Life

Yes, You CAN Make Christmas Cookies With Bacon

by Sadie Trombetta
Sadie Trombetta

'Tis the season for trimming trees, wrapping gifts, and lots and lots of baking. While you probably have the classic holiday recipes down to a science by now, there is still one way to improve your dessert table: bacon Christmas cookies. And just when you thought the holidays — or maybe bacon — couldn't get any better, I have found a way.

When I set out to combine two of my favorite things — sweets and bacon — I had to first figure out what the perfect Christmas cookie was. It was too big of a question to answer on my own, so I polled some friends, and I got two of the same answers over and over: sugar cookies and gingerbread. I imagined the saltiness of the bacon bringing out the sweetness of the sugar cookies, and knew that was the way to go. That is, until my mouth started watering at the idea of spicy ginger and smoky bacon complementing each other perfectly. Since I couldn't possibly choose one cookie over another, I decided both of them could use a bacon makeover, and that's how I came up with my new favorite holiday recipes.

Because bacon makes everything, even the holidays, better, here is how to make Christmas cookies with bacon. Trust me, once you go bacon, you never go back.

Ingredients

Maple Buttercream Icing

  • 2 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon

Bacon Sugar Cookies

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup bacon grease
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 cup bacon, cooked and chopped

Bacon Gingerbread Men

  • 1/8 cup butter
  • 1/8 cup bacon grease
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup dark molasses
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. ginger
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup bacon, cooked and chopped

Directions

Maple Buttercream Icing

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Blend until fully incorporated. Scoop into a piping bag, and chill in the fridge until ready to use.

Bacon Gingerbread Men

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, blend butter, bacon fat, and sugar together until creamy. Mix in molasses.<img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/5219e2e0-7f59-0133-6edd-0aecee5a8273.JPG?w=320"/>
  2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture in three parts, alternating with the water. Mixture will seem dry.<img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/521fbfc0-7f59-0133-6eda-0aecee5a8273.JPG?w=320"/>
  3. Using your hands, mix bacon and any leftover flour in the bowl into the dough. Once well mixed, roll the cookie dough onto a flat, well-floured area, about 1/8 inch thick.<img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/265f41c0-7f63-0133-0c59-0e76e5725d9d.JPG?w=320"/>
  4. Use a cookie cutter to shape cookies, and transfer them to a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for eight to 12 minutes. Let cool.<img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/165cfe30-7f61-0133-0c4f-0e76e5725d9d.JPG?w=320"/>
  5. Decorate cookies with maple buttercream icing, bacon bits, and any other decorations of your choice.<img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/5228a060-7f59-0133-6edd-0aecee5a8273.JPG?w=320"/>

Bacon Sugar Cookies

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, blend butter, bacon grease, and sugar together until creamy.<img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/52248fb0-7f59-0133-6edd-0aecee5a8273.JPG?w=320"/>
  2. Mix in eggs, vanilla, flour, baking soda, and salt. Add bacon, and stir until well incorporated. Chill in the refrigerator for three hours before using.<img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/52266da0-7f59-0133-0c54-0e76e5725d9d.JPG?w=320"/>
  3. Roll cookie dough onto a flat, well-floured area, about 1/8 inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to shape cookies. <img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/a97d43e0-7f59-0133-ed55-0aa00699013d.JPG?w=320"/>
  4. Transfer to a greased cookie sheet. Decorate with M&Ms, sprinkles, and other decorations of your choice. Bake at 350 degrees for eight to 12 minutes. <img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/52344fa0-7f59-0133-ed58-0aa00699013d.JPG?w=320"/>
  5. After letting cookies cool, decorate them with maple buttercream icing, and any additional decorations of your choice.<img src="http://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/615/5232d660-7f59-0133-4d92-0e3f8b958f63.JPG?w=320"/>

The Verdict

Coming from a girl who has tried just about everything wrapped in bacon, I can say with confidence that these cookies rank among the best bacon-infused creations yet. The bacon adds a subtle yet distinct salty crisp to each type of cookie, and takes the standard Christmas treat from tried-and-true to unique and new. The maple buttercream icing is the perfect complement to both cookies, and brings out the smoky undertones of the bacon. These Christmas cookies are guaranteed to be the most popular treat at the dessert table — just make sure to save some for Santa.

For more holiday ideas, check out Bustle on YouTube.

Images: Sadie Trombetta