Beer Cupcakes with Maple Bacon Frosting

Yep, you read that right! My husband is a beer and bacon fanatic and it's his first father's day, so I figured I'd combine the two into a cupcake!  Make some of these for the beer and bacon fan in your life!

Beer Cupcakes 

Ingredients:

12 oz lighter beer (I used Blue Moon)
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
3 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt


Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine beer, brown sugar, eggs, and butter until creamed. In separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients.

2.  Slowly add flour mixture into butter mixture. The batter is pretty watery so don't expect it to be as thick as most cupcake or cake batters.

3. Fill prepared cupcake pan 1/2 way. This batter will be enough for 12 cupcakes.

4. Bake until golden brown and cake bounces back to touch, about 25 minutes.


5. While cupcakes are cooling, prepare frosting.

Maple Bacon Frosting

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups confectioner's/powdered sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened not melted
3 tbsp maple syrup
5 slices of bacon, finely chopped (I used food processor)

Directions:

1.  Beat butter for about 5 minutes.

2. After butter is well creamed, slowly add in powdered sugar. Once sugar is combined, turn mixer on high for about 3 minutes.

3. Mix in maple syrup and then bacon!

4. Top of your favorite cupcake, cake, or cookie! Enjoy!

A few notes:
**The cupcakes are a very sticky texture because of the sugars in the beer. I used paper cupcake wrappers and they stuck to the cupcake. Next time I'll be sure to use foil lined wrappers next time!

 ** Here's a great way to fill your piping bag. Fold it over a cup! :)

Carrot Pineapple Muffins

I always love trying/making up new cake recipes. I had some pineapple and carrots at home so I figured why not?

Carrot Pineapple Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups shredded carrots (about 4 whole carrots)
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained (I used fresh but you could use canned)
1 cup sugar (I used splenda)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmug


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine carrots, pineapple, sugar, vanilla, and eggs until well blended.

2. In separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and then slowing mix in with wet ingredients.

3. For cupcakes fill muffin til 2/3 full, for muffins fill completely.

4. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!

If you decide to make cupcakes, here's an easy cream cheese frosting recipe:

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix cream cheese and butter until well blended. Stir in vanilla. Slowly add in powdered sugar until all combined.