Bacon Chipotle Salted Caramel Crack
Let me just apologize for this recipe right off the bat.
Bacon crack is all over the internet and anything has the two words “bacon” and “crack” has to be really good right? I’m assuming, that is, that the word “crack” has to do with being addictive.
And merciful heavens is it EVER!
Think salty cracker crust, a caramel that bakes up from butter, brown sugar and maple syrup and just a sprinkle of chipotle powder to make things interesting.
And it’s super easy to make. What more can you ask for?
How about an entire platter for yourself on your Body For Life cheat day? YES!
Stick with me (literally, it’s sticky) through the process that follows!
Pre-heat your oven to 400º.
My preferred method of making bacon is in the oven, but you can opt to cut your pound of bacon crosswise in 1/2 inch pieces and fry it up in a skillet if you’d rather.
Here is how I do it -Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and layer out in a single layer your bacon slices. Bake for 15 minutes then check it. You want it lightly browned and almost done, not dark because it will cook again on the crackers.
While that’s baking, let’s make the rest of the recipe!
Line another baking sheet (11 x 16) with parchment paper (best method) or tin foil and lightly spray it with baking spray.
Take one sleeve of saltine crackers plus ten more crackers and line the sheet with them. Keep the edges touching to make a solid sheet of saltine crackers.
In a small saucepan, add a stick of butter plus three-fourths cup each of brown sugar and maple syrup (i used pure maple syrup). Also, if you want a little sweet and hot kick to your bacon crack, add 1/4 teaspoon of chipotle powder.
Heat this over medium-high heat until the butter melts and it begins to bubble, then adjust your heat to a low simmer and let it go for three minutes. It should thicken up.
Drizzle this over your crackers. Be careful because it’s REALLY HOT!
Take a spoon or rubber spatula and try to evenly spread this around onto all crackers.
After you’ve removed your bacon and let it cool, crumble it up and sprinkle it evenly over top of the caramel topped crackers.
Take your hand and kind of smooth the bacon out over the crackers.
And please lick your fingers off afterwards…it’s like the best taste test ever!
Then pop your crack into the oven and bake it for seven minutes.
Remove it and let it cool (about thirty minutes).
Optional – I was really going for the sweet salty play of salted caramel here, so I sprinkled about a teaspoon of sea salt over the entire thing.
Then I kind of lifted one end up with a spatula to get a hold of it.
And then get your hands in there and break it apart onto a platter. It might be a little gooey still but that’s pure bliss, trust me!
Bacon lovers unite! Check out these amazing other recipes created by food bloggers participating in Food Network’s Comfort Food Feast!
The Lemon Bowl: Roasted Green Beans with Bacon
Creative Culinary: Bacon, Potato and Leek Soup with Roasted Garlic
TasteBook: Smokey Caramelized Onion, Coffee & Bacon Jam
Healthy Eats: 5 Better Ways to Put Bacon on Everything
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Oven Baked Bacon (and a Bacon Recipe Roundup)
Taste with the Eyes: Hawaiian Wedding Shower, Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Appetizer
The Mom 100: The Ultimate BLT Sandwich
Dishin & Dishes: Bacon Chipotle Caramel Crack
FN Dish: 6 Ways to Make Over-