I don’t usually post on Fridays. It feels quite weird. But it’s Halloween and that calls for chocolate! And bacon! And dulce de leche!
Plus, I skipped my usual football food post yesterday. Mostly because the queso fundido I made for the post turned out very different from how I expected it to.
The chorizo I bought… well, it kind of melted when I cooked it. I don’t know how else to explain it. You know how normally chorizo has the same texture as sausage or ground beef when you cook it? Like you break it up into chunks?
Nope, not this chorizo. It was so… melty… that some of it went straight through my colander when I tried to drain the fat.
What?!
We ate it anyway. Obviously. Because queso dip with weird chorizo is still pretty awesome.
This is what I get for going grocery shopping at Target because I wanted to look at their Christmas decorations even though I know Target never has the brands of “weird” food that I like.
And speaking of foods that Target didn’t have: dulce de leche!
But if you have the same problem and can’t find dulce de leche, you can do what I did to make these Chocolate-Bacon Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Frosting.
Take a can of sweetened condensed milk, put it in your slow cooker, cover it completely with water, and let it cook on low for 8 hours. You’ll have perfect dulce de leche when it’s done!
If you’ve never made anything with chocolate and bacon together, you absolutely must. It just works so deliciously. And the dulce de leche cream cheese frosting makes it even more magical. If you’re more of a cookie person, I’ve got a candied bacon chocolate chip cookie recipe that is a favorite among all my friends!
Make sure you subscribe to my email list to get all my new recipes delivered right to your inbox!
You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest for even more!
Chocolate-Bacon Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Frosting
adapted from Food Network Magazine
Ingredients
Ingredients
- For the candied bacon:
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 6 slices bacon, cut in half
For the cupcakes:
- 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ¼ cup brewed espresso or coffee
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the frosting:
- 1 cup jarred dulce de leche
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- sea salt, for topping
Instructions
Make the candied bacon:
- Preheat the oven to 350F and set a rack on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Toss the bacon in the sugar mixture until coated, then arrange on the rack in a single layer. Bake until dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool, then transfer to a plate and pat dry with paper towels. Chop 3 pieces of bacon; set aside.
Make the cupcakes:
- Combine the vegetable oil, espresso, brown sugar, cocoa powder and chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave until hot, about 2 minutes. Whisk until smooth, then set aside to cool, about 15 minutes.
- Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda and fine salt in a medium bowl. Add the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla to the cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth. Add the flour mixture and continue whisking until combined.
- Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Divide the batter among the cups, then sprinkle with the chopped bacon. Bake until the cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then remove to a rack to cool completely.
Make the frosting:
- Beat the dulce de leche, cream cheese and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until combined. Top the cupcakes with the frosting. Chop the remaining 3 slices of bacon and place on top of the frosting.. Sprinkle sea salt over the frosting.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 411Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 410mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 2gSugar: 35gProtein: 9g
Paula says
I’m glad you posted this Friday! Looks and sounds yummy !
Amanda says
Everything about this cupcake sounds amazing and perfect. Fabulous!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
What a combo! This looks amazing. I probably couldn’t stop after just one. Mmm…
Pinned.
Enjoy the weekend.
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
These are quite the cupcakes!!! What a perfect combo and great for a sugary holiday like today :) SO weird about the chorizo, glad the dip still worked out afterall though! Love that slow cooker tip with sweetened condensed milk, I have got to try it!! Have an awesome weekend Amanda!
Judy R says
Sounds good, but what do you do with the other 3 slices of bacon? Do you sprinkle it on top of the batter? Is that what you meant.. “5. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Divide the batter among the cups, then sprinkle with ?????. Bake until the cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes.”
amanda says
Yep, sprinkle on top! I don’t know why I skip words like that sometimes. Especially important ones! I guess I just get ahead of myself. Thanks for letting me know! :)
heather @french press says
nothing against these cupcakes, they look amazing, but now I’m craving that queso dip
Karishma says
That’s funny, my friends and I were LITERALLY just talking about putting candied bacon on cupcakes and how good that would be. Plus you have dulce de leche frosting? I think if I made these they would get eaten within the first 10 minutes!
Christina @ Bake with Christina says
Holy crap bacon!! I LOVE bacon on sweet desserts! And the combination of chocolate, bacon, and dulce de leche sounds awesome!! Pinned!
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
I want to come trick-or-treating to your door…I wondered what you were going to do with that candied bacon that you posted on Instagram. Yum! Happy Halloween!
Jennifer | Bake or Break says
I can’t get over these! I really must make a batch!
Nutmeg Nanny says
These cupcakes look kick ass! Love the addition of crispy bacon :)
Jocelyn @Inside BruCrew Life says
I am seriously DYING over that frosting!!! I never realized that Target didn’t have the dulce de leche…good to know for future shopping trips though! Now I really feel the need to bake cupcakes soon!!! Pinned :-)
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee says
Well, I’m bummed for you about the chorizo but OMG these cupcakes sound and look amazing. I have to make these!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
What a yummy sweet and salty combo!