Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. In the bowl of a mixer, cream together butter, shortening and 2 tablespoons of reserved bacon grease. Add sugars and maple syrup and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks one at at time mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla.

Step 2

Combine flour, salt and baking soda and cream of tartar. Slowly mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix just until combined.

Step 3

Scoop or roll a tablespoon of dough and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden. Remove cookies from oven and allow them to cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet; remove to a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

Step 4

To make the frosting, cream together the butter and the shortening. Slowly beat in powdered sugar one cup at a time. Stir in maple syrup and reserved bacon grease if using. Add heavy cream as needed to achieve a spreading consistency.

Step 5

Frost cookies with icing and top with crumbled bacon.