Maple Bacon Butter Food

MAPLE BACON SNACK MIX

Steps:

• Line 2 sheet pans with waxed paper, then set aside.
• Add the popcorn, bacon, pretzels and nuts to a large bowl. Mix and set aside.
• Add the sugar, butter, maple syrup, corn syrup and salt to a large, heavy-bottomed pot fitted with a candy thermometer and place over a medium-low heat. When the butter has melted, stir together, then turn up the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the candy thermometer reads "hard-crack stage" (300 degrees F), 4 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the maple extract. Carefully pour over the snack mix and toss using two wooden spoons. Transfer to the prepared sheet pans and spread out to allow it to cool, about 10 minutes. Break into clusters and transfer to a large serving bowl.

BACON-BOURBON BUTTER

Steps:

• Cook bacon in small skillet over med heat, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, about 6 minutes.
• Transfer bacon to aper towels to drain grease, reserve 1tsp of the bacon drippings from pan.
• Put reserved bacon and drippings in small bowl, along with butter, bourbon, maple wyrup, and sugar.
• Season with salt.
• Using a fork, vigorously whisk until well combined.
• Transfer butter mixture to a sheet of parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap, placing on edge closest to you.
• Fold paper over and roll into a cylinder, twisting the ends; wrap airtight in foil.
• Chill until solid. Butter will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks or frozen up to 3 months.

MAPLE BACON SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Maple Bacon1. In a frying pan over medium heat, cook 8 pieces of bacon until medium-well done (not crispy) and drain on paper towels.2. Chop bacon finely and add back to frying pan over medium heat. Continue to cook and stir the bacon until crispy.3. Turn the heat to low and add slowly 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup. Stir constantly and continue cooking another 5 to 10 minutes until nice and crispy.4. Transfer onto paper towel to cool.Shortbread Base 1. Preheat oven to 325F2. In a mixer, cream together butter, icing sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.3. On low speed gradually add the flour until blended thoroughly.4. Knead cooled maple bacon into cookie dough.5. Scoop the desired size on parchment lined cookie sheets, flatten slightly.6. Bake at 325 F until lightly browned on the edges, 12-15 minutes depending on how large and thick the cookies are.

MAPLE BACON BISCUITS

Steps:

• In a medium frying pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until cooked but not crispy, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate or pan, to remove excess fat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut in the diced butter, until it resembles small peas. Stir in the bacon, then one-fourth cup plus 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and the buttermilk until the dough just comes together (it will still be clumpy). Be careful not to overwork the dough.
• On a lightly floured surface, gently press or roll the dough to 1-inch thickness. Cut the biscuits using a 2-inch round cutter; you should have 24 biscuits. Place 12 biscuits on each of two parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced 2 inches apart. Freeze the trays just until the biscuits are chilled, about 10 minutes. (Here is where I removed 6 biscuits to bake from the freezer and allow the rest to hard freeze. Later, I pack them away for freezing to pull out later.).
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. While the biscuits are chilling, prepare the egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, egg and cream. Brush the chilled biscuits with egg wash and top each with a pinch of fleur de sel.
• Bake the biscuits until they just begin to brown, about 25 minutes (you should easily be able to pick the biscuits up off the tray). Remove the tray from the oven. Quickly drizzle 1 teaspoon of the remaining maple syrup over each biscuit, then place the tray back in the oven for 3 minutes more.
• BAKE FROM FROZEN: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place desired number of frozen biscuits on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake for 20-26 minutes to desired browning is achieved.

MAPLE AND BACON CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Put 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon of bacon drippings in a heavy 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
• Heat the oven to 425 F. Place the skillet in the oven.
• In a mixing bowl combine the crumbled bacon, cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, and soda.
• In another bowl, whisk the remaining 1/4 cup of oil with the buttermilk, 1/4 cup of maple syrup, and 2 large eggs.
• With potholders or oven mitt, carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and place it on a metal rack.
• Combine the dry ingredients and wet ingredients, stirring just until blended.
• Pour the batter into the hot skillet and return to the oven.
• Meanwhile, heat (microwave or stovetop) the 2 tablespoons of maple syrup with the butter until the butter is melted and the mixture is hot and bubbly.
• Bake the cornbread for 15 minutes, remove to the rack, and quickly brush with the maple and butter mixture.
• Return the cornbread to the oven for 5 to 7 minutes longer.
• Let the cornbread cool and then cut into wedges.

MAPLE BACON BUTTER

Steps:

• 1. Crumble or chop crisp bacon.
• 2. In a medium bowl, add the butter, maple syrup, crumbled bacon, and sea salt. Mix with a spoon.
• 3. On a piece of parchment paper, form the butter into a log shape.
• 4. Roll up the parchment paper to help shape the log.
• 5. Cut off the excess parchment paper and place butter in a resealable bag.
• 6. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.