Bacon Brittle

So one night, while playing Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles for DS with my husband, we shall call him Alruff until I can figure out a better internet name for him, and our best bud, Will, someone made a joke about bacon being delicious. Then one of us went a step further and hinted at a bacon candy. Then Alruff and I, who both love making candy, stopped playing our DSs and gave each other the “are you thinking what I’m thinking?” look.

Surely not, you think? What careless soul would dare to combine the culinary powers of bacon and sugar? I would. And I did.

I stayed skeptical during this experiment, thinking the first try at something so sacrilegious would just be a learning experience, and I wouldn’t have anything to show at the end of the night. However, I must say, that this went better than anyone expected. I did still learn a lot of things for the next time we do this, hopefully making a better end product.

When we first poured the candy, it seriously looked like vomit. But the smell was enticing enough to make me keep going.

And here is the end result!

There are a few more pictures over at Flickr, and I have also posted the recipe on Groups Recipes. Enjoy!

Keep in mind that the following recipe is only the prototype. I’ll be trying again this weekend with quite a few modifications.

Recipe for Bacon Brittle (Version 1.0)

Ingredients:

5 strips bacon, seperated

2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water

1 TBS bacon drippings
1 tsp baking soda
6 drops of Maple candy flavoring which is about ¼ of a dram. (Sorry, no accurate measurement on that one.)

Hardware:
Medium Heavy saucepan
Candy Thermometer
Silicone Spoon or other very heat resistant stirring apparatus
Candy molds (optional)

1. These first 2 steps should be done a couple days before cooking the candy. Take 2 strips of bacon and cut into small pieces. Cook over medium high heat, making sure to never let the bacon char or burn in any way. You may want to stir it continuously to help prevent burning.

2. Drain the bacon nummy bits well over a paper towel. Once completely dry and cool, place the nummies inside an air tight container along with the 2 cups of sugar and mix together. What we are doing at this point is infusing the sugar with bacony goodness. Don’t look at me like I’m crazy! The pros do it with vanilla beans all the time.

3. In a day or two, sift the bacon out of the sugar and reserve the sugar. Go ahead and munch on one of the bacon bits. I dare you. FYI, they’re delicious. But discard them after that, we’re making more bacon for the candy.

4. Take the remaining 3 slices of bacon and repeat step one. In this batch though, you want to mince the bacon, pretty much. Teeny weeny bits make better candy. Drain these bits well over a paper towel over a bowl. You will want to save the drippings, about a tablespoon.

5. Combine the Sugar, corn syrup, and water in a medium saucepan and cook on medium heat. Insert the candy thermometer and wait.

6. When the concoction hits 234 degrees, add the bacon bits, stirring constantly.

7. Cook until you hit 305 degrees, and quickly add the bacon drippings, maple flavoring, and baking soda.

8. Pour into candy molds or onto a cookie sheet. Once cooled, break apart and enjoy!

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