Maple Bacon Cupcakes

I had a friend request what he thought was completely outrageous bacon cupcakes. He certainly didn’t think that I’d come up with something so delicious. They were such a huge hit because people really didn’t think they would work when they heard the request. Everyone absolutely loved these cupcakes.  If you really want to impress a crowd of bacon lovers these are definitely the cupcakes to make!I used pepper bacon that I had on hand already made. I really liked the extra kick from the pepper that it gave the cupcakes. It paired very nicely with the sweet maple flavoring. If you’re not a fan of pepper bacon I wouldn’t suggest using it since it has such a strong and distinct flavor. Really any bacon will do for this recipe though. You will want to make sure that you cook the bacon to a crispy doneness. This will really make sure that you’re not getting soft bacon pieces in the actual cupcake.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:222]Source: cake adapted from: Kiss my Bundt - Chrysta Wilson

Strawberry-Maple Cupcakes

This flavor combination is divine from what I hear. I absolutely cannot stand strawberry flavor so I did not try these, but everyone who did said they were incredible. They may not be the first flavors you’d think of together but let me just tell you this definitely works.The cupcakes are light, fluffy and while they don’t actually contain any real strawberries, they use strawberry extract to achieve a full flavor. When combined with the maple cream cheese frosting it really just puts it over the top.I’ve used sliced fresh strawberries as garnish for these cupcakes. Halved strawberries, sliced strawberries or dried strawberries would all work as garnish for these though. I just really suggest using a real strawberry as garnish since there isn’t actually any in the cupcake.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:207]Source: Cake adapted from Kiss my Bundt – Chrysta Wilson

Maple Pecan Pie

Alex needed a pie for a work event and I really wanted to make something he’d enjoy. He absolutely loves pecan pie so I decided this was the perfect thing for him to take to work. I actually forgot to take a photo of this pie before Alex took it to work, so the photo on this post is from Alex!I wanted to “spice up” a traditional pecan pie recipe. Since I’ve been so obsessed with the maple and pecan combination I decided this was a perfect way to make a regular pie a little more interesting. Everyone who tried this pie absolutely loved it. This is the perfect option for your holiday feast, your guests will be highly impressed.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:139]Source: Adapted from – Food Network Magazine, November 2015

Maple Toasted Pecan Crème Pie

I think at this point I can call myself an accomplished baker. I’ve posted over 200 recipes in the last year, and that’s only what I’ve made in the last year. However, this was one of the most difficult recipes I have ever made. The first time I made this recipe it turned into a pile of sticky goo so I had to make it a second time! I have no idea why since I followed the directions to the letter, but it just didn’t work the first time around. The second time it was fine but I still don’t know what I did differently.This was a SUPER yummy pie! I’m planning to revise the directions/ingredients in the future to make it more user friendly. However, if you’re feeling adventurous you might want to try this recipe. Make sure you have extra Maple syrup on hand in case you need to make this more than once.I used Trader Joe’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup for this recipe. It provides the finished product with a light, yet super maply flavor. It pairs perfectly with toasted pecans sprinkled throughout the pie and all over the top. The finishing touch is the fresh whipped cream, it is the perfect light compliment to the rest of the pie.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:138]Source: Adapted from – Food Network Magazine, November 2015