Everything is better with bacon, and because it’s such a great thing to add to, well everything, you can find bacon on cupcakes, candy apples, and creative breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. There’s always someone willing to take bacon to the next level too – Red Robin USA just added a bacon flavoured milkshake called the Beam-N-Bacon Boozy Shake to their menu. Flavoured with bacon and bacon bits, you even get a piece of candied bacon to stir it.
Even if you don’t like Canadian back bacon, there are still bacon options out there. Turkey bacon is my personal favourite, and I’ve used it in everything from Salted Caramel Bacon cupcakes for a Halloween party to an asparagus wrap that was one of the best things I’ve ever tried.
If you’re aching for bacon like the rest of the population, you have to see these creative (and crazy) ways to get your bacon fix:
Bacon Jam
Bacon jam? It sounds a bit odd, but this is the perfect spread for burgers, pancakes, and mixed with scrambled eggs.
| Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 lb applewood smoked bacon 1 Tablespoon butter 1 large onion, chopped 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tablespoons dark corn syrup 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon sweet curry powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon dash of cloves 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard 2/3 cup strong brewed coffee 1/3 cup raw apple cider vinegar 1 shot bourbon 3 Tablespoons maple syrup 2 Tablespoons Louisiana Hot Sauce salt and pepper to taste
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Directions
Cook bacon in a large frying pan for 10 minutes. Remove and put on paper towel to soak up excess grease. Reserve 2 tbsp of the bacon grease. Melt butter in the skillet and add onion and sugar. Stir and cook for 15 minutes. Add the garlic, corn syrup and spices. Cook for 5 more minutes, but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn. Add coffee, vinegar, bourbon, maple syrup, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Stir until combined. Add bacon back to skillet. Cook on low heat, uncovered for one hour, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Cool for 20 minutes. Pour into a food processor or blender and pulse until the entire mixture is chunky.
Cool and skim off the fat. Spoon into a mason jar and cover. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
Bacon Wrapped Cream Cheese Chicken
The perfect dinner on a chilly night – just pop some bacon wrapped cream cheese chicken in the oven and your entire house will smell heavenly.
| Ingredients: 3-4 chicken breasts (or more if you have a large family)
8oz tub of cream cheese 1 12-14 oz bacon (my kids love turkey bacon, so we use that) Salt/Pepper
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Directions
Take plastic wrap, place one chicken breast in the wrap. Pound the chicken breast flat with the smooth side of the mallet.
Once the chicken is flattened, take the cream cheese and spread it on the chicken.
Roll the chicken.
Take several slices of bacon and wrap it around the bacon.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Cook till chicken is no longer pink, for 20-40 minutes.
Chocolate Dipped Bacon with Sea Salt
Bacon has become so popular recently because people have discovered how delicious it is when paired with almost everything. Chocolate dipped bacon with sea salt gives you the perfect combo of salty and sweet.
| Ingredients: 10 pieces of thick cut bacon
Dark Chocolate Chips for melting Sea salt for sprinkling
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Directions
Bake bacon in oven at 350 degrees until crisp.
Melt chocolate in microwave or pot on stove until thin.
Dip bacon in chocolate
Lay dipped bacon on wax paper and sprinkle with sea salt.
Allow to set.
Salted Caramel Bacon Cupcakes
If you haven’t tried bacon on cupcakes, you are definitely missing out. Salted caramel and bacon is an amazing combo.
| Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons butter 2/3 cup milk 1 cup white sugar 2 eggs 1 egg yolk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon caramel extract or syrup Chewy caramel candy squares, cut in half Sea Salt Bacon Chocolate fudge or vanilla frosting
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Directions
Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F. Line your Bakers Secret mini muffin tin with 12 paper cupcake liners.
In a large bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt then set aside.
Heat the butter and milk in a small saucepan over low heat until the butter has melted. Beat the sugar, eggs, egg yolk, caramel extract and vanilla with a mixer in a large bowl until it thickens. Gradually beat in the flour mixture on low speed. Slowly pour in the hot milk, beating until folded into mixture. Do not over mix
Put batter into piping bag and fill each cupcake liner half full with batter. Add ½ of each caramel square to each cupcake and top with remaining batter. Bake 15 – 20 minutes until toothpick comes out of center clear. Cool 20 minutes then top with frosting, piece of crispy bacon, and a pinch of coarse sea salt.
Salty, sweet, and with just the right amount of crunch, bacon really does go with almost everything. Bake up some creative bacon recipes with Best Buy’s specialty cookware, and check out my recommendations for the perfect bacon accessories below.
 Bake up some bacon cupcakes with a cupcake pan |
 You can dip your bacon in chocolate using a chocolate fountain |
 Wrap up your bacon infused dinner and bake it in the oven in specialty cookware. |
