Maple Bacon Kettle Corn
Things that I’m really good at:
cooking bacon, eating popcorn, writing on graph paper, text messaging, and typing simple equations into my calculator.
Things that I really suck at:
math.
I already have a serious problem with kettle corn.
A few months back I ate only kettle corn for a week straight.
You think I’m kidding. I’m not.
Now I’ve gone and cooked the kettle corn in bacon fat and added crisp bacon bits and maple syrup.
This can’t end well.
It will surely end with one sticky computer.
Oh well.?
Maple Bacon Kettle Corn
4 slices bacon, cooked, fat reserved
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 cup corn kernels
1/4 cup cooking fat (use the reserved bacon fat and extra olive or vegetable oil to make 1/4 cup of popcorn cooking fat)
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt (depending on your taste)
Cook off bacon until brown and crisp. Set aside to cool. Once cool, chop into small bits and toss with maple syrup.
Carefully measure out the hot bacon grease. If you don’t have 1/4 cup of fat, add some vegetable or canola oil to make 1/4 cup of oil for cooking the popcorn.
In a large pan over medium high heat, heat the bacon fat and oil mixture. Add the corn kernels. Sprinkle over the sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid and wait for the popping to begin.
Once the popping begins, use two good pot holders the hold together the pan and the lid and shake the pot. Feel free to take the pot off the flame to give it a good shake. Just be careful and then return the pot to the flame. Shake often throughout the popping process. This will help ensure that the sugar doesn’t burn the pan and the popcorn.
Once finished popping remove the lid and salt with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon more salt. Use a large spoon to stir the popcorn. You don’t want the hope sugar to burn you. Pour in the bacon and maple mixture. Toss together and serve.










126 Comments Add A Comment
I live for bacon. No joke. Perfect cure for writers block!
Love this idea! How can it NOT taste good :)
My husband and his gut thank you for this recipe. I, on the other hand, will now have to buy him bigger pants. Thaaaaaanks.
Are you kidding me???? Why hasn’t someone though of this sooner! Oh how I love me some Bacon and Kettle Corn! I could live on it for a week as well. Wow, just Wow!
You know, I was cooking bacon and french toast last week and for some reason telling my husband about how much Joy the Baker loves bacon. I think this proves my point. :)
Is it weird to hear that your readers talk about you like a real-life friend? Sorry, I can’t help it!
Are you serious? My husband will think he has died and gone to heaven!!
HOLD THE PHONE! this is too much… except that it’s not and I’m definitely going to try making it for movie night. Seriously though lady- WHOA! Thank you!
I’ve started buying bacon by the slice at my local butcher to avoid having it on hand… so much for that plan. I’m contemplating a bacon kettle corn and multivitamin diet at the moment.
Adam
lickmyspoon.com
i don’t even like popcorn and i’m drooling and craving this! must be the bacon… :)
this is yummy!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you also LOVE bacon!! Please, more bacon recipes!!
i want some. PRONTO. i’ve had bacon brain for a week (and that means “more than usual” bacon brain). time has been the only thing holding me back from making bacon pancakes which i adore. maybe i’ll have bacon pancakes for dinner & maple bacon kettle corn for dessert. ;o)
Now you’re talking my language fluently! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, can you hear the pitter patter of my feet running to the grocery store for bacon (ahem, yes I did just finish a cleanse, and bacon is a no no, but this is just too yummy scrummy not to try).
We are one step away from “Pig Candy,” as done by the Sweet Potato Queens. Thick sliced bacon covered in dark brown sugar and broiled in the oven. Break it up and eat it out of a brown paper lunch bag.
TJ
WOW! This is so clever!
…Ooo girl, I bet you were one gassy lassy after a week of eating kettle corn! lol… :o)
…This recipe sounds incredible! I too love kettle corn. And bacon. I also love maple syrup. I’m certain I’ll love this… Thanks for sharing!
…Blessin’s… :o)
That sounds like a heavenly combination. How on earth can anyone say no to that. Added to my “to make” list and moved to the top. Just made the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes and they were deeellliiiicouusss!!!
Are you kidding me, Joy? I LOVE kettle corn. Can’t stop eating it. And now you’ve gone and added bacon? I might just die from happiness after I eat it.
Oh well indeed! Bacon + kettle corn = love in a bowl, on my fingers, in my mouth. I am also bad at maths, but good at eating. It’s a win, win in my book.
