This sweet and salty bacon spread is surprisingly good. First the bacon is fried until crisp and then simmered in a slow cooker with onions, maple syrup, brown sugar, boiled cider and strong coffee. The results are great and is a new recipe for me from King Arthur Flour. Here’s to Camp Bacon in Ann Arbor, Michigan and a delicious appetizer for Memorial Day!
Bacon Jam
- 1-1/2 lbs. bacon (Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon)
- 2 medium onions, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped up
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup boiled cider (King Arthur Flour sells this)
- 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee
- 2 bay leaves
- salt and pepper to taste (you do not need)
Cut the bacon into 1-inch pieces and fry in two skillets until very crisp. Drain all of the fat and place in a slow cooker along with all of the other ingredients. I used my 4 quart slow cooker. Cook on high setting for 3 to 4 hours. It took 3-1/2 hours for me and I also stirred the jam a few times.
Allow to cool slightly where it is not too hot to handle. Remove the bay leaves and transfer to a food processor. Pulse until you get the consistency you want; I wanted the pieces small.
Should the jam have too much liquid, cook it in a small saucepan until it is thick and syrupy. It was not too thin for me at all so I did not have to do this.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Warm in the microwave before serving. The possibilities for serving this tasty jam are endless; spread it on crostini or crackers, fresh vegetables such as tomatoes or new potatoes, grilled cheese, make bruschetta and spread with jam and then top with goat cheese and yes by the spoonful and the list goes on. I tried it on crackers and yum, yum, yum!
Comment: I looked at four recipes; King Arthur Flour, Martha Stewart, Food and Allrecipes. Once again I have preferred King Arthur Flour based on their expertise and ingredients, with one special addition, boiled cider – I was not disappointed!
Just starting to cook in my slow cooker and bacon jam with crackers.
This jam is delicious on baked white or sweet potatoes!
Homemade biscuits and jam and best of all; bruschetta toasted, bacon jam and plain goat milk cheese – yum!
This sounds surprisingly good! I can imagine how tasty it would be on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit. Yum!
I was eating it alone with just a spoon. Biscuits are a great suggestion – maybe we will try it on some biscuits in the morning (if there is any left).
Seriously, is there any place better then Zingermans?!!! Not in my book…! This looks awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Not in my book either… Gene used to go over to Zingerman’s on Saturday morning and have a coffee and something sweet, while I shopped for vegies at the Farmers Market for the week. This jam goes well with so many things – hope to try it with bruschetta, goat cheese and a little jam soon. Thanks for your comment – Ann Arbor is a great place to live 🙂