Bacon...in cookies...oh hell yes!

I love to bake and I love to try new stuff, so this recipe (forwarded by a buddy who has now earned my undying devotion) got me all tingly. Chocolate, bacon, brown sugar, butter...all the yumminess in the world in one handy serving size. No, they're not healthy, but sometimes you just have to say "What the hell!".

Enjoy!

Candied Bacon-Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks (Chips are fine.)
• 1 cup Candied Bacon Bits (recipe follows)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325F. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Beat the sugars and butter together until smooth. Mix in the egg, vanilla, and baking soda. Whisk together the flour and salt, then sift them into the batter. Stir in the chocolate chunks and bacon bits.
3. Using a small cookie scoop or a teaspoon, scoop the cookie dough into small balls, about 1-inch in diameter, and place them 2 inches apart on each of the baking sheets.
4. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until pale golden brown. Rotate sheets halfway through baking for even browning. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack.

Candied Bacon Bits

Ingredients:

• 8 strips bacon
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Lay the strips of bacon on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or aluminum foil, shiny side down.
3. Sprinkle half of the brown sugar evenly over each strip of bacon.
4. Bake for about 15-20 minutes. At around the 8 minute mark, flip the bacon strips over and drag them through the dark, syrupy liquid that's collected on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with the rest of the brown sugar and continue to bake until a deep mahogany color. 5. Remove from oven and cool the strips on a wire rack.
6. Once crisp and cooled, chop into little pieces, about the size of grains of rice.

NOTE: Make sure that your bacon is very crispy or your cookies will be overly chewy!

The cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

Makes about 3 dozen 2-inch cookies.