Chocolate Bacon Beer Cupcakes

Or "Manly Cupcakes" as my husband refers to them.

I was a little apprehensive about bacon on a cupcake after a bad run-in with some maple bacon cupcakes from a bakery that smelled and tasted like dog treats.

This recipe is DELICIOUS and all of the flavors blend perfectly.

There are a lot of ingredients, and a lot of steps BUT they are easy and definitely worth it.

yield: 26 cupcakes

ingredients

for cupcakes

1C dark beer (I used Young's Double Chocolate Stout)

1C butter, room temperature

2/3C cocoa powder

2C all-purpose flour

2C sugar

1.5 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs, room temperature

2/3C sour cream

for beer glaze

1/2C dark beer (I used Young's Double Chocolate Stout)

6 tbs brown sugar

2 tbs butter

2 tbs heavy cream

for maple buttercream

1C butter, room temperature

3C powdered sugar

1/4C maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla extract

for caramelized bacon

1/4C butter

1/4C brown sugar

1/2C crumbled bacon (make sure the bacon is crispy!)

1/2C dark beer (I used Young's Double Chocolate Stout)

directions

1. for cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners (or grease pan if you're not using cupcake liners).
3. In a small saucepan, heat beer and butter over medium. 
4. Bring to a simmer.
5. Remove pan from heat, stir in cocoa powder and let cool.
6. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
7. In a large bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer), beat eggs and sour cream until well combined.
8. Add cocoa/beer mixture to sour cream mixture and beat until combined.
9. Slowly add flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing until well combined.
10. Fill muffin tins about 2/3 full.
11. Bake 16-18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
12. Let cupcakes cool completely.
13. for beer glaze: In a small saucepan, bring brown sugar and beer to a boil over medium heat.
14. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
15. Remove from heat.
16. Add butter and cream, whisk until smooth.
17. Dip tops of cupcakes into the glaze.
18. for maple buttercream: In a medium bowl (or stand mixer), beat butter until fluffy, about 5 minutes.
19. Slowly add powdered sugar, beating until well combined.
20. Add syrup and vanilla, beat for 5 minutes.
21. Pipe (or spread) buttercream onto cupcakes.
22. for caramelized bacon: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter and brown sugar whisking until smooth.
23. Add crumbled bacon, mixing until coated with caramel.
24. Add beer.
25. Increase temperature to medium-high, cook until beer is reduced to a syrupy consistency, about 10 minutes.
26. Remove from heat and let cool for about 10 minutes (as to not melt the buttercream).
27. Scoop a small amount of caramelized bacon onto each cupcake. 
28. Enjoy!