Mocha Bacon Cupcakes

It's true, bacon makes everything better! These cupcakes are fab!

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• Caramelized Bacon

• 3  slices bacon (don't use thick cut)
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar

• Cupcakes

• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 3⁄8 cup cocoa powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1⁄4 cup  vegetable oil
• 1  cup  evaporated cane juice (can substitute white sugar)
• 1  egg
• 1⁄2 cup coffee, cold and very strong
• 1⁄2 cup buttermilk
• 3  slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

Directions

1. To make the Caramelized Bacon:
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. Line a baking sheet with nonstick foil, or regular foil and spray with a non-stick cooking spray.
4. Put brown sugar into a large flat dish.
5. Press each side of each bacon strip into the sugar and lay it on the foiled baking sheet.
6. Bake until each strip is brown, crispy and glazed, then turn them over once.
7. Watch carefully - the sugar coating will burn quickly.
8. Remove from oven when both sides are done.
9. To make the Cupcakes:
10. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
11. Grease your cupcake tins or line with papers.
12. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
13. Set aside.
14. In a large bowl combine the oil and sugar. Mix until smooth.
15. Add the egg and mix until well blended.
16. Mix the buttermilk and coffee together in a small container.
17. Alternate mixing the coffee mix and the flour mix into the oil/sugar mix until all are blended together and the batter is smooth.
18. Stir in the crumbled bacon, mix well.
19. Spoon into cupcake tins, do not fill tin more than 1/2 full.
20. Bake until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched - about 20 to 25 minutes.
21. Place pan on a wire rack to cool.
22. Ice with your favorite chocolate icing and garnish with pieces of caramelized bacon.