Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Beer Batter Maple Bacon Cupcakes


My husband and I were watching an episode of 2 Broke Girls the other day and when they made their Spring Break Beer Batter Maple Bacon Cupcakes we both decided that it was something that we had to try.


I searched for a recipe and found a few that had this basic combination but none of them were quite what I was looking for. So I modified some recipes until I came up with my own blend that I am really happy with. I sent them to work with Shelby and while some of the girls were too scared to even try them, the guys LOVED them! My husband says that these are the cupcakes that are served in heaven. :) 

If you aren't a fan of drinking Guinness, you could use the remaining bottles so make some delicious Beef  and Ale Stew. Also, I usually recommend Killian's Irish Red in my Beer Cheese Fondue and Beer Bread recipes but Guinness would probably work well in those too. It is such a great beer to cook with since it is full of coffee and chocolate flavors.


Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa
2 cups Sugar
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Pinch of Salt
1 bottle Guinness Draught, room temperature
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, melted
1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
3 Large Eggs
3/4 cup Sour Cream

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, whisk together cocoa, sugar, flour, baking soda and salt.

In another large mixing bowl, combine the Guinness, melted butter, and vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream until well blended and smooth. Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture.

Line 24 muffin tins with foil baking cups (I also baked them by just lightly greasing the pan but they didn't bake up as well). Fill each cup 3/4 full. Bake for 12 minutes and then rotate the pans. Bake another 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool then remove to a wire rack.

Top with Maple Buttercream Frosting and Bacon. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Maple Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:
1 cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1/2 cup Milk, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Maple Extract
2 pounds Powdered Sugar

Beat butter in large bowl until creamy. Add milk, salt, extract, and 1 cup powdered sugar. Beat until well combined and smooth. Gradually add remaining powdered sugar and beat until creamy.

Bacon "Sprinkles"

Ingredients:
1/2 pound Thick Cut Hardwood Smoked Bacon

Heat large skillet over medium-high heat.* Add a few slices of bacon and cook as desired. (I like mine when it is *just* cooked through and has a chewy jerky texture but I know some people who like theirs extra crispy and almost burnt beyond recognition. Whatever rocks your socks.) Transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and press the top with another paper towel to remove excess grease. Repeat with remaining bacon. 

Allow to cool slightly then move to a cutting board and chop to desired size.

*For less mess, try my Oven Baked Bacon.

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18 comments:

Sue W. said...

Is the Guinness flavor obvious? I've never tasted it solo so I'm curious. I think these would be a hit with my son and his friends on poker night!

Anonymous said...

I can definitely pick out the Guinness flavor but it is also one of my favorite beers to drink. To non-Guinness-drinkers it probably tastes more like a mocha cupcake. If you are still nervous about using Guinness you might try some Young's Double Chocolate Stout or Rogue's Mocha Porter. Even a nice oatmeal stout would probably work well. Any darker beer with notes of coffee or chocolate should compliment these cupcakes nicely. I hope your son likes them!

Rhissanna said...

*Takes a mallet to the bathroom scales*

Fine, I'm ready. Let's do this! Guinness is glorious stuff. Apparently, they used to issue it to nursing mothers on the NHS in the UK. It makes the best steak and kidney pie (you can take out the kidneys, if you like, but please don't take out the Guinness) and its smoky dark bitterness is wonderful with seafood. Thank you for this recipe! Another excuse to buy some Guinness.

Rhissanna said...

PS. I first found your amazing blog last year, when someone showed me your Vampire Killing Kit you made for Halloween. Have you seem how many people are talking about these things now? Thank you for letting me know about these fun things first.

Unknown said...

oh they sound perfect

Anonymous said...

Aww, thank you so much! I never feel like I am the first to anything. Lol! In fact, I just found out that cupcakes are "so over". Apparently it's all about doughnuts now. When did that happen? And I still really want to get some kind of decorative owl for our new house even though the octopus is supposedly the new owl. Luckily I've never really been into trends. I just like what I like. :) I didn't realize so many people were into vampire killing kits now. I'll have to do some searching to check out other people's take on them.

Anonymous said...

Guinness is the best! The only beer I like better is Dragon's Milk. Yum!

Anonymous said...

Thanks! The flavors sound kind of crazy at first but they really do compliment each other well. :)

Leslie said...

Ooh! These sound so good!

Meaningful Mama said...

Umm, yeah. I might need to try these. Looks fabulous.

Delightfully Curious Designs said...

WHEN I SAW THE CAPTION, BEER BATTER MAPLE BACON CUPCAKES, I SAID TO THE KID THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD BE FROM CANADA. HE SAID NO, MOMMA I THINK MINNESOTA...I BET HIM YOUR CUPCAKES THAT YOU WERE CANADIAN. I GUESS WE KNOW WHO WON!! HE-HE-HE!! I WILL BE BAKING THIS AFTERNOON.
DISCLAIMER* I WASN'T REALLY PROFILING, I HAVE FRIENDS IN CANADA THAT WILL FIND THIS STORY PRICELESS!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!

Carol, The Answer Is Chocolate said...

I have yet to try a bacon dessert but am going to have to. I'm all in on the cupcake part...Guiness and all ! Thanks for sharing at this week's BFF Open House.

Unknown said...

holY! those sound crazy good:)

Michael said...

These look great. I have a maple bacon doughnut recipe on my blog. Love the combo! I also have a maple bacon cookie recipe being posted on thursday! Come check it out soon!

Julie E said...

Holy crap! These cupcakes get my vote!! Thanks for entering the Unique Sweets Dessert Challenge. I just remember I'm not a judge. Ugh. At least I've got you feature on my FB fan page today. :)

Monica @ M double M said...

I love baking with Guinness, and these look amazing! The bacon on top is... well, I was going to say "the icing on the cake," lol, but that's not right. The bacon on top is the crowning glory of these cupcakes :)

Anonymous said...

My best friend is a Master Chief in the Naval Reserves and was stationed in the UAE for a year watching the strait of Hormuz. While she was there, she turned 50. She just returned home New Years Eve eve. She called me today to tell me of the party she is going to throw to celebrate her birthday and her return home. The theme is ANYTHING PORK as she has been without pork for a year. She said she had the menu planned but couldn't come up with anything pork for dessert. My mind immediately turned to Max's beer-batter-maple-bacon-spring-break cupcake and I told her not to worry, that I would email her the perfect dessert for her party. Thus, the recipe search began. After looking at dozens of recipes, yours looks like the best recipe yet. Thanks for sharing your recipes online as this one certainly saves the day.

Unknown said...

I made these for my hubby's birthday and he really like them!! The only difference is I used a maple cream cheese frosting instead of the frosting recipe you provided. I will definitely be keeping this recipe.