Bacon caramels
Am I too late for this bandwagon?
If bacon has left the building and ham is the new swine product of choice, then I’m totally running a little behind on the up-and-up here. It’s like I got the memo that bacon was on the out, but I tossed it into a pile of other memos that include not wearing acid wash jeans after 1986 and how Pluto isn’t a planet anymore. Bacon is so last year, the memo says. Artisanal ham is what we’re supposed to be doing now. But guys, I dunno about this. The 80s can have its acid wash, but as for bacon and Pluto, I can’t let go. Not yet.
Pluto was that odd-tastic planet that was too faraway to see or understand until a few years ago. And apparently, scientists didn’t like what they saw, so it was hastily snipped out of textbooks and disowned by the planetary family. All because it was a “dwarf” planet. Harsh.
And bacon! What has it ever done to us to make us want to drop it like a hot potato? This bacon thing, to me, is not a fling. There is still so much to explore before we throw in the towel.
Fortunately, there are others that feel the same way with both Pluto and bacon. And if any of you bacon/Pluto fans are out there in hiding, you’re not alone. But we are indeed fighting an uphill battle, one that we may ultimately lose. But on the bright side, we can still keep bacon and the former ninth planet in our hearts. Pluto may have been nixed, but there’s still time for bacon to realize its full potential. And, if the meat candy’s decline is ultimately imminent, so be it. We tried.
But let’s send bacon out with a bang, shall we?
I guess the only thing I can contribute here is a better-late-than-never bacon recipe, with the breakfast meat rolled into a chewy caramel. Salty, sweet, chewy and sticky, with a crunch. It’s bacon in it’s most familiar forms, suited for war, ready to take on the inevitable uphill battle.
BACON CARAMELS
Yield: 80 to 100 caramels
- 14 strips thick cut bacon
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay bacon strips on sheet and bake in oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until crispy. Remove bacon to paper towel-lined plate to cool. Crumble 5 to 6 strips of bacon and leave the rest in strips.
2. Line an 9×13 (or larger!) rimmed baking sheet with parchment. In a heavy-bottomed pot (I love my Le Creuset), add sugar, water and corn syrup over medium-high heat. Let mixture bubble and stir occasionally, to evaporate water. Sugar will begin to caramelize and turn a lovely shade of amber.
3. Use a thermometer to monitor caramel. When it reaches 320 degrees and is golden brown in color, slowly whisk in cream, butter and vanilla, until completely combined. When caramel reaches 243 degrees, remove from heat and pour into lined baking sheet. Cool for 15 minutes, and add bacon strips. Cool further, until caramel is pliable and easier to handle.
4. Roll caramel and bacon strips jelly-roll style once, and trim off excess. Continue to roll and trim until you’ve finished off the pan. Cut the bacon caramel logs into bite-sized pieces. Top with reserved bacon bits.
Serve on a platter, or roll in wax paper. Keep refrigerated, but let come to room temperature before eating.
P.S.: Short posts this week and next because I’m in vacation mode. I’ll be back in full swing at the end of September, when hopefully, I will have moved into a new home. Thank you always for reading!
– Cynthia Furey
September 9th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I love it. Wish I had some right now. But one question…did you really get 80-100 out of only 14 pieces of bacon?
~Michelle
September 9th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
WOW…I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven…I’ll have to make these for Esteban….he’ll LOVE THEM!!!
September 9th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Please don’t let go of Pluto. It’s still a planet!!! Only four percent of the IAU voted on the controversial demotion, and most are not planetary scientists. Their decision was immediately opposed in a formal petition by hundreds of professional astronomers led by Dr. Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto. One reason the IAU definition makes no sense is it says dwarf planets are not planets at all! That is like saying a grizzly bear is not a bear, and it is inconsistent with the use of the term “dwarf” in astronomy, where dwarf stars are still stars, and dwarf galaxies are still galaxies. Also, the IAU definition classifies objects solely by where they are while ignoring what they are. If Earth were in Pluto’s orbit, according to the IAU definition, it would not be a planet either. A definition that takes the same object and makes it a planet in one location and not a planet in another is essentially useless. Pluto is a planet because it is spherical, meaning it is large enough to be pulled into a round shape by its own gravity–a state known as hydrostatic equilibrium and characteristic of planets, not of shapeless asteroids held together by chemical bonds. These reasons are why many astronomers, lay people, and educators are either ignoring the demotion entirely or working to get it overturned.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Mmmm what a delicious combo:) those pics make me happy!!
September 10th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Never let go of bacon! Ham’s nice and all, but bacon is BACON! These caramels look absolutely wonderful. I think I’ll make them for poker night, and we can all leave sticky fingerprints on the cards.
Also, for Pluto fans, this t-shirt is great:
http://www.snorgtees.com/itsokaypluto-p-460.html?osCsid=46fa7a537fd828a09ff229dcea30ac8b
September 10th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Always wanted to try this combo…thanks for the post!
September 11th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Michelle: I sure did! I cut them kind of small and used a larger than 9×11 pan. They’re really rich, so cutting them small is recommended. Use a sharp knife!
Mari: Let’s make them together this week!!!
Laurel: How I love your enthusiasm for Pluto! I hope it does get overturned! When I heard that it was ruled there were only 8 planets instead of 9, it was like my whole elementary school education was in the toilet. I took it totally personally.
Paula: I’m so glad to have put a smile on your face!
Paige: I never will, sister. We’ll band together against this. Thanks for the tee link!
Jada: You’re welcome!
September 11th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Bacon’s going NOWHERE! Especially after this. What!? It’s so good, it can’t be true!
September 11th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I love a maple bacon bar, so I am assuming I would love this. Bacon and caramel are two of my loves.
October 10th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
These sound so sweet, salty, smokey and YUMMY!! What a great combination of flavors. Can we serve with some vanilla bean ice cream???
October 17th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Marla: I can only imagine how awesome they would be with ice cream! If I were planning to serve them with something cold, I might slightly undercook the caramels so they’re super gooey, and so they don’t harden up too much with the coldness of the ice cream. If you make them, please let me know how it goes!
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:07 am
I don’t care what anyone says – bacon defies trend and fashion. Bacon is eternal!! I’m going into caramel-making mode in just a few weeks to prep for holiday gifts. I’ll save a batch just for this genius idea . . . !