcake 🙂 After I tried chocolate bacon I will have no fear of bacon on anything sweet!