Dirty Blondies

I don’t know about you guys but I don’t trust those desserts baked in 8×8 pans….I just can’t bring myself to make them. When I make a dessert it has to be at least in a 9×13 inch pan for my enjoyment because we all know that if it were any smaller it would be gone in like 2.7 seconds. Kinda like these blondies. THAT GOOD!!! CANDIED BACON, chocolate chips, caramel, sea salt?!?!? Now who can deny that’s not a heaven you want to be in?

Now I’m a complete desserts girl, just ask my husband. I can’t go to bed without having my dessert. I do try to pace myself though, but that doesn’t always happen unfortunately. Kinda the hazards of the job. Some days I begrudgingly admit that I will eat light just so I can indulge in a plate full of dessert. There is never not a cake, bars or pie in my house. Just doesn’t happen around here. I have to try to enlist taste testers so I don’t eat all my nummy treats. Lol, job position open and accepting applications!

Anyways, these are seriously awesome. I sent a few home with my parents and usually my mom is a tough critic especially on her desserts but I got the thumbs up and the “I need the recipe” from her! WIN!! But seriously, these have bacon in them, how can someone not like them. Especially candied bacon. Now if you’ve never had candied bacon you’re surely missing out and need to make these just for that aspect.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, melted
2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup caramel bits
3-4 slices candied bacon (recipe follows)

Candied Bacon:
3-4 slices bacon
1/2 cup brown sugar

Topping:
1/2 cup caramel bits
1/2-1 Tbs milk
Sea salt

Directions:

To make your candied bacon, pre-heat oven to 350. Line a rimmed baking sheet with tin foil. Dredge each side of bacon in the brown sugar until coated. Lay onto baking sheet, cook for 30 mins, turning half way through. When cooked, remove from oven and place on cooling rack to harden. Crumble into small piece and set aside.

To make blondies, increase oven temperature to 375. Line a 9×13″ pan with tin foil and generously spray with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix together the butter and brown sugar until combined. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips, caramel bits and candied bacon. Spread into prepared pan and cook for about 30-35 minutes or until center is just set. You want these to be a little gooey, as they will set more when cooled. Remove from oven and let cool in pan.

When bars are cool, remove from pan by foil. To make topping, mix together the caramel bits and milk in small bowl. Melt in microwave at intervals of 30 seconds, stirring in between, adding more milk for desired consistency. When melted drizzle over bars. Top with sea salt, cut and enjoy!

Linked at: The Better Baker, The Pin Junkie, Tidy Mom, The Jenny Evolution, Tatertots and Jello, Lolly Jane, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Made From Pinterest, A Pinch of Joy, Grace Langdon Art, 2 Bees in a Pod, Our 4 Kiddos, Eat Drink and Be Mary, Fluster Buster