Bacon Makes Everything Better...............Now I Believe it!

 

 

 

I stumbled upon a recipe for fudge with bacon and immediately KNEW I had to make it.  I mean it has BACON, CHOCOLATE, and they could be eaten at the same time!  This is so delicious, even my preschooler asks for more. 

I tweaked this recipe just a bit.  Plus, I'm stubborn and don't own a candy thermometer so by default I had to guess how long the cooking time should be, but it worked.  It can for you, too.

 

MAPLE BACON FUDGE

 

You'll need:

 

1/2 pound of good smoked bacon

1 tbsp real maple syrup

2 1 oz squares of unsweetened chocolate (I like Baker's brand)

3/4 cup milk

2 cups of white sugar

3 tbsp butter, sliced

2 tbsp vanilla extract

 

Directions:

1. Cook bacon until crisp, crumble into a small bowl, add the maple syrup, and toss to glaze the bacon.  Set aside.
2. Stir milk and chocolate in a large saucepan over low heat until chocolate melts and mixture is thoroughly combined, 2 to 3 minutes; stir in sugar all at once. Whisk mixture, trying to clean the sides of pan as much as possible.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer inserted into the middle of the fudge reads 236 to 238 degrees F (110 to 115 degrees C), or candy forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. *This process could take 30-40 minutes.  Remove from heat as soon as candy hits the correct temperature and stir in glazed bacon, reserving 1/8 cup for the top (optional).
4. Place butter squares onto fudge mixture and pour vanilla extract over the top. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
5. Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil and coat with butter or vegetable oil spray. When fudge has cooled for 10 minutes, stir in the butter and vanilla extract thoroughly & pour into the prepared pan.  Sprinkle the reserved bacon on top and gently press it into the fudge.
6. Refrigerate for 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Cut into small bite-sized pieces to serve.

You won't believe how good this is. 

If you're a fan of salty & sweet food combinations, do not hesitate and make this immediately.  It might become your newest favorite, and this would make a fantastic addition to Christmas trays.  It's not too early to think about it!

Enjoy~