Best Bacon Recipes

Let's be honest: cupcakes have a pretty prissy reputation. From their pop culture debut during the '90s via Magnolia Bakery's appearance in Sex and the City to the current endless, maddening debates about where the best cupcake can be found and what "the next cupcake" is, mention cupcakes in front of anyone older than 6 years old and you're likely to be greeted with an eye roll and a heavy dose of sarcasm. That's all fine, and I'd even argue that the eye-rolling is warranted. That doesn't mean that there isn't room for exploration, though, in this very played-out field. Enter the bacon cupcake. Molasses spice cake with cream cheese frosting is surprised by a wallop of porcine goodness (there is a not inconsiderable amount of rendered bacon fat lurking in that frosting) and then, gloriously, crowned with a strip of candied, perfectly crisp bacon. It's unexpected, perverse, even obscene... and it's pretty damn good. Click here to see the Bacon: It's What's for Dinner story. 

While you’re preparing the breadsticks for this year’s Christmas dinner, twist a few slices of bacon in them and bend them into candy cane shapes. That’ll start a few fights over the bread basket this year. 

No need to bring home the bacon anymore, when you can make it yourself. While there’s plenty of good bacon available these days, the Accidental Locavore loves to make her own. It’s really easy, just takes about a week to cure the meat, and you don’t need a smoker, although you might want one. I generally use two 2 ½-pound pieces of pork belly because it’s easier to handle and you can play around with different spice blends. This started out from Michael Ruhlman’s excellent Charcuterie book. 

Bacon for breakfast is good but candied bacon is even better, especially when you add the smoky flavor of the grill to the mix. What a way to celebrate...anything!

We always have bacon fat around. We often give it away as a parting gift if you come over to our house. What to do with it? Well, it's the moisturizer that keeps us looking so young... or pop your popcorn in it. This is an adult Cracker Jack with bacon instead of peanuts... See all caramel recipes. Click here to see 12 Ways to Spice Up Popcorn.