Chocolate chip cookies get an upgrade, thanks to bacon

Say “Hey, Dad, you’re pretty spesh!” the only way worthy of the greatest man on earth — through a giant dark chocolate and caramelised bacon “Dad” cookie. There is — literally and figuratively — no sweeter way of celebrating this Father’s Day.

Chocolate bacon cookies

Ingredients:

• 6 rashers bacon
• 100 grams brown sugar
• 60 grams dark chocolate drops or flakes
• 150 grams unsalted butter, softened
• 150 grams sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
• 3 drops almond essence
• 250 grams flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees C and place baking paper or aluminium foil on a baking tray.
2. Cut the bacon into one-inch pieces. Pour the brown sugar into a small bowl and then dip each piece of bacon into it, ensuring that it is well coated. Place the sugared bacon slices on the baking tray.
3. Place another piece of aluminium foil on top and allow to bake for 20 minutes — or until the sugar has melted and the bacon starts turning golden. Take it out of the oven and allow it to dry and harden.
4. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg as well as the vanilla and almond essences and beat until well combined.
5. Add the flour and baking powder and mix slowly until the mixture begins to form into thick dough. Cut up the bacon into even smaller pieces and add it and the chocolate to the mixture. Use your hands to lightly knead the dough until well combined.
6. Flour a surface, pop the dough down and roll it out to about half-a-quarter inch in width. Use the printable template (or your own abilities) to cut out two “D”s and one “A”. Make extra letters as well as fun shapes — such as hearts — until you’ve used up all of the dough.
7. Place the cookies into a container lined with baking paper, ensuring they’re flat and level, and stick them in the refrigerator for at least one hour. This will help the dough to set and should prevent the cookie from growing too much while baking.
8. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C. Once your cookies have chilled, lay them out onto a baking tray and bake for 10-20 minutes. Check on them often because they can burn easily. You’ll know when they’re done when they start turning golden. When the time is right, pull them out, allow them to cool and then present them to Dad so he knows how special he is.

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