Maple Bacon Bars with Bourbon Cream Filling: Decadence Redefined! 🥓🍁

Maple Bacon Bars with Bourbon Cream Filling are not for the faint of heart! This recipe delivers ultimate salty-sweet decadence with every fluffy, creamy, crispy bite. Prepare to be obsessed with this over-the-top, yet incredibly rewarding, baking project.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Heavenly Taste – Imagine breakfast in heaven: sweet maple, salty bacon, and a subtle kick of bourbon. Pure bliss!
Unbelievable Texture – These bars boast a symphony of textures: incredibly light and fluffy doughnuts, luscious and smooth bourbon cream, a thick, shattering maple glaze, and perfectly crisp bacon bits.
Worth the Effort – While it requires dedication and time, the result is an unparalleled treat that is SO worth every minute spent.
Visually Stunning – These bars are a feast for the eyes, guaranteed to stop anyone in their tracks.
Indulgent & Unique – A truly special occasion treat that transforms a simple doughnut into an extraordinary dessert experience.

🛠 Tools You’ll Need

Stand mixer with dough hook and paddle attachment 🎛️
Large mixing bowls 🥣
Plastic wrap
Rolling pin
Sharp knife or pastry wheel
Floured baking sheets
Clean kitchen towel
Large, deep pot or Dutch oven (for frying) 🍳
Candy thermometer 🌡️
Paper towels (for draining)
Pastry bag with small plain tip
Whisk
Measuring cups & spoons 📏

🥄 Key Ingredients

Instant yeast – For light and fluffy doughnuts. 🍞
Granulated sugar – Sweetens the dough.
Ground nutmeg – Adds warmth and spice. 🌿
Fine sea salt – Balances flavors.
Baking powder – Aids in leavening.
Bread flour – Provides structure for chewy doughnuts. 🌾
Unsalted butter – Adds richness and tenderness. 🧈
Large egg yolks – Enriches the dough and adds moisture. 🥚
Vanilla extract – Enhances flavor. 🌿
Peanut oil – For frying the doughnuts.
Bourbon – The star of the cream filling, adding a sophisticated kick. 🥃

For the Maple Glaze

Powdered sugar – Forms the base of the glaze.
Pure maple syrup – For authentic maple flavor. 🍁
Light corn syrup – Adds shine and prevents crystallization.
Pure vanilla extract – Enhances flavor.
Pure maple extract – Intensifies maple flavor.
Hot water – Adjusts glaze consistency.
Crisp cooked bacon (roughly chopped) – The salty, crunchy topping. 🥓

🍪 How to Make Maple Bacon Bars with Bourbon Cream Filling

For the Doughnuts

Prepare Dough: In a stand mixer with a dough hook, combine all doughnut ingredients. Knead on medium speed for about 6 minutes until smooth and soft. 🥣
First Rise: Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled (1.5–2 hours). ⏱️
Shape Doughnuts: Punch down dough, turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into an 11x12″ rectangle. Cut into 12 rectangles (approx. 5x2″). Transfer to a floured baking sheet, spaced 1.5″ apart. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise again until doubled (about 30 minutes). 👐
Fry Doughnuts: While dough rises, heat at least 2 inches of peanut oil in a deep pot to 350°F. Carefully fry 2–3 rectangles at a time for about 1 minute per side, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Test one doughnut to ensure it’s cooked through. 🔥

For the Filling

Make Cream: In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat room temperature butter until light and fluffy (3 minutes). Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed. Add cream and bourbon, then beat on high for 3 minutes until light and well combined. Transfer to a pastry bag with a small plain tip. 🥃
Fill Doughnuts: Poke a small hole in each end of a doughnut and fill with about 1 tablespoon of cream filling per hole. Repeat for all doughnuts. 🍩

For the Glaze

Whisk Glaze: Whisk together all maple glaze ingredients until smooth. 🍁
Glaze & Top: Dip each bar into the glaze, then immediately sprinkle with chopped bacon. Allow to set for 15 minutes before serving. 🥓

💡 Tips for Success

Dedicate Time: This recipe is a project! Dedicate a day off to enjoy the process and ensure success.
Yeast Proofing: Ensure your yeast is active. If using active dry yeast instead of instant, proof it with warm water for 5 minutes until frothy before proceeding.
Oil Temperature: Maintaining the correct oil temperature (350°F) is crucial for perfectly cooked doughnuts – not greasy, not raw.
Don’t Skimp on Filling: While the recipe suggests 1 tablespoon per hole, feel free to add more if you prefer a creamier bite!

