Cocoa Crusted Chocolate Chip Bacon – Man Candy III

Now ever since the evolution of Smoked Chili Candied Bacon (aka Man Candy I) a craze happened in TKW land.  I felt compelled to take it to the next level.  Thus Sriracha Spiced Bacon – Man Candy II.  From those 2 posts, bacon lovers united and a bacon bond was formed.  However this bond didn’t discriminate (well maybe a little if you didn’t like bacon in any fashion but hey I don’t judge). See these Man Candies knew no limits albeit regular pork bacon to turkey/chicken bacon.  It transcended the I don’t care, gimme bacon line and ventured into I eat healthy but I want this so let’s do healthy bacon-town. YEAH!  I bridged the gap… with bacon er um   LOL

Well as those 2 recipes went global I got requests for a dessert-y bacon. Now everyone and their mother makes chocolate dipped bacon (with peanut butter/caramel/nuts/etc) but I wanted something different.  Why?  I like to be different and push the envelope.  Hmmm… wonder exactly what that means.  I mean where is this proverbial ‘envelope’ they speak of anyway?  *shrugs*  this is how my mind works… scary, I know!

I’m not really sure how this came about as literally I was in the kitchen putzing around (yes, that’s a technical kitchen term for standing there staring into space pretending to be working but not really getting anything done) and I was moving the container of cocoa powder.  For some reason I went to put it in the fridge (which again, I don’t normally do but like I said I was putzing around and not really paying attention) when I saw the package of bacon there.  Inspiration hit me!  Cocoa and Bacon!  However have you ever dipped your finger in cocoa powder, expected it to taste just like chocolate only to realize that it soooooooooooo doesn’t taste like powdered chocolate but something butt nasty?!  Yeah… so cruel!  I knew I had to add sweetness to it. From that point on I was a machine.  I love it when stuff just falls into place.

Yeah, I’m thinking it fell into place quite nicely!   Now I’m not going to fool you.  This isn’t pretty and it looks burnt BUT it’s not. That ‘burnt’/char look is PURE CHOCOLATE people!  I mean seriously.. this stuff is crusted with cocoa and chocolate and so much love I can’t stand it!

This took that envelope and not only pushed it but it done sealed it shut, put a stamp on it and mailed it to Timbuktu!

THAT’S how incredible this Man Candy III is!

Go on, stare it some more.  Trust me it was pure torture waiting for these to cool down as the smell of warm chocolate was incredible!

Cocoa Crusted Chocolate Chip Bacon – Man Candy III

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5 from 3 reviews

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• Author: The Kitchen Whisperer

Ingredients

• 1 lb thick cut bacon
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (I used double dark chocolate)
• 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
• 1 teaspoon chocolate extract (or water will work but the extract makes it)
• 1–2 teaspoon water
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Combine brown sugar, cocoa powder, espresso powder and extract in a bowl. You want not quite to a paste consistency (very slightly moist). If it’s too dry add a teensy bit of water.
3. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
4. Place a wire cooling rack on top.
5. Spray the rack with cooking spray.
6. Place the pieces of bacon on top of the rack trying not to overlap.
7. Lay the cocoa mixture on a plate and press each strip of bacon down into it coating the bottom.
8. Flip over and coat the other side. You want a pretty good coating on this (no exposed bacon).
9. Place in oven and cook for 13 minutes.
10. Remove from the oven and flip the bacon.
11. If you want, add some more of the cocoa mixture on top of each strip.
12. Return to the oven and cook for 13 minutes.
13. If you want crispier bacon you can broil for 1 minute each side but watch as this will burn but keep in mind that this bacon will crisp/firm up while it’s cooling so broil at your discretion.
14. Remove from the oven and allow to cool 1 minute on the rack and then using cooking tongs, remove the bacon from the rack and plate.
15. Carefully adorn each strip with mini chips (side facing up).
16. While it looks charred and deep dark crusty (okay, not pretty) it’s unbelievably delicious.

Notes

To help simplify clean up, as these are cooling, fill your sink up with hot soapy water. Remove the bacon from the racks and immediately put your cooling racks in the water. Let soak for 5-10 minutes and clean up is a breeze! *Note – make sure your cooling racks can be submerged in water first!

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