Oh, Canada!
I recently had the pleasure of tasting Mo’s Bacon Bar, sold by Vosges Haut Chocolat. It was a rich and tasty experience, but I can’t afford to spend $7.50 on 3 ounces of chocolate very often. I decided to try to find my own special blend of bacon and chocolate, and added my own north-of-the-border twist. I think you’ll agree that maple-walnut fudge is the perfect counterpoint to that crunchy, fatty, salty meat we all love so much.
by Edith Cummings
Suggested Reading
"Hockey Night in Canada" Bop Rap by The Shuffle Demons
Difficulty
Rrrrgh . . . . Brains . . . .
Click here for definitions of difficulty levels.
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Full page recipe (pdf format)
3x5 card recipe (pdf format)
Ingredients
U.S.
| Metric
| Ingredient |
14 oz |
415 mL |
sweetened condensed milk |
16 oz |
450 g |
semi-sweet baking chocolate squares, divided |
2 tsp |
10 mL |
vanilla extract, divided |
4 tsp |
20 mL |
imitation maple flavoring, divided |
1/2 c |
60 g |
walnuts, chopped |
8 |
slices of bacon (rashers), applewood-smoked and cider-cured, cooked and cut into ~.5"/1cm strips |
2 Tbsp |
30 mL |
maple syrup |
to taste |
coarse kosher salt |
Chef's Notes
This fudge is layered. The bottom layer is walnutty goodness, then there’s a delicious layer of bacon, followed by rich chocolate with a hint of maple, all topped with a dusting of salt.
Feel free to replace imitation maple flavoring with maple extract. I was unable to find maple extract at the supermarket. Apparently the supermarket people think we only want maple things at Christmastime? Silly them. I bet if I actually lived in Canada, I’d be able to find maple extract year-round!
I like to cut my bacon into bits with scissors—I keep a pair in the kitchen just for that.
Store leftover fudge uncovered. If you cover it, the salt melts from the condensation and runs everywhere. It still tastes good, but it’s better as crystals on top.
The AntiCraft assumes any well stocked basic kitchen to have certain things on hand. (Click for our basic kitchen items list.)
Directions
Line an 8-inch square pan with foil.
Divide the condensed milk evenly into two microwave-safe bowls. Add 8 oz of chocolate, broken up, into each bowl.
On full power, microwave one bowl of the chocolate and milk mixture for 45 seconds, then stir. Microwave again for 30 seconds at a time, stirring between each heating, until the chocolate is nearly melted. Stir until it finishes melting, then add 1 tsp vanilla, 2 tsp maple flavoring, and the walnuts. Pour into pan.
Gently arrange the bacon over the first layer of fudge.
Add the maple syrup to the second bowl of milk and chocolate, then heat this mixture in the same way you did the first bowl, adding remaining vanilla and maple flavoring when the chocolate has melted. Pour into the pan, making sure all the bacon is covered.
Sprinkle a scant pinch of kosher salt over the top of the fudge.
Refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until fudge is completely set.
With a sharp knife, slice fudge into 1-inch squares and devour.
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Edited by Edith Cummings, Zabet Stewart, and Raellyn Hatter
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