🆘 Maple Bacon Bar Troubleshooting Guide

Problem: Doughnuts are dense or tough.
- Likely Cause: Over-kneading the dough, or not enough rise time.
- Solution: Ensure you knead just until smooth and soft (about 6 minutes). Allow the dough to double in size during both rises. If your kitchen is cold, find a warm spot to help the dough rise.
Problem: Doughnuts are greasy.
- Likely Cause: Oil temperature too low.
- Solution: Ensure your oil is consistently at 350°F. If the oil is too cool, the doughnuts will absorb too much oil. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature closely.
Problem: Glaze is too thin or too thick.
- Likely Cause: Incorrect liquid-to-sugar ratio.
- Solution: If too thin, add a little more powdered sugar. If too thick, add hot water a teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Remember, the glaze will thicken as it cools.

👩‍🍳 Pro Chef Tips

Bourbon Quality: Use a bourbon you enjoy drinking, as its flavor will come through in the cream filling.
Bacon Perfection: Cook your bacon until it’s very crisp for the best texture contrast. Pat it dry thoroughly to remove excess grease.
Make Ahead Strategy: While best fresh, you can fry the doughnuts a day ahead and store them in an airtight container. Fill and glaze just before serving for optimal freshness.

☕ Perfect Pairings: What to Enjoy with Your Maple Bacon Bars

These decadent bars deserve equally delightful companions:

Strong Coffee: A rich, dark roast coffee cuts through the sweetness and complements the bacon.
Bourbon: A small glass of your favorite bourbon would enhance the filling’s flavor.
Milk: A cold glass of milk provides a classic, comforting contrast to the rich flavors.
Maple Latte: A homemade maple latte would amplify the maple notes in the glaze.

📦 How to Store

Best Fresh: These bars are best enjoyed the day they are made due to the filling and glaze.
Short-Term Storage: If you must store them, place them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day. The bacon may lose some crispness.

This comprehensive guide empowers you to create the most unforgettable Maple Bacon Bars with Bourbon Cream Filling, a true testament to sweet and savory indulgence!

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Prep Time 60 mins

Rest Time 180 mins

Total Time 4 hrs

Cooking Method: No-Bake

Cuisine: Pastries & Treats

Courses: Breakfast, Dessert

Difficulty: Intermediate

Servings: 12

Estimated Cost: 15

Best Season: All Seasons

Description

These Maple Bacon Bars with Bourbon Cream Filling are an ultimate indulgence, combining fluffy doughnuts, a luscious bourbon cream, and a sweet maple glaze topped with crispy bacon. A truly decadent treat for special occasions.

Ingredients

For the Doughnuts

3 tablespoons instant yeast
1 cup very warm (105 degree)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 cups bread flour (18 ounces)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 ounces)
3 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Peanut oil, for frying

For the Filling

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons bourbon

For the Maple Glaze

4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoon pure maple extract
1/4 cup hot water
10 slices bacon, crisp cooked and roughly chopped

Instructions

For the Doughnuts

1
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine all the dough ingredients until a cohesive dough begins to form. On medium speed, knead until smooth and soft, about 6 minutes.
2
Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
3
Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Roll the dough into an 11x12″ rectangle. Cut the dough into 12 rectangles about 5x2-inch big. Transfer the dough rectangles back to a floured baking sheet, spaced about 1 1/2-inches apart. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise again until doubled, about 30 minutes.
4
When the dough is almost done rising, heat at least 2 inches of peanut oil in a large, deep pot with a candy thermometer attached. Heat to 350°F. Carefully transfer 2 to 3 rectangles to the hot oil and fry for about 1 minute, or until golden, then flip and cook for another minute or until golden brown. Remove from the hot oil, allow to drain on paper towels. Test a doughnut to make sure it’s cooked through before repeating with the remaining dough.

For the Filling

5
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar on low speed. Add in the cream and bourbon and increase speed to high. Beat for 3 minutes, or until very well combined and light. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip.
6
Using the tip, poke a small hole in one end of a doughnuts and fill with about 1 tablespoon of the filling each. Repeat with the other end of the doughnuts.

For the Glaze

7
Whisk together the glaze ingredients. Dip the bars into the icing. Immediately sprinkle with the bacon. Allow to set for 15 minutes before serving.

Keywords: Maple Bacon Bars, Bourbon Cream Filling, sweet and salty, decadent dessert, homemade doughnuts, breakfast in heaven, special occasion dessert