Recipe of the Month
Standing Walrus

Bacon Brittle


Bacon,
It's not just for breakfast anymore!


This recipe for Bacon Brittle uses my Jamaican Jerk Butt Kickin' Blacken to give it a little kick. The bacon is as much a carry for the candy and flavors as it is for the taste.

When making this, I used both thick and thin bacon. The thin bacon ends up nice and crunchy, while the thick slices, are a little chewy. Both taste terrific in their own way, and I'm not sure which one is better. Oh well, I guess I just have to force myself to taste some more.

If you would like to serve these as a candy, cut the bacon into lengthwise into thinner strips, then proceed as the recipe is written. You can serve a few of them in a shot glass as a sweet, bacon snack.

This recipe is adapted from, Carol Wallack, Chef / Owner, Sola, Chicago



  • 6 Slices Thin-sliced Bacon, cut in half
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 2 Teaspoons Light Corn Syrup
  • 2 Teaspoons Butt Kickin' Blacken, Jamaican Jerk, to taste

Plated Bacon Brittle Picture


1. Cook the bacon over a medium heat until almost crisp. You can do this either in a fry pan, or the oven.

2. Place the sugar in a pot wide enough to hold the cooked bacon strips. Add the water. and corn syrup,, mix well, and be sure that no sugar or blacken are on the sides of the pot.




Cooking Caramel for Bacon Brittle Picture


3. Cook over medium / high heat, being careful not to burn, until the mixture is a light golden brown. Now you can add the blacken. Hot enough for the hard ball stage.

You can test the mixture, by dropping a drop into cold water, then touching it to see if it's hard or soft. If it's soft, you've reached the "soft ball stage" and must cook it a little longer. When you drop a drop into cold water, and it becomes hard, you're ready for the next step.








    
Plated Bacon Brittle Picture

Bacon Brittle



Butt Kickin' Blacken has mild smoky taste without any salt.


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4. Turn off the heat, and dip the bacon strips in the caramel one strip at a time. Place them on a parchment lined sheet pan, and let cool. You might have to leave the heat on real low, to keep the caramel warm. The cold bacon will cool it down pretty quick.

Cooling Bacon Brittle Picture


5. When the bacon brittle has cooled, you can chop it up, or serve as strips.

6. I usually have a bag of Pecans around, and now is a great time to get them out. Put a handful, or so, into the pot with the leftover caramel, take them out, and spread on a parchment paper lined sheet pan to cool. You'll end up with some Spicy Pecan Brittle as a bonus.

Pecan Brittle Picture


Hint:

I like using a teflon pot for this recipe. The easiest way to clean your pot after making candy in it, is to fill have way with water, and boil. This will melt and dilute the sugar, making cleanup easy.




If you like this recipe, you might also like these:


Bacon Toothpicks

Bacon Steak Fries

Candied Bacon