Original Praline Bacon Food

PRALINE BACON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line a half sheet pan with aluminum foil. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on a cooling rack, and set it in the prepared sheet pan. Bake until the bacon browns and the fat is rendered and bubbly. About 30 to 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the brown sugar and pecans in a small food processor. Pulse about 15 times or until the pecans are finely chopped.
• Remove the bacon from the oven, sprinkle with the brown sugar mixture, and pat down to adhere. Return to the oven a bake until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes.
• Cool on the rack for 10 minutes before serving.

MAPLE PRALINE BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (135 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels.
• Spread the pecans onto an unlined baking sheet, and toast 7 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown and aromatic. Watch the nuts carefully as they bake, because they burn quickly. Set aside to cool.
• Stir the maple syrup, butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the hot candy resembles foamy caramel and a candy thermometer reads 270 degrees F (130 degrees C) (soft crack stage). Quickly stir in the pecans.
• Toss the bacon in the candy mixture to coat each strip, and remove with tongs to cool and harden on the prepared baking sheet. Last but not least... eat up!

NEW ORLEANS BACON PRALINES

Steps:

• Special equipment: candy thermometer
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 1 rimmed sheet pan with heavy foil and another with parchment paper.
• Place a baking rack over the foil-lined sheet pan and arrange the bacon slices across the rack next to each other, but not overlapping. Bake until crispy, 15 to 18 minutes. When cool enough to handle, finely chop and set aside.
• Reduce the oven temp to 350 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan over moderate heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons brown sugar, about 1 minute. Add the pecans and combine until the pecans are coated. Pour out onto another unlined sheet pan and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• Place the remaining 2 cups brown sugar into a 3-quart heavy saucepan, being careful to not get sugar on the sides of the pan. Add the cream, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and salt and cook over very low heat (do not let simmer), stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until the sugar is dissolved, 10 to 15 minutes. Wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. Clamp on a candy thermometer to the saucepan and boil the syrup over moderately-high heat until it registers 236 degrees F.
• Remove the pan from the heat, leaving the thermometer in place, and let cool until the syrup registers 220 degrees F, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the bacon and pecans. Working quickly, drop 1 tablespoon of pralines onto the prepared parchment-lined sheet pan. If the mixture starts to harden, place back on the stove over moderately-low heat and let it melt. Let the pralines sit until they harden, about 45 minutes.

PECAN PRALINE BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425F degrees. Line a large broiling pan and rack with foil, for easy cleanup.
• Arrange the bacon slices in one layer on the rack of a large broiling pan. Bake in the center rack of a 425 degree oven for 10 minutes, or until they just begin to turn golden.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together the sugar and chili powder. Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the bacon with the sugar mixture and pecans. Return the pan to the oven and cook for about 5 minutes, until crisp and browned.
• Transfer the bacon, praline-side up, to paper towels to drain.

PRALINE BACON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with foil. Place wire rack on foil.
• Arrange bacon in single layer on rack. Bake 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir together brown sugar and pecans.
• Turn bacon over; sprinkle with brown sugar mixture. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until golden brown. Remove from rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.