French Toast & Bacon Cupcakes

Well these are just fanTABulous and I'm more than a little irritated I didn't make something so good myself for Dessert Club this month. I'm having a hard time getting over my boring and disappointing cupcakes. Especially when I could have, and should have, gone here for inspiration.

But these, these are like total genius. I love French toast - oh, with fresh nutmeg! And, like any good overweight American, I love bacon - especially when it gets a little maple syrup on it, hello! And I am delighted to finally have a great Maple Buttercream recipe. This post has it all!

Over and over the tasters exclaimed, "It tastes like breakfast!" A good breakfast, like a long weekend breakfast, or an eating out breakfast. An indulgent breakfast. The best kind. Have milk and orange juice nearby. YUM!French Toast & Bacon Cupcakes (print recipe)
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (1 1/2 sticks)
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp fine salt
1/2 cup milk, room temperature
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
3 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
Maple Buttercream Frosting, recipe follows
6 slices crisp bacon

1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.

2. In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar and mix on low speed until just incorporated. Raise the speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula.)

3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla, and also set aside.

4. Add the egg yolks to the creamed butter one at time, waiting for each one to be fully incorporated before adding the next.

5. Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Alternately, add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, waiting for each to be fully incorporated before adding the next (scrape the bowl down occasionally). Raise the speed to medium and mix briefly until a smooth batter is formed. Transfer the batter to a large bowl.

6. Thoroughly clean the bowl of the mixer and put the egg whites inside. Whip the egg whites on high speed, using the whisk attachment, until stiff peaks are formed.

7. Working in 3 batches, using a rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the batter, until just incorporated. Divide the batter evenly among the cups in the muffin pan. Bake, rotating the pan once, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

8. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and cool completely. Makes 12 cupcakes

Maple Buttercream Frosting
Yield: about 1 2/3 cups, enough for 6 large or 12 regular cupcakes
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tsp heavy cream, at room temperature
3/4 tsp maple extract

1. In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held electric mixer in a large bowl, mix the butter and sugar on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)

2. Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Add the heavy cream and maple extract.. Raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy (scrape down the bowl occasionally). Store in the refrigerator until somewhat stiff, before using. May be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.

Crisp Bacon
Bacon works well baked in an oven at 425 degrees on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 12-15 minutes, drain grease, and bake another 5-7 minutes or until crisp. You can do it in a pan as well.

Finally – Frost the cooled French Toast Cupcakes with the Maple Buttercream Frosting and top with a Crisp piece of Bacon! Break/crumble the bacon over the cupcake to get a little in each bite.

*And how do you like my little cupcake pedestal? My mom gave it to me for Christmas. Just knew it would come in handy!

Recipe from http://lifewithcake.com via Dessert Club member A.M.