Chocolate-Stout Cupcakes with Maple-Bacon Frosting

These easy chocolate stout cupcakes are topped with a maple cream cheese frosting and pieces of baked maple bacon.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 336 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 5 slices bacon
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
• 1 cup stout beer (such as Frau Gruber® imperial)
• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.75 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 0.66666668653488 cup sour cream
• 0.75 cup powdered sugar
• 0.75 teaspoon sea salt
• 0.75 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1.5 cups cream cheese (such as Philadelphia®)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

Step 2

Bring stout and butter to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes. Set aside, stirring occasionally, until butter has melted. Mix in cocoa powder until smooth.

Step 3

Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl until thoroughly combined.

Step 4

Mix eggs with sour cream in a large bowl using an electric mixer on low until well combined. Add beer mixture slowly, followed by flour mixture, until batter is smooth.

Step 5

Divide batter between the prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 17 to 19 minutes.

Step 7

Remove from the oven and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Leave the oven on.

Step 8

Meanwhile, lay bacon strips on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Baste with 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup, covering both sides.

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Turn bacon over, baste with remaining syrup, and bake until browned and crisp, about 8 minutes more, watching to make sure not to burn.

Step 10

Combine butter and powdered sugar in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in cream cheese until smooth. Beat in maple syrup. Frost cooled cupcakes and top with bacon bits.

Step 11

Remove bacon and lay strips on parchment paper so they don't stick to foil upon cooling. Let cool completely, 10 to 15 minutes. Chop into pieces.