Fact: the real way to obtain your sweetheart’s love is through their stomach…with bacon! And this Maple Bacon Shortbread is a sure fire way to please.
A few weeks ago I attended a most fabulous themed pot-luck party: bacon! Everyone had to bring a dish made with bacon. We had bacon guacamole, a bacon cheddar apple pie, scotch eggs, bacon chocolate cupcakes. That was like a third of the menu. I brought a Maple Bacon Shortbread as one of two contributions.
Looking at my cookie cutter shapes I decided to go for a heart shaped one. And as soon as the cookies came out of the oven I knew this recipe was perfect for Saint-Valentine’s Day.
Our better half may not like fancy and dainty recipes. But shortbread loaded with bacon is going to be a winner. It is a super quick recipe to make and you will probably have everything already at home. Did you forget to buy a box of chocolates? Head to the kitchen now and get these out in about 30 minutes. Guys, this recipe is simple enough to make with little skill. Biggest tip: handle the dough as little as possible or the cookie gets tough.
My other tip for everyone: bake your bacon! I am really bad at crisping up bacon uniformly in a pan. It is undercooked or burnt. For pretty strips I use this no fail method: Pre-heat oven at 400F, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, bake bacon for about 15 to 20 minutes, cool while draining on a rack with paper towel underneath.
How good is this recipe? Simply amazing. I rarely make the same recipe twice but I made this one a second time the day after the pot-luck as I was craving this shortbread so bad. I found this wonderful recipe on Closet Cooking. It is really hard to categorize as savory or sweet. It is both, not a necessarily a dessert, but it can be. My 2nd batch I used half the bacon and the result was much sweeter.
Maple Bacon Shortbread for your Sweetheart
Ingredients
- 4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Fry the bacon until crisp and on paper towels. Chop up into small pieces and set aside.
- In a medium bowl beat the butter and maple syrup until smooth. Add the flour, cornstarch, salt and bacon.
- Spoon the dough or cut with a cookie cutter. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350F for 10-12 minutes, or until just lightly golden brown.
Notes
For a sweeter cookie use half the bacon.
In case you are curious about my 2nd contribution to the bacon put luck, I made a fusion Bacon Paella Arancini. I used leftover paella, added some crisp bacon and rolled small balls. Roll the balls in flour, a beaten egg and then bread crumbs. Bake in the oven for 20 min at 350F. A last minute idea which was a big hit with the crowd. Great way to use up lots of rice.
These short breads look so yum and extra irresistible with bacon inside…we know this sure is going to be a winner with any bacon lover,thanks for ever inspiring with such wonderful culinary ideas…Have A Wonderful Day! 🙂
Maple syrup, butter, and bacon? These shortbread cookies must have been so tasty!
You are a genius, my friend. I bet baking it really intensifies the bacon flavor!
Bacon rocks! I love the sound of this party. Your cookies are just so tempting..I am going into the kitchen now.
Sweet and salty cookies! Love these kind of treats!!!
Oh Evelyne, I adore the sound and the look of these shortbread cookies…maple and bacon…what an awesome combination…and yes, love the heart shape cookies…
Enjoy your week 🙂
Did you just say bacon… be still my heart lol. I so love this shortbread.
You can’t go wrong with bacon, can you? Perfect cookies!
A bacon themed pot luck?! That sounds like SO much fun! I bet these cookies were a hit – they look delicious! My husband just made some chocolate ship cookies with bacon fat instead of butter (but no actual bacon in them) and they are pretty good!
They were Amy and yours sounds great to. I always drain of the bacon fat when I cook bacon and use it later for cooking or baking.
This sounds crazy delicious! I know my daughter would love this as she loves bacon in almost anything. Got to give this one a try.
Thank you Asmita, let me know how they turn out 🙂
What a great idea adding bacon to shortbread and maple! This would definitely win my heart 😀
Thank you Lorraine hope you give them a try 🙂
Simply damn delicious and beautifull heart shaped shortbread!!!
Dedy@Dentist Chef
Thank you Dedy, I love the shape too 🙂
Sounds like a great party! These look wonderful, Evelyne 🙂
Thank you Viviane 🙂
Baking bacon is the best way to cook it. It is the only way I do. I love bacon but I can’t get on the sweet (vs. traditional savory) bacon recipes. However, you may have just changed my mind!
Thanks Debra and yes do give it a try, or even ad a bit more bacon!
What a fun potluck and what a great contribution Evelyne.
Thank you Wendy:-) we had a blast!
Maple and bacon…o boy..shortbread cookies don’t get any better! They look divine!
Nope they don’t Angie, pretty awesome combo lol. Thanks!