Maple French Toast Bacon Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup

all-purpose flour

1 cup

cake flour

3 9/10

-ounce box vanilla pudding mix (instant)

1 tsp

baking powder

1 tbsp

potato starch

3/4 tsp

cinnamon

1 tsp

freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp

salt

1 stick

unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 cup

packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup

granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp

vanilla extract

large egg whites, at room temperature

1/4 cup

maple syrup

1/2 cup

half-and-half, at room temperature

1/2 cup

chopped cooked bacon (5 strips)

8 oz

cream cheese, at room temperature

2 tbsp

unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 cups

sifted confectioners’ sugar

1/4 cup

maple syrup

2 tsp

ground cinnamon

strips bacon, cooked and chopped (optional)