Dulce De Leche and Bacon Bars
I saw this recipe in my Food and Wine Magazine back in Nov. 2010 and I knew just by looking at the pictures that I would love everything about this recipe. I wasn’t wrong. Seriously: DULCE DE LECHE AND BACON….OMG….one of “bestest” combinations in the whole world if you ask me! My kids love Dulce De Leche. I have to hide it if I buy a can/jar because they will use it immediately. They make fudge, brownies, icing, dipping sauce….you name it. They always find a recipe to use it. Because I wanted these bars as a special treat for us this weekend, the jar was in my night stand 
Source: Food and Wine
Note: I really didn’t change the recipe…well they did ask for a 16-ounce jar of Dulce De Leche and all the grocery stores around here carry is 13.4-ounce cans. I figured it would work. It did. Also I did change the name. Honestly it was just too long for my liking: Dulce de Leche, Coconut and Chocolate Chip Magic Bars….the important star ingredients are Dulce De Leche and Bacon…the end.
this is serious stuff….dulce de leche and bacon…it’s magical!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
1 large egg yolk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces bacon, finely diced (about 4 slices)
3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup salted roasted almonds, chopped
One 13.4-ounce jar dulce de leche
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
How to:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, leaving up to 1 inch of overhang. Spray the paper with vegetable oil spray.
In a medium saucepan, cook the butter over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and browned, about 4 minutes. Scrape the butter into a large bowl and freeze just until solid, about 15 minutes.
brown butter…it’s a very good thing!
Using a handheld electric mixer, beat the sugar, vanilla seeds and egg yolk into the butter at medium speed until blended. Add the flour and salt and beat until moistened crumbs form. Press the crumbs into the prepared baking pan and bake in the lower third of the oven for about 25 minutes, until the crust is set and lightly browned.
these are the lovely crumbs you are looking for
the crust…exciting isn’t it?!
Meanwhile, wipe out the bowl used to make the crust. In a medium skillet, cook the bacon over moderately high heat until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels and let cool. In the bowl, toss the coconut with the chocolate chips, almonds and bacon.
In another bowl, whisk the dulce de leche with the condensed milk; pour two-thirds of it in the crust. Lightly press the coconut-bacon mixture over the dulce de leche. Drizzle the remaining dulce de leche mixture on top.
first layer
second layer, the toppings
and finally the last drizzle of dulce de leche
Bake the bars for 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned on top. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the bars cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Carefully remove the bars from the pan and peel off the paper. Cut into bars and serve.
well HELLO GORGEOUS!
time to dig in….and we sure did! DELICIOUS!
Printer Friendly: Dulce De Leche and Bacon Magic Bars
Isabelle, you were right — I couldn’t resist coming to your blog to ogle these bars! Surprise, surprise, they have browned butter, too… could they possibly get any better?! Actually, yes — “your” title for them is perfect! Smiling about hiding ingredients in your nightstand.
Oh, wow, Isabelle…the sweetness, crunchiness, baconiness!! I would say these fit well in my diet!! Awesomeness, darlin! xo
Love this idea with bacon. Normally I don’t like bacon in my desserts but this one may be ok.
OMG! I want one of these right now. I did my long run today so I have plenty of calories to spare but I’m too tired to get off the couch. There’s protein in bacon right?