I’ve been planning n making this for sometime now but I’m on a diet!
all i can think about is if i can make this and eat it before my husband comes home :) and how i’m going to track this with my weight watchers points :)
sarah, let me know if you do figure out the nutritional info :o)
Yumm!! You always inspire me to cook. Thanks
Dear God! I mean Joy, Thank you for this recipe! I LOVE YOU!
*love*
that popcorn looks SO. GOOD. but what i’m really drooling over is that 13″ macbook pro with the glass trackpad… tasty. you can tell i work at Apple can’t you… haha congrats on your SWEET new computer : )
This is so cool! I made almost the exact same thing over the weekend for my dad’s birthday – The world’s greatest caramel corn + cashews + candied bacon. He liked it a LOT. Yum!! :)
This sounds fantastic. I think there must be something in the air–Autumn? Thoughts of September? Maple syrup and popcorn combos all over the place. But none before now with bacon.
I think you are a genius.
Seriously.
And a little rebellious in a great way. I like your rebel self!
Go bacon!
WOW!
Oh God. I’m done for now. :)
LOL. Jessica… she loves her bacon. Heh. This looks absolutely amazing. I wish I could taste real maple syrup :(
hmmm, I think this might be one of the best things ever – popcorn and bacon. I’ve been know to have popcorn alone for any given meal – you’ve brought it to a new level. Planning an “iron chef” type cook off with neighbors and if bacon makes it to being one of the secret ingredients I may have to re-create this recipe. Praying we draw bacon….
This sounds great! I love maple and bacon (I think it’s required, for Canadians), and kettle corn too, which is harder to find up here. Have you thought of adding peanut butter? I like PB and bacon sandwiches and just made PB and bacon cookies, rolled in maple sugar. Mmmmmmm.
joy, i love you. almost as much as i love bacon. and popcorn. fruuuuck.
I think this has awesome fair food written all over it. I simply cannot wait to try this sinful goodness.
Haha this is full of awesomeness. Mathematical equations + pretty fancy for kettle corn goblet + (PLUS!) baconated mapley kettle corn goodness = WIN. Wait, no. STICKY WIN. So did you have to wipe down your pc keys? I need to know these things in advance before I venture forth!
This looks absolutely fantastic. Maybe I’ll serve this with apple cider cocktails on Halloween……
Woah Joy, if the last photo that you took looks reallyyy good!! :) great job!
I make kettle corn all the time! Some tips I’ve picked up along the way:
*Start the heat on high, but turn it down to medium once you put the kernels in the pan (go up or down depending on your stove, you’ll just need to feel this out.)
*Shake the pan constantly or the sugar WILL burn
*When it’s done popping, stir it with a wooden spoon and keep it moving until it cools. If you let it sit, the sugar hardens and you get popcorn rocks. Which could be fun? But they are hard to eat
I’d imagine that if you like kettle corn popcorn, this maple bacon version is like Crack. And I know exactly how you feel… I’m terrible at math (hence why I went to art school).
Looks like this turned out alright ;-)
Why oh why share something so deliciously evil? Now I will just wish I can make it…I might dream about it even :)
I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard of maple, bacon and popcorn together but I’d be willing to try it!
I know my friends would love this on movie night. Being a vegetarian makes it hard to modify this recipe at all, but I can always make it for others!
Oh wow. Um, all of my favorite things in one place. Amazing. You know, my crazy husband doesn;t think he likes kettle corn. This is totally going to prove him wrong!
Dearest Joy,
You are killing me with this recipe! I have been counting the days until our annual Solano Stroll that comes up once a year in Sept. and has not one, but two Kettle Corn stands. I buy the $8 bag and it’s all I can do not to attach the bag to my ears and eat like a horse. And now, you’re telling me I can make kettle corn…..kettle corn with bacon and maple flavor at that! No, no, no. Was this what happens when you get baker’s block??????
xoxoxoxox
That’s all my favorite foods in one bowl. I might not eat anything else for a week if that’s in my house.
Popcorn, maple syrup and bacon – what could possibly be wrong about that. And you used bacon fat! I am undone.
I keep kettle corn in my drawer at work.. the microwave kind of course. But cooking in bacon fat? Yup. You’ve got me sold.
Joy, you’re a genius. Simple. Who cares about math any way?
Joy, you are wonderful! Your wit, your recipes, your smart alecky-ness, your photography… thank you for sharing your gifts so readily and so charmingly! I’d come over and clean your place and sing you a song if we were friends! You rock it somethin’ special!
I am just in love with this recipe…now this I could see rationalizing eating for an entire week. Yum.
I’m so glad you went with the bacon! This recipe is to die for, I’m in love!!