maple bacon cupcakes

Ingredients
4 1/2 tablespoons of butter room temperature
1/2 tablespoon of bacon drippings (left in the fridge to become solid)
1 egg
5 tablespoons of brown sugar
4 tablespoons maple syrup
1 1/4 cup of self rising flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
tiny tiny pinch of kosher salt
1/4 cup of milk
1/4 cup of minced bacon cooked and drained
　
Maple Syrup Frosting
4 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 cup of powdered sugar turbinate sugar (optional but recommended) coarse grain sea salt (optional but recommended)
　
　
Directions
　
Cook some bacon in a fry pan (about 6 thick strips). Reserve the drippings and place in the fridge to solidify. I used eight strips of bacon so I had some for the decorations on the frosting. You can also use any kind of bacon, healthy use turkey, but I used Hickory Bacon and I wish I would have used Maple, just because its a Maple cupcake!
　
Mince 1/4 a cup of the bacon. The chef should eat whatever is left to assure that the bacon is tasty.
2) Beat the crud out of the butter and solidified bacon fat 'till light and creamy. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and beat well until combined.
3) Add the egg and beat until incorporated.
4) Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and powder together.
　
5) Add some of the flour and mix, then some of the milk, then continue to alternate the dry and wet ingredients, ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in the bacon. Taste and add more maple syrup, flour, or milk if needed for desired taste. Keep in mind the maple frosting is very sweet, and to add in very small increments for alterations as maple syrup in large amounts can break a cake batter. I added a little more maple & a little more milk I just eyed it in there. I wouldn't even put the "dash of salt" because the bacon already is salty.

6) Scoop into cupcake papers and bake at 350 F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Be sure to rot Yield: serves 12

This makes about a dozen. I got this recipe out of Taste of Homes.

An easier recipe my friend uses:

Vanilla Cake mix Vanilla frosting with a little maple syrup mixed in, Then she used turkey bacon and cut them into little pieces, threw them in the pan with brown sugar and maple syrup until its brown and sticky. She made them low fat and low calorie and used low fat butter and applesauce instead of oil. You can just add the oil and real butter instead of the low fat & applesauce. These seem to be easier, you kind of just eye the maple & brown surgar in the pan, what I would do it use some of the above ingredients and put them in with this recipe.