Fearless Chocolate Maple Bacon Cupcakes ♥

When I bake, I try to create a story.
The more out of my comfort zone the better.
I just dive right in, and somehow my inspiration turns into an edible storybook. ♥

The Purple Chocolate Maple Bacon Pancake Cupcake

Who says Maple Buttercream Frosting has to be brown?

Inspired by:

Willy Wonka.

Remember the 3 course meal gum he created?

This cupcake is like that.

It's an entire breakfast.......in a cupcake.

The frosting au natural in this photo, which is wonderful too.

The main course: The chocolate cupcake.

Instead of baking the pieces of candied bacon inside of the cupcake batter, I fill the middle of the cupcake with tiny little pieces of candied bacon immediately after I am done baking the chocolate cupcake. (While it's still warm).

The entree: Swirls of Maple Buttercream Frosting. ♥

And for dessert.......

a piece of chocolate covered candied bacon.

Some are intimidated by bacon on a cupcake.

Please don't be!

This is why I call these cupcakes the Fearless Chocolate Maple Bacon Cupcakes. ♥  It's one of those things you have to try at least once in your life.  And if you do try a chocolate maple bacon cupcake, you'll want another one.  I know I did.

Recipe for the Purple Maple Buttercream Frosting:

(Adapted to an Amanda Cupcake version from an inspiration of mine, Brown Eyed Baker)

You will need:

8 oz Unsalted Butter

3 T Maple Syrup

1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

2-3 Cups of Powdered Sugar (depending on the desired consistency of the frosting.)

Americolor Gel Color:  Regal Purple.

This is the French Fine Cut Star tip I used to decorate with.

It's a #869 and you can buy through Ateco.

1.  Using the whisk attachment on your mixer, cream the butter.

2.  Next, add the Maple Syrup and Vanilla Extract.

3.  Gradually add the powdered sugar to your frosting until you reach a fluffy frosting consistency. You can add more powdered sugar if you want more defined ridges and swirls in your frosting when you decorate.

4.  Now add a few drops of the Regal Purple Americolor Gel Color to the frosting. You have purple maple buttercream.  Inspired by Willy Wonka. ♥

Garnish with candied bacon at your desire. Don't be afraid to dip your bacon in chocolate too for a completely over the top cupcake. ♥ Recipe here for candied bacon!

More Than An Average Peep Cupcake♥

I think I am going to have to hostess a Peeps Cupcake Hunt for all the children in the neighborhood ---- Instead of an Easter Egg Hunt.

I dreamt up these Peeps cupcakes that look like they are all going to march together in the nearest Easter parade. 

..or maybe they are going to march right into your Easter basket to surprise you on Easter Sunday!? ♥

Yes, they are adorable-but they were made to be eaten.

Sixlet Pearls that look like bubbles.

Confetti.

Marshmallow Fluff based frosting.

Glittery Tiffany Blue Candy Melts dripping off the cupcake.

I went so Peep crazy, I started topping my cupcakes with other marshmallow delights.

Like making flowers out of Marshmallows.

And Frosting out of Marshmallow Fluff.

Perhaps the best part of finding the cupcake is eating it.....and then discovering another surprise?!! Like this Cadbury egg I baked inside of a cupcake...

I wasn't even sure if it was going to work. It was another late night cupcake experiment.  This is what my Cadbury egg looked like inside of a cupcake liner before pouring more chocolate batter on top of it and baking at 350.

♥

I really do try to make the world a better place through my baking.

A cadbury egg, a marshmallow peep, and a cupcake. ♥ Does this make your world a better place, if even for a yummy moment?

To make the peeps look like they are swimming in the frosting, all you have to do is (oh my, this sounds sad).. cut the peep head and tail off of the marshmallow body.  Then use the sticky chocolate ganache as your glue to hold the head and tail on.

Peeps are much happier swimming in cupcake swirls & sprinkles.

30th Birthday Cupcake Kaleidoscope ♥ Think Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Since I have been selling on Etsy, the demand for the shipping of my cupcake kaleidoscopes has increased!
And I am excited about that. There is something very pretty about cupcakes in a jar.

Sort of like a firely in the midnight breeze, captured in a jar by someone sweet.
That kind of pretty.

As of June 15th it is Nicole's birthday.
She loves: Blue, Chocolate, and Coconut.
Right away I thought of a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme.
And it could very well be breakfast if she chooses!

Sparklers!
It is too bad that I couldn't send them in the mail with the kaleidoscope.   It is illegal.  But I did enclose a wax candle and a blue cocktail umbrella!

Edible "30."

You can even see it from the outside of the jar! ♥

I always add a sweet ribbon and a wooden spoon.

Gorgeous surprises should never be underestimated. Especially on birthdays.  This is edible disco dust mixed with chocolate ganache.

What is better than a heart with your name on it?

Inspiration:

"Faux"stess Cupcakes

I made these pretty shiny little glorious cupcakes in honor of a classic favorite: "Hostess" Cupcakes.

But since they aren't what you buy in a little box in the grocery aisle..
let's call them "Fauxtess" (pronounced Foe-stess, as in hmm umm.. my Amanda Cupcake version of hostess cupcakes?)

I am always such a fan of shiny beautiful chocolate ganache glaze.
And the pretty loopy frosting curls. ♥ it.

I added my classic Amanda Cupcake edible sparkles to some of them ♥
You can't buy these in the grocery store!

Sparkly dreamy filling.

Shared the flavor with my hair stylist and his friends at the Jacques Dessange salon.
A few of them said this was the best cupcake they have ever eaten. Yay!

♥

Chocolate Peanut Butter *fly* Cupcakes!

More for Nica's party!
I made these yummy chocolate Peanut Butter *fly* cupcakes.
Peanut Butter frosting made with au natural peanut butter and cream cheese.
Chocolate Chocolate cuppycakes.

To snaz them up, make them more springy..
I added little chocolate butterfly wings to a reeses peanut butter cup body.
And of course...added the Amanda Cupcake *sparkle*.
I delivered them to Anna & Nica in handmade parchment paper liners ♥