You're Gonna Want To Read This!

I was just talking to my niece, and was reminded of something I made last year for Superbowl Sunday...

Bacon/Caramel Pretzels!

(Oh Yeah—and they are really that good!)

Wanna know how to make them?

First you need some pretzels. I use the hog-molly sized Snyder pretzels (they’re called “Olde Tyme”)

Then you add caramel. I make my own, which makes dipping really easy. Plus you don’t have to remove all the stupid wrappers. Here’s the recipe:

1 cup butter (yeah, butter—give me a break, this is junk food!)

1 16-oz package packed brown sugar

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup light corn syrup

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

(you can add ¼ cup whiskey if you want—yumm)

Put everything in a heavy saucepan except the vanilla (and the whisky) and cook the heck out of it. It will bubble up (so make sure there’s room in the pan), and then bubble down. Once it looks like it belongs in a volcano, it is ready. For those of you who want to be more exact, that’s the firm-ball candy stage, or 248 degrees on a candy thermometer. Once it hits that temperature take it off the heat and stir in the vanilla and whisky. If you use whisky take care not to stand over the pan while you’re stirring—all the booze boils off at once—whoo hoo!

Put the pan back on the stove at its lowest setting and start dipping pretzels! Use a fork to turn the pretzel and get it out. Set the dipped pretzel right on the counter or pan, but make sure you butter them first.

Once they’ve cooled it’s time to dip them again—this time in chocolate. I used dark chocolate for these. It just seems more manly, and bacon pretzels are definitely manly! Melt dark chocolate in a double boiler and add a spoonful of Crisco. Trust me, the Crisco helps the chocolate behave. Again, use a fork, but this time put the finished product on wax paper.

Before they have a chance to set (how long that is depends on how warm your kitchen is), sprinkle bacon on top—cooked bacon, broken up into little pieces.

Then, if you really want to look cool drizzle some of the leftover dark chocolate over the top.

I’ve seen grown men fight over these bad boys!! Let me know if you try them and how you liked them.

I think I’ll whip up a batch myself!