Now, I know some of you are cringing and gagging out, "why?!" but really, it's no weirder than chocolate chip pancakes with a side of bacon. Bacon lends itself beautifully to sweet foods and to maple in particular. So don't knock it til you try it and you should definitely try it!
On the urging of my friend Susan from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen, and armed with loads of excellent advice from her as well (she's a Takedown pro!), Thom and I made about 250 of these maple bacon chocolate chip ice cream sandwich cookies for the Boston Bacon Takedown. Competition was fierce, man!
Maple Bacon Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies
adapted from the The Original Tollhouse Cookie recipe
2.25 cups AP flour
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1/2 cup 100% pure maple syrup
3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup bacon, cooked and finely chopped + more for dipping
maple ice cream (I used Friendly's Maple Walnut)
I used BLiS Bourbon Maple Syrup in my version. Whatever brand you use make sure it is 100% pure maple syrup and not "table syrup" which doesn't have the same flavor and is overly sweet. Stop n Shop supermarkets also have a good, affordable maple syrup in their Nature's Promise line of products.
Cook your bacon and let it cool while you make the cookies.
Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Add the maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla. Combine. Add remaining dry ingredients and combine until just mixed. Fold in chocolate chips and bacon pieces. Let the dough chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes while you preheat the oven to 375º F.
Drop rounded spoonfuls on a cookie sheet covered with a silpat (or use baking spray). Bake for approximately 8 minutes. Let cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Spread cookie with slightly softened ice cream and top with another cookie. Dip sides into chopped bacon pieces as if they were sprinkles. Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze solid. I wrapped mine individually in wax paper but you can also store them in a freezer safe container between layers of wax paper.
OK, truth be told my faithful sous chef Thom wrapped (almost) every single one in wax paper for me. No food blogger could ask for a more loving and supportive husband. Fortunately there were a few extras that we could pack up and enjoy at home while we nursed our wounds of defeat. No, dear reader, we didn't win - but we did have fun and who knows? Maybe we'll be back for the next Takedown?
Isn't he a cutie? |
I still think you should have taken 1st place, that is a winner in my mind! I'm also totally making this, I love bacon in my ice cream. p.s. You and Thom are such a cute couple!
ReplyDeleteThank you! We didn't stand a chance against the bacon caramels but it was fun, for sure!
DeleteI may have squeeled at work...
ReplyDeleteI heart you Carla. :)
DeleteI would have voted for you. And the people who didn't, they're cuh-razay! Because this is a chocolate chip bacon cookie ice cream sandwich. Duh.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean you didn't win?? You wuz robbed! I love maple and bacon together and then you throw in cookies and ice cream and...oh, man! You and your cute sous chef are bringing these to New York, right? :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think they'd survive the car ride but we'll bring something! :)
DeleteWhat? You didn't win? How crazy. You two are a cute couple. Nice that he helps out.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Luv'n the salty/sweet AND bacon! Bacon sundae's r my fav but this could b a close 2nd!
ReplyDeleteOMG.. is this unbelievable, or what? You definitely should have won. My favorite flavors...
ReplyDeletenice posting. thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletemy husband would go nuts for this!
ReplyDeleteI think that would be a fun but tiring experience. Your sandwiches look super good. My husband would have been the guy trying to take two.
ReplyDeleteThat wins in my book.
ReplyDeleteOh this just made my day!! So gonna try these but use my own bacon chocolate chip cookie recipe and add the maple syrup... I use candied bacon in mine and my friends fight over them, I can only imagine what they'll do over these! :)
ReplyDelete