When I was planning our wedding, I knew I wanted to do little favors for each guest that attended. I think favors are super fun, and it was just a (very) small way to express appreciation for each person who made the effort to come to our wedding and celebrate with us. It was relatively easy to pick something for the women (homemade sugar scrubs) and the kids (rock candy pops), but the men were a whole other story.
We couldn’t afford to spend a ton of money on favors, so it had to be something budget-friendly, but also something they could actually like. We tossed around a few ideas, until we finally stumbled on the one thing we were pretty positive would universally please all men.
Bacon.
And not just any bacon, but bacon covered in a layer of brown sugar and praline with a hint of cayenne pepper for heat.
So I set off on making tray after tray after tray of praline bacon, until I thought my skin would smell permanently of grease and hickory.
Praline bacon might sound exotic, but it’s actually so super easy that there is no excuse to not run to your kitchen and cook some up, especially for your favorite man. And with Father’s Day right around the corner, it could be a tasty addition to a special breakfast or just an extra treat for your husband or dad.
stop reading, dad.
My dad is actually getting a little packet of bacon in the mail for his Father’s Day gift.
Oh, and praline is basically a fancy way to say pecan…which I pronounce pah-cahn, not pee-can. Of course, that’s a big debate, especially in the south. But whatever you call it, this little nut is perfect mixed up with a little brown sugar, stuck on top of a slab of bacon, and caramelized to toasty perfection in the oven.
I know your favorite man wouldn’t mind getting a plateful of these, no matter what day it is!
Praline Bacon
1 – 12 oz. pack of bacon
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
First, get the bacon started cooking on it’s own without the topping at 425 degrees. I like to use a cooling rack (like this) with a cookie sheet underneath to catch the drippings, but you can also just use put the bacon straight on a cookie sheet. Let the bacon cook for about 15-20 minutes – this time will vary based on the thickness of your bacon. It should be lightly cooked and shiny with grease before putting the topping on.
While the bacon is cooking, prepare the praline topping. Grind the pecans in a processor or blender until finely ground (just not long enough it turns into pecan butter…which is delicious, just not what we’re after here). Combine ground pecans with the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and Dijon, and mix well.
Pull the bacon from the oven, and sprinkle on the topping. Lightly press the topping into the bacon so that it will stick well. Put back in the oven for another 8 – 10 minutes, until the bacon is cooked to your liking and the topping is caramelized.
Notes:
– Keep a close eye on the bacon after you add the topping, since it can cross over to the burnt territory pretty quick.
– I have pulled out the bacon when I thought it was finished, only realizing it needed a few more minutes once the pieces were cooled down. Just stick the tray back into the oven for a few minutes to finish it off.
– These will keep well in the freezer, which how I stored them until the wedding. And they make a tasty addition to a bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich, or any sandwich for that matter.
Enjoy!
What about you: what are your favorite things to cook for your favorite men?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
