Glazed Apple-Maple-Bacon Cake

You can find this recipe all over the internet. I don't claim it as mine. However, that picture right there, that is mine. Yeah, I went there. I made a cake with bacon. It was delicious. And yes, it's cake. The world needs cake right now. I'm posting another cake I made for a another friend's birthday. Yes, it's also a bundt cake. You can make this in a square pan, but for large groups I find a bundt is easier for sharing. But that's just me. And now on the the bacon dessert...

Glazed Apple Bacon & Maple Cake
(Serves 8)
The Cake

• 8-10 strips of bacon, fried crispy. You can reserve two pieces to sprinkle on top, if desired).
  
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
• 2/3 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon maple extract
• 3/4 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup peeled, diced apples
• 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

The Glaze:

• 6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• A pinch of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease bundlt pan or 8-inch-square pan.
3. Cook bacon until browned and crisp. Drain to remove excess bacon grease. Set two slices aside for garnish, if desired. Finely chop the remaining bacon.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
5. In another mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar.
6. Add the eggs and maple extract to the butter and sugar and beat at medium speed until light.
7. Reduce speed to low and add the buttermilk. Beat until well-blended.
8. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients in and beat till the contents are fully mixed and consistent in consistency.
9. Stir in the apples, pecans and bacon.
10. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth out the top with a spatula.
11. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a cake tester inserted deep into the center comes out clean.
12. Transfer the cake to a rack and cool for 10 minutes.
13. Remove from pan and cool completely before icing.
14. In a small bowl, whisk confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon until smooth and clinging to the back of a spoon. Drizzle over the cake.
15. Garnish with bacon bits, if desired.