Happy #SundaySupper! This week, we are excited to team up with Katie Workman, the author of the book The Mom 100. Her cookbook is “filled with delicious, no-fuss, easily adaptable recipes, plus tips, attitude and wisdom for surviving and staying happy in the kitchen while proudly keeping it homemade.” Today we are celebrating potluck style. Of course dessert is the most important part, so I made one of my favorite cookies – Bacon and Dried Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Wait, what?
Yes, I said it – bacon in my cookie. Surprisingly, bacon and chocolate pair up nicely with the sweet and salty. The dried cherries add a bit of tartness. On Katie’s blog, she explained how to bake bacon. I almost always make bacon in the microwave because I’m the type of who likes the chewy, greasy pieces rather than the crispy ones. Since I needed crispy, I followed her directions. Line a baking sheet with foil, place a baking rack on top, put the strips on the rack, then bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes. During those 15-20 minutes, you can multi-task or take care of the kids.
I know, I know – I’m not a mom. Why am I still participating in The Mom 100 #SundaySupper? I may not have extra mouths to feed, but I still have a busy schedule. I work full time during the week and come home tired like everyone else. These cookies take little time to make and bake. Kids love bacon and chocolate chip cookies, so why not combine both?
The idea for this cookie came when last year I visited Lancaster, famous for being Amish country. The bakery was set up in a building with other vendors, and I can’t even remember the name. Right before we left, I spied this cookie on the counter, half-off because it was late in the afternoon. I didn’t even eat it until we were on the road again. Big mistake because I wanted to go back.
Now I crave this cookie all the time. The sweet chocolate. The salty bacon. The tart cherries. The perfect cookie. The ones I recreated don’t do this bakery any justice. First, the bakery cookies were bigger. Second, I couldn’t get the texture quite right. Mine are a bit thinner and not as chewy as I’d like. Don’t get me wrong – the flavor is definitely there and I ate more than my fair share. I think this calls for me to make a few more dozen for research, right?
Bacon and Dried Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Yield: 18 cookies
Chocolate chip cookies with bacon and dried cherries
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
- 1/2 cup finely chopped bacon, cooked and well drained
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl, sift flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat both sugars and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla then the egg. Mix until thoroughly incorporated. Stir in the flour. Add the chocolate chips, cherries and bacon.
- Place heaping tablespoons of the cookie dough onto the cookie sheets, leaving 2 inches between each cookie. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes before transferring to cooling racks. Store in an airtight container.
Source: AZ Central
Family Foodie says
You are so clever! I would never think to use bacon in cookies and I bet they are just as fabulous as they look! Your photography and styling is out of this world Carla! What an awesome job you have done on this recipe!
Carla says
Thanks Isabel! I’m pretty thrilled with how the pictures turned out (which is unusual because I always find something wrong haha)
Renee says
I have been baking bacon in the oven for a while. So much easier and no grease splatters all over the cooktop. I have yet to have cookies with bacon in them. You have me intrigued and wanting to try them soon.
Carla says
I just do the microwave because it takes me just under 2 minutes haha Now if I had to make a lot of strips, then I’d probably resort to baking. Thanks Renee
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
Linda has been waiting all week for this recipe. LOL!
Carla says
Guess I know what you’re having for dessert tonight ;)
Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet) says
This is my kind of cookie too!! I think I need to try this method for making bacon, especially when I need more than a couple of pieces. Hands off is the way to go!
Carla says
Exactly! I only make a few strips in the microwave, but I can see this method being helpful if you have to feed a crowd. Plus like you said, hands off means time for other things!
Soni says
Awesome flavors and I’m super intrigued by the bacon in there :) Have to try it for sure!!
Carla says
It’s funny – when I had people try these, they were all hesitant with the flavors, but afterwards they were believers ;) Thanks Soni
Tammi says
You had me at Bacon!!! :) YUMMY!!!
Carla says
It’s the word of the day, everyday! Thanks Tammi
Conni @MrsMamaHen says
Oh my! I have seen so many unusual “bacon” recipes lately…some of them are even kind of scary. But these? These are intriguing…I think I may just have to give them a try!
Carla says
Yes, I think these cookies are the least bit scary compared to other bacon desserts. A good stepping stone ;) Thanks Conni!
Liz says
This may be the recipe that finally converts me into a bacon in desserts fan! Your cookies look amazing!
Carla says
Thanks Liz! It is a great stepping stone into the world of bacon desserts ;)
Katie says
Yum and gorgeous photos!
Carla says
Thanks Katie!
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
All I have to say is WOW! Look at you go, Carla. This is such a creative way to use baked bacon. Delicious!!!
Carla says
Thanks Jennie! :)
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says
Cookies with choco chips and bacon sound strange but also intriguing. Definitely worth trying! Your pictures look great, and it´s not easy to photograph honey colored cookies!
Carla says
Strange yet the combination works, promise :) Thanks Paula!
Lane @ Supper for a Steal says
I love the sweet and salty combo. I really would like you to send me one of these. :)
Carla says
Hey they are pretty mailable ;) Thanks Lane!
Riley says
I love bacon in sweet things! Looks fantastic!
Carla says
Thank you Riley :)
Patti says
I love anything salty, sweet! Your presentation was beautiful!
Carla says
Thanks Patti!
Baker Street says
YES! You did it! Bacon in cookies! That’s breakfast on the go! Great take on Katie’s recipe! :)
Carla says
Oh I never thought of that – breakfast on the go. Now nobody can judge me for eating cookies for breakfast because there is bacon ;) Thanks!
Hezzi-D says
These sound great-I’ve made bacon and chocolate chip cookies before and they are awesome! The added dried cherries sound good as well.
Carla says
The tartness of the cherries really do complement the sweet and salty quite well. My favorite bite is getting all 3 at once. Thanks :)
Susan says
I love bacon in sweets and the cherries sound like a great addition!
Carla says
Yes, the tartness from the cherries really takes the sweet and salty up a notch. Thanks Susan :)
Nicole @ The Daily Dish says
I have yet to wrap my head around how much people love bacon in cookies. Here’s the deal – I’ve never tried it. Honestly reading what you said above, intrigues me to no end. I am thinking I need to make these – they really do sound yummy!
Carla says
When I first bought this cookie, I was very intrigued since I’ve always heard bacon goes well with chocolate. I even had chocolate dipped bacon the past month or so when a coworker brought me some.
Donna @ Cookistry says
Genius. That’s all I’ve got to say. I wonder how this would be with butterscotch chips …
Carla says
You’ll have to let me know because I’m not a fan of butterscotch. Thanks Donna :)
The Chocolate Priestess says
So many delicious things in one cookie. I feel a bit overwhelmed.
Carla says
I know it sounds like a lot, but the flavors really do work together. I wouldn’t leave anything out :) Thanks!