"Infamous" Bacon Cookies

I got a new cookbook! The Food Lovers Make it Paleo (over 200 grain free recipes for any occasion). It was written by this obnoxiously adorable couple, Bill Staley and Hayley Mason (who, in my mind will never get married because her name would be Hayley Staley and that's just silly.) (Oh, I suppose they could get married and she could just not change her name, or they could be super progressive and take hers....But I digress.) So what recipe in my giant new cookbook should I start with?? Beef Tenderloin with Balsamic Drizzle? Lemon Thyme Lamb Chops? Halibut en Papillote? No, no, nope. Infamous Bacon Cookies.

First Thoughts: 

Oh yes I did. I made bacon chocolate chip cookies. At altitude no less. Call me brave if you will, but the photo made them look super delicious and then my facebook status about my pondering the recipe blew the H up and so I felt I must not disappoint! I'd like to start with a wee disclaimer, that if you are not currently eating Paleo or gluten free exclusively, you likely won't dig on the texture of almond flour. For those of us who indulge with waffles and pancakes on weekends, I think this will not be an issue. Ok, enough with the stalling. Here you go.

Ingredients:

• 5 slices nitrate-free bacon
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 3 cups blanched almond flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, unrefined
• 1.5 cups organic chocolate chips 72% dark chocolate chips 

Notes on ingredients: I used big fat slices of bacon, and as you'll read, they didn't crisp up the way they should. If you're using big fat slices of bacon, you may need to extend the baking time a bit. Or just by skinnier bacon. Also, don't hurt yourself looking for Blanched Almond Flour-most almonds are blanched in the process, they just don't go advertising it in the name of the product. And don't bother looking at your run-of-the-mill store. They don't have it. You need to go to Whole foods, who will charge you an arm and a leg for a pound of the stuff, or another natural market (I love Sunflower Market). 


The Method: 

1. Preheat the oven to bake at 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium sized mixing bowl, toss bacon in 1/4 cup maple syrup.
3. Lay bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet.
4. Bake for 20 minutes.
5. Remove bacon from oven and allow to cool. 
6. Crumble candied bacon for cookie batter.
7. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
8. In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine dry ingredients.
9. In a small mixing bowl beat eggs, 1/2 cup maples syrup and vanilla extract with a hand mixer.
10. Pour wet ingredients into dry and beat with hand mixer until combined.
11. Add melted coconut oil into batter and continue to blend until combined.
12. Stir in chocolate chips and candied bacon.
13. Drop balls of dough on parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1 tablespoon in size.
14. Bake cookies for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F. 
15. Let cool and serve.

 

The Critique:

Ease of Recipe: 4/5 Stars

 

The estimated prep time is 20 minutes. It took my daughter and I that amount of time, but for a new baker, it may take longer, and it's going to increase based on your bacon.  Like I mentioned before, the bacon needs to cook a lot longer than the 20 minutes they claim, unless you're using some pre-packaged crap. I'd recommend an extra 10 minutes to start. The estimated bake time is 15 minutes per batch, totaling 35 minutes of cook time (not sure who did the math on that one. Maybe they're including cooling time??). 15 minutes was perfect, even in high altitude to get nice, evenly browned cookies. 

Cooking Method: 5/5 Stars

 

If you use a measuring spoon (tablespoon) to measure your batter as you drop it on the baking sheet, you will likely get 2.5 dozen cookies instead of the 2 dozen they claim. And that size of cookie was perfect. Not too big, not too small.

Flavor: 3.5/5 Stars

Weird. But strangely compelling. I wish my bacon was crispier to get that extra crunch. As I stated before, those not used to gluten free baking will take issue with the texture. (I'm trying these out at a BBQ of non-paleo people tonight and will report back). But overall, more interesting than anything...

Kid Friendliness: 4/5


currently waiting for my daughter to wake up from her nap for this one....
 
Photo Evidence: 4/5 Stars

 Mine were fatter and bumpier than the ones in the cookbook, but overall still look appetizing I think.


Overall 3.9/5 Stars. I'd probably make this again just for the novelty of it.