Maple Bacon Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I have been deliquent about posting this week. I've been too busy doing things like getting a new job and hanging out with real people away from my computer! How dare I, I know.

Earlier this week I made bacon chocolate chunk cookies. They were absolutely fabulous. I have been obsessed lately with the idea of salty and sweet together so I knew I would love this combination. Also, it seems like everywhere you look these days bacon is making a come back as the most popular item on every menu in town, including the dessert menu!

I adapted this recipe from the Noble Pig blog. I tried to make them a little less horrible for me but honestly, they still come in at about 3 Weight Watchers point a cookie. I allowed myself to eat about one a day...and I gained half a pound this week. So, don't think this is diet food. It's just GOOD food.

Here's the recipe:
8 strips of bacon, cooked. 5 should be mixed in the dough and 3 crumbled and pressed on top of the dough before cooking. Noble Pig said this was optional but I really think it's necessary or you don't taste the bacon in the cookies enough.
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (I used stick margarine)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (I used 1/4 cup Splenda/Sugar combo)
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
3/4 teaspoon maple extract
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain on a paper-towel lined plate and chop finely.

In a medium bowl whisk flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars; about three minutes. Add egg and maple extract and beat until just blended. Add the dry ingredients; beat until just incorporated and the flour is dissolved. Stir in the chocolate chips, walnuts and bacon.

Drop one large Tablespoon of cookie dough 2-3 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven only until the edges are brown and slightly soft in the center. Mine did not spread out that much but I only did about 8 cookies per tray.

Boy oh boy were these gems a hit! I tasted this almost exact cookie at a trendy eatery the week before and I have to say - MINE WERE WAY BETTER!

Make them, eat them, love them. Be sure to tell people they have bacon in them before you hand them over because whops, some people do still keep kosher these days...even in Texas. I'm going to try these again but without chocolate. I want to taste the bacon even more and I think a simple maple and walnut bacon cookie would really do the trick.