This Delicious Maple Bourbon Cupcake Recipe Will WOW!
This maple bourbon cupcake recipe is a MUST have in your dessert recipe box. This is an easy cupcake recipe to make and the flavor will have you craving “just one more.”
This boozy cupcake dessert idea features sweet maple frosting topped with chunks of bacon and pecans. You can leave off the nuts or choose to just add the tiniest little dusting. Either way, I recommend trying this one – it’s a crowd-pleasing grown up cupcake for any occasion.
RELATED READING: These Delicious Cognac Cupcakes Make for a Good Time!
What You'll Find On This Page
Maple Bourbon Cupcake Recipe
Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I have shared hundreds of cupcake recipes because I honestly believe they are one of the universally best desserts for all ages and occasions. In our house, my family will test any flavor I hand them.
They’re the best, sure, but this post isn’t about my family, it’s about this amazing cupcake. The whiskey adds just the right amount of depth to this recipe. This is an adult cupcake recipe that has a delicious sweet and savory combination.
If you are hesitant about using the bourbon, I have a yummy maple bacon cupcake recipe here that is easy to prepare).
No Time to Make This Now? Save or Share for Later
Need to gather up some ingredients? Save this to your favorite dessert pin board or to your timeline on Facebook. Either way will make this easy to find when you’re ready to start.
As an Amazon Associate, I can earn from qualifying purchases. There could be affiliate links within this article.
RELATED READING: PUMPKIN EGGNOG CUPCAKES
Tips for Making These Maple Whiskey Bourbon Cupcakes
- Start with a prepared cake mix as I did or whip up any cupcake recipe that has substance like my "Lazy Girl's Easy Vanilla Cupcake Recipe." Do not use something like Angel Food Cake mix, for instance.
- Try not to over mix the cupcake batter. Working the flour too much could result in too much air added or extra gluten and that does not make a good texture.
- The trifecta of maple, bourbon, and and bacon are staples and combining them makes a lot of sense, even in desserts. This is a classic flavor combination that will appease all ages.
- If you're timid about the bourbon, don't worry, you're not taking a shot of the stuff. That said, I won't judge you if you do. I mean, you're making cupcakes for everyone, you can have it.
- Change up the cake mix to change up the flavor of the cake. I like vanilla cake mix, but this would totally be good with a chocolate cake mix, too.
RELATED READING: DELECTABLE TIRAMISU CUPCAKE RECIPE
How to Make Maple Whiskey Cupcakes with Bacon and Pecans
Below is the written and printable cupcake recipe. If you cannot find the particular brand of whiskey I used, try to find a substitute.
Maple Bourbon Cupcake Recipe
This savory maple bourbon cupcake recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Nuts and bacon are optional, but highly recommended. You can start with a cake mix or whip up your own favorite batch.
Ingredients
Cupcake Ingredients
- 1 box of French vanilla cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup of unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
- 1 cup of milk
- 3 tablespoons of whiskey (I used this)
- 2 teaspoons of caramel extract
Whiskey Caramel Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup of white granulated sugar
- ¼ cup of light brown sugar
- ½ cup of heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup of unsalted sweet cream butter
- ⅓ cup of whiskey (I used this one)
Vanilla Frosting Ingredients
- 3 cups of softened unsalted sweet cream butter
- 6 cups of powdered sugar
- 5-7 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 3 cups of cooked bacon, half chopped up
- Optional, 1 cup of chopped pecans
Instructions
Make the Cupcake Recipe
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and add cupcake liners to the pan.
- Mix the cake mix, butter, whiskey, milk, and caramel extract in a bowl and combine.
- Fill the cupcake liners until they're 3/4 of the way full.
- Bake for 21 minutes or so (check at 19)., remove, and let cool completely.
How to Make Whiskey Caramel Sauce
- Combine all the ingredients in a small pot and stir until the sugar is melted.
- Transfer the sauce in the squeeze bottle.
How to Make the Frosting
- Mix the butter, powdered sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla with a mixer. Scoop the mixture into a piping bag.
- Pipe the frosting onto cooled cupcakes and sprinkle on pecans and chopped bacon to taste.
- Drizzle the whiskey sauce on top of the cupcakes. Optional: put an un-chopped piece of cooked bacon in the middle of the frosting.
Notes
Tools Needed:
- Squeeze bottle. If you do not have one, transfer the whisky drizzle to a small zip top plastic bag and cut off a small corner.
- Star tip. You can use a round, however, the star tip's ridges will help catch and hold the pecans and bacon better.
- Piping bag. If you do not have one, place the star tip into the corner of a large zip top plastic bag, transfer the frosting in, snip off the corner of the plastic, and use that to frost the cupcakes.
- Small sauce pan, cupcake tin, and oven.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 634Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 126mgSodium: 590mgCarbohydrates: 58gFiber: 1gSugar: 48gProtein: 6g
All nutrition information is estimated. For accuracy, please calculate your exact brands and ingredients if accuracy is desired.
How to Store These Maple Bacon Cupcakes
If you're lucky enough to have leftovers, I store them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. Buttercream frosting is fine on the counter, but the bacon should be kept cool.
Additionally, you can create the cupcake up to the chopped pecans and store them on the counter. When ready to serve, remove the cooked bacon from the fridge and add them to the frosting.
More Cupcake Recipes You Light Like
- Blackberry Lemon Cupcake Recipe - The light and delicate flavor of these cupcakes makes them the perfect spring or summer afternoon treat.
- Easy Chocolate Mousse Cupcake Recipe - In stark contrast to the above, this decadent cupcake will command your full attention. It's absolutely rich and delicious.
- Cappuccino Cupcake Recipe - I find these to be an amazing afternoon pick me up and are ideal for grown up palettes.
Please Share or Save This Boozy Cupcake for Later
Your shares are how this site grows and I am sincerely grateful. Please save this to a yummy cupcakes pin board or share it to a recipe group on Facebook.
If you have leftovers….and that won’t happen often because EVERYTHING is better with bacon (and bourbon)….I’ve found that the bacon is better if left out on the counter uncovered (only for a day or two) so that it stays crisp. Once it’s put in the refrigerator it has a tendency to get soft…and bacon is best crispy in my world. The trick is NOT to cover it in any way to keep it crisp.