There's Bacon in My Chocolate!

First someone "Put chocolate in my peanut butter!"

...or was it "Peanut butter in my chocolate?"

(If you don't get the reference, click HERE)

And now bacon get's its shot at chocolate!

Seriously, before you give up on me, hear me out.

I was a skeptic too. I do not have a love of bacon...
it is one of my "whatever" foods.
I can take it or leave it. On the other hand,

I pretty much consider chocolate to be a seasoning.

I had been hearing about this new food craze - bacon for dessert...even saw the bacon ice cream on Top Chef, but pretty much ignored it. I did order some FABULOUS Bacon-Chocolate goodies  - from Vosges Haut Chocolat for Rook No. 17's daughters b'day. You may think it is an odd choice for an 8 year old, but seriously...this girl loves her bacon!

Well, one day, as I was checking Facebook, and I noticed a status update:

"Just finished eating chocolate chip bacon cookies."

I was intrigued...I had to know more...I had to have a recipe. And as it turns out, I had a playdate scheduled for Joe and Rook's daughter that same day. It was fate! For sure!

So, I did it. I made them. All the while, mixing and thinking, "OK, this could work." and then, "Oh no...this could be bad." Well...it was G-O-O-D! A lovely combination of sweet andsalty and crunchy!...And the batter was even better than the cookie, but I am a batter girl!

This recipe was part of a NPR article written by Susan Russo called "Bacon Gets Its Just Desserts." There are also recipes for: Chocolate-Bacon-Peanut Bark, Peanut Butter-Maple Bacon Fudge, and Maple-Apple-Bacon Cake with Maple Glaze.

Chocolate Chip-Bacon-Pecan Cookies

Makes about 18 cookies

This recipe is for a thick and chewy cookie. There is also a recipe for a thin and chewy cookie. I have made both and they are both good...it is just preference!

Ingredients
5 strips of bacon (cooked...duh!)

1 cup, plus 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

1/3 cup white sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cups chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans

"Come on, doesn't that look GOOD?"

Directions
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Line baking sheet with parchment.

-Cook bacon, continuously turning, until browned, 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper  towel-lined plate to drain. Chop bacon finely.
-In a medium bowl whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together.
-In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars.
-Add egg and vanilla extract. Beat until just blended.
-Add dry ingredients; beat until just incorporated and flour is dissolved.
-Stir in chocolate chips, pecans, and bacon.
-Drop one large Tablespoon of cookie dough 2 to 3 inches apart on baking sheet.
-Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until firm and golden around the edges, and slightly soft in center. Transfer to a rack and cool for 15 minutes.
-Store on the countertop for 1-2 days or in an airtight container in the frig.
 

NOTES:

I fried my bacon really crisp (not completely on purpose) and just crumbled it.

I used toasted pecans

I used sea salt

So...are you intrigued too? Repulsed? Not sure what to think?

TELL ME...have your tried bacon for dessert...do you even want to?

Happy Frying!

Holly

PS- Oh yeah...nothing healthy about this cookie...just plain good. I'll begin Healthy Happy Hour (it will be called this until I come up with a better name...hopefully by Monday) posts on Monday with an AWESOME chili recipe.

I am also considering a salsa "Mr. Linky" throwdown soon...anyone game? I {HEART} salsa!