I know what everyone is thinking – bacon? And this is a skinny recipe?

Hear me out please! I want everyone to enjoy food – and that includes a little taste of bacon. Now remember, this does not give us an excuse to have full plates of bacon!

I stumbled upon the original version of these recipe on AllRecipes and made some very simple modifications (including reducing the bacon from 12 slices to 2) – but don’t worry, we did not sacrifice the amazing flavor of these cupcakes!

Here are some examples of the modifications:

• 2 cups of sugar – we reduced to 1 cup + 1 mashed banana
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil – we exchanged to 1/4 cup applesauce + 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cups of flour – we exchanged with 1 cup of almond flour + 1 cup of regular flour
• No frosting – we just drizzled dark chocolate

Here is our Skinny Dark Chocolate Bacon Cupcakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup almond flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 mashed banana
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup cold coffee
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup applesauce
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
Dark chocolate (for melting)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Line muffin pan with muffin tins. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Combine flour, almond flour, cocoa powder, sugar, mashed banana, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, vanilla extract, coffee, buttermilk, applesauce, canola oil in a bowl.
5. Pour liquid mixture into flour mixture. Combine. Mix with hand mixer for 1 minute.
6. Spoon batter into muffin tins.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool in a wire rack.
8. Melt dark chocolate in microwave for 30-60 seconds.
9. Drizzle over cupcakes. Sprinkle bacon on cupcakes.

Yield: 24 muffins