Bacon Caramel Food

CARAMELIZED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a shallow bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Dip bacon slices in the brown sugar mixture to coat, and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Bake 8 minutes in the preheated oven, turning once, until dark golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

BACON CARAMEL

Steps:

• Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat to make simple syrup. Bring to a boil and cook until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Combine simple syrup, bacon fat, molasses, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring frequently, until a thick syrup forms, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour syrup into a freezer-safe container.
• Freeze until syrup sets, 1 to 2 hours. Slice into individual caramels and wrap in waxed paper.

BACON CARAMEL SCUFFINS WITH CARAMEL CLOTTED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 24-cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
• Arrange the bacon in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until very crisp and brown, turning once, 18 to 20 minutes. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate, then chop very finely.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Combine the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until well mixed. Whisk in the half-and-half, and then add the flour mixture; beat until just incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Stir in the chopped bacon.
• Distribute the batter evenly among the muffin cups, smoothing the surface with moistened fingers. With your finger or a small measuring spoon, make small divots in the center of the batter and spoon 1/4 teaspoon of the caramel sauce into each divot.
• Bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the scuffins comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool completely on a rack.
• While the scuffins bake, gently swirl together the clotted cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons caramel sauce.
• Serve the scuffins with the caramel clotted cream.

BACON CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
• Place popped popcorn in a very large bowl. Prepare 2 sheet pans with nonstick spray and line with aluminum foil.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, par-cook the bacon and render the bacon fat. Once the bacon has cooked, strain the bacon fat from the bacon pieces and reserve the fat. Transfer the cooked bacon pieces to paper towels and continue to drain the excess fat. Then add to popcorn.
• In the saucepan already used, add the butter and bacon fat (add more bacon fat as needed). Heat until the butter has fully melted.
• Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil and stir constantly. Continue to boil without stirring for 4 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
• Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat evenly.
• Divide the mixture evenly between sheet pans and bake, stirring every 15 minutes for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces.
• Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

BACON CARAMELS

Steps:

• Reserve 1/2 cup of the heavy cream. Combine all the other ingredients in a medium sauce pan. Stir to combine. Set on medium high heat. Stir occasionally and cook until 240*. The candy is now at firm-ball stage. Remove from the stove and carefully stir in the remaining 1/2 cup cream. Place back on the heat and continue to cook to 245*. Immediately remove from heat and stir in a portion of the crispy bacon. Pour the caramel into a buttered dish (the size depends on how thick you want your caramels. 8×8 = thick caramels 9×13 = thin caramels. You can also use a cookie sheet). Scatter the remaining bacon on top. Let set for at least 3 hours before cutting.

BACON BOURBON CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 250º.
• Melt 1 cup of butter over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar, corn syrup and sea salt and then stir until boiling at the edges. Lower the heat slightly and let boil until the caramel is 250º. Remove from heat and add the baking soda and bourbon. Once fully incorporated, stir in the bacon.
• Divide the popcorn into two very lightly greased roasting pans and coat with the caramel. Mix well and then put the popcorn into the preheated oven for about 45 minutes to an hour, mixing every 10-15 minutes so the kernels of popped corn is coated in bourbon bacon coating.
• Once done, pour onto either parchment paper or wax paper to cool and break into pieces.
• Refrigerate.