Ultimate Maple Bacon Bourbon Cream Sandwich Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• 1. For the Maple-Bourbon Bacon Shortbread Cookies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• 2. In a large pan on medium heat, render bacon pieces until crispy. Remove bacon to drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon bacon fat for later use. Set aside 25 bacon pieces for garnish, if desired.
• 3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream 1 cup softened butter with brown sugar until well combined.
• 4. Add 1 tablespoon of the bourbon and 1/2 teaspoon of the maple extract, mixing well.
• 5. Add flour and remaining bacon pieces. Mix on low until stiff dough forms.
• 6. Sprinkle clean work surface lightly with flour or powdered sugar to reduce sticking. Roll out dough to 1/8 inch, cut into 50 squares with a sharp knife or cookie cutters.
• 7. Place onto parchment-lined sheets and bake for 14-18 minutes or until set and slightly golden at edges. Let cool completely.
• 8. For the Maple Bourbon Buttercream Filling: In a separate bowl with an electric mixer, beat remaining 1/2 cup butter with 1 cup of the powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon maple extract, and remaining tablespoon bourbon until fluffy and light.
• 9. Place into a disposable piping bag or ziptop bag. Snip point of the bag with scissors, and pipe onto bottom of cooled cookie. Top with the second cookie, pressing lightly to form a sandwich.
• 10. FOR MAPLE-BACON DRIZZLE: In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar, maple syrup, reserved bacon fat (heat gently if needed to liquefy), and thin with milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until drizzling consistency is achieved.
• 11. Place in a ziptop bag, snip the corner, and drizzle on top of sandwich cookies.
• 12. Top each cookie with a reserved piece of bacon, if desired. Let icing set until dry.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place paper liners in a 12-cup muffin tin. Prepare the cupcakes: Combine the flours, pudding mix, baking powder, potato starch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl with a whisk.
• In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugars with a mixer on low speed until combined, 6 to 8 minutes. Gradually mix in the vanilla and egg whites. Scrape down the sides of the bowl; continue mixing until light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the maple syrup and half-and-half, mixing after each addition and ending with flour. Mix until the ingredients are just combined; do not overmix. Fold in the bacon.
• Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about three-quarters of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, prepare the glaze: Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon; beat until combined. Spread on the cooled cupcakes; top with chopped bacon, if desired.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fill 48 mini muffin cups with paper liners.
• Beat sugar and butter together in a large bowl using an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract.
• Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add to the sugar mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with buttermilk. Mix well after each addition. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full of batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 21 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting, at least 20 minutes.
• Beat butter and shortening together until fluffy to start the frosting. Beat in maple syrup and salt. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Frost the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle bacon crumbles and raw sugar on top.