Candied Bacon and Ice Cream – It’s like a party in your mouth.

That’s right – Candied Bacon and Ice Cream.  While it may sound crazy, it’s one of the most delightful taste and texture combinations I’ve had this year. And since there are a few more days before people start their new year’s resolutions, I wanted to share this recipe with you now. I know you may be skeptical, but if you give it a chance I promise you won’t be sorry.  The first time I read about chocolate-covered bacon, I was a little disgusted to be perfectly honest. How could you possibly make something sweet from a savory slab of pork and have it actually taste good?

I started reading more reactions of shock throughout the food blogosphere.  Then as I read more accounts of this unusual foodstuff, gradually my revulsion turned to interest.   Once I saw David Lebovitz had made candied bacon ice cream, my curiosity was irrevocably piqued.  When I saw ice cream with candied bacon on an NYC restaurant menu, I ordered it without flinching.  The flecks of candied bacon provided the perfect crunch and added just the right amount of savory sweetness to the vanilla ice cream.

It took a couple months before I endeavored to make it myself – but I knew I would have the perfect audience for my creation when I went to visit my brother [read: nephew] for Thanksgiving.  While he is usually uninterested in any of my culinary adventures, I knew I could get him to try anything with bacon as a primary ingredient.

Gluten-Free Candied Bacon Ice Cream Sundae Recipe

Vanilla or Dulce de Leche gluten-free ice cream
Whipped Cream
4-6 strips of bacon (not too thick)
1/4 cup of brown sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, shiny-side down.  Place slices of bacon on the foil with some space between each piece.

Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of brown sugar evenly over each strip of bacon.

Bake for 10-15 minutes, flipping the bacon over after 6 minutes, coating each side with the sugar syrup that has melted into the pan. Bake until the strips are dark but not burnt (watch carefully as the change happens quickly) and remove strips to cool on a wire rack.

Once the strips are cool and crispy, break or chop the candied bacon into pieces – think chopped nuts for a sundae.

Assemble your sundae with the ice cream, candied bacon pieces and whipped cream. 

VERY IMPORTANT: Forget about dieting until tomorrow.

I got a little carried away during my Thanksgiving gorging and made a ‘pumpkin pie sundae’ sprinkled with the candied bacon, toasted pecans, caramel pieces, ice cream and whipped cream – so you are only really limited by your own creativity.

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