Strange is the new normal.
It is with my dessert-making, anyway.
For some reason I can’t get enough whiskey and bacon in my desserts this season. If you choose a spirit laced with notes of caramel and vanilla, it perfectly compliments a sweet dish. It also is strangely good with bacon. Sweet and salty, ftw!
These brownies are of the fudgy variety. I do love a cake-like brownie, but the richness of my add-ins called for a decadent dense chocolate background.
Even if you don’t do bacon or booze, these would be an incredible dessert. The cocoa powder gives them a deep flavor, and makes them no quite as tooth-achingly sweet as morsels would. Each bite is thick, rich experience. Just how I like my dates.
Bonus: If you make extra bacon and reserve the fat when cooking, you’re well on your way to making a Whiskey-bacon Apple Pie.
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Whiskey Bacon Brownies
- 1 stick (1/2 C) salted butter
- 1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
- 1 C (200g) sugar
- 1/2 C (100g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 C plus 2 T (60g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 C (120g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 C + 1 T good-quality whiskey (I used Balcones Baby Blue)
- 1/2 lb sliced bacon
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Prepare a 9 x 13” pan.
In a medium-sized pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in the sugars and apple sauce, stirring until fully incorporated. Remove the pot from the heat, then quickly whisk in the eggs (work fast so they don’t become scrambled egg brownies). Whisk in vanilla.
In a medium bowl, sift together cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet, stirring just until incorporated.
Stir in 1/4 C of the whiskey then pour the batter into baking pan. Bang the pan on the counter a couple of times to release some of the air bubbles.
Bake for 20-25 mins, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of your brownies comes out clean. Brush the top with remaining 1T of whiskey (this is optional, but really brings out the whiskey flavor).
Allow the brownies to cool slightly before cutting.
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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.
Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂
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A word of advice: make these fresh and get them out of the house ASAP. I couldn’t be trusted with them alone!
Do you bake with booze? How about bacon?
What’s your favorite #strangebutgood baking add-in?
