Candied Whisky Bacon Grilled Cheese Dippers
"Found this morning @ thecookierookiedotcom on a 1st visit to her site, food blogger Becky Hardin definitely amazed me w/this recipe for the ultimate adult comfort food plus another recipe for a bite-sized, easy-fix & creative appy I'll enter next. I can hardly wait to browse the rest of her recipes for more treasures! Altho described as the perfect appy for a NY Eve party, IMHO it also works well for a luncheon entree, a starter course for a dinner party or even a Cinco de Mayo celebration. My best bet is we're all going to ENJOY this comfort food to-the-max!"
Original is 8 servings
Ingredients
Nutritional
- Serving Size: 1 (110.8 g)
- Calories 399.5
- Total Fat - 18 g
- Saturated Fat - 7.8 g
- Cholesterol - 48.7 mg
- Sodium - 654.9 mg
- Total Carbohydrate - 37 g
- Dietary Fiber - 0.1 g
- Sugars - 36 g
- Protein - 15.5 g
- Calcium - 178.5 mg
- Iron - 0.5 mg
- Vitamin C - 0.2 mg
- Thiamin - 0.1 mg
Step by Step Method
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350F. While the oven is heating, mix the whiskey (or bourbon) w/1 cup brown sugar & the cayenne pepper in a sml saucepan over med-high heat. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil & then reduce to a simmer for 10 min. Remove from heat & set aside.
Step 2
Place ea strip of bacon directly on a baking sheet, allowing a bit of space between them. This is a video about oven-baking bacon w/tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4Zv840kys. Brush both sides of the bacon w/the whiskey reduction & then sprinkle the top w/the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar.
Step 3
Place bacon in the oven & cook for 20 min, ck'ing after 12 min. Ovens vary, so you want to be sure the bacon doesn't burn. (Becky Hardin said hers took the full 20 min.
Step 4
Take bacon out of the oven & allow to sit on a paper towel to cool & drain.
Step 5
When ready to make your grilled cheese, heat a lrg skillet over med-high heat.
Step 6
Butter 1 side of ea slice of bread. Lightly sprinkle ea buttered side w/garlic powder.
Step 7
Place ea slice of bread onto the hot skillet, butter side down. Add 1 slice of cheddar cheese & 1 slice of mozzarella to each slice of bread & allow to melt while bread toasts. Cook ea slice of bread for approx 2 min or until the outside is fully toasted & browned to your liking.
Step 8
Place 2 slices of bacon onto 4 pieces of the bread, side-by-side. Top w/the remaining 4 slices of bread = 4 cheesy sandwiches. Sprinkle ea hot sandwich w/a little shredded cheddar (optional). Cut ea sandwich in half (between the bacon slices) to create 8 dippers.
Step 9
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Yield is 8 dippers, so as a lunch item, serve 2 dippers per person w/a bowl of tomato soup. As an appy or starter course, serve 1 dipper per person w/a sml dish of tomato soup or marinara sauce. If having a Mexican or Tex-Mex meal & you need an appy or starter course for it, try serving 1 dipper per person w/a sml dish of salsa or guacamole.
Step 10
COMMENTS FROM ME: I haven't made this recipe yet, but 2 things occur to me: 1) The amt of whisky (or bourbon) & the amt of brown sugar seem to exceed the need for just 8 slices of bacon, so expect leftovers or adjust as you see fit ... 2) Re the optional topping of extra cheddar cheese - Frankly, we're already on "cheese-overload" by the time we get to that option, so I'd be skipping it w/o hesitation.
Tips
- No special items are required
Editorial Notes
The ingredient tips, suggestions, variations, facts, questions and answers below are not edits to the original author's recipe. They are not meant to imply any change would improve the recipe. They're offered for convenience, alternative ideas, and points of interest. If you have any comments about them, please post in the Help & Ideas forum.
- When selecting bacon, thick-sliced works best.
- If desired, you can use a different type of cheese in place of the cheddar and mozzarella.
- Substitute tempeh for bacon for a vegetarian alternative. The benefit of this substitution is that tempeh is high in protein and low in fat, making it a healthier alternative to bacon. The thinking behind this substitution is that the tempeh can soak up the whisky and brown sugar the same way bacon does, and it will still provide the same flavor profile.
- Substitute vegan cheese slices for the cheddar and mozzarella cheese. The benefit of this substitution is that it is a vegan-friendly alternative. The thinking behind this substitution is that vegan cheese slices can be melted and toasted the same way as regular cheese, and still provide the same flavor profile.
BBQ Bacon Grilled Cheese Dippers Replace the whiskey reduction with a BBQ sauce of your choice. Omit the cayenne pepper. When brushing the bacon with the BBQ sauce, sprinkle with a bit of smoked paprika for extra flavor. Serve with a side of BBQ sauce for dipping.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Roasted Brussels Sprouts are a great side dish to pair with Candied Whisky Bacon Grilled Cheese Dippers. The smoky and sweet flavors of the bacon, whiskey, and cheese pair wonderfully with the nutty flavor of the Brussels sprouts. Roasting the Brussels sprouts brings out the sweetness of the vegetable, and adds a nice crunchy texture to the meal.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a delicious side dish that pairs well with Candied Whisky Bacon Grilled Cheese Dippers. The sweet and savory flavors of the sweet potatoes complement the smoky and sweet flavors of the bacon and whiskey, while the creamy texture of the cheese adds a nice contrast. Roasting the sweet potatoes brings out their natural sweetness and adds a nice crunchy texture to the meal.
FAQ
Q: What is the best way to cook bacon for this recipe?
A: Preheat the oven to 350F and place each strip of bacon directly on a baking sheet. Brush both sides of the bacon with the whiskey reduction and sprinkle the top with brown sugar. Cook for 20 minutes, checking after 12 minutes.
Q: What kind of whiskey should I use for the reduction?
A: Any type of whiskey will work for the reduction, but bourbon is the most common choice. You can also use whiskey flavored with other ingredients like maple or honey.
2 Reviews
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Fun facts:
FUN FACT 1: The whiskey (or bourbon) used in this recipe is an homage to the famous American whiskey producer, Elijah Craig, who is credited with creating the first bourbon whiskey in 1789.
FUN FACT 2: The cayenne pepper used in this recipe is a nod to the popular Mexican dish, Chilaquiles, which is often served with a spicy sauce made from cayenne peppers.