Browned Butter & Candied Bacon Cereal Bars

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Browned Butter & Candied Bacon Cereal Bars

Mostly this recipe intrigued me. I saw it and wondered how bacon would taste in a cereal bar; would it be bacony? or salty? Honestly, they are neither. Imagine a cereal bar, but a little nuttier tasting, a little more caramel flavored, less sugary. The bacon adds a bit of warmth and sweetness to the bar without it being too sugary. The bacon is candied so it isn't salty like bacon typically is.

The original can be found at:
http://www.bettycrocker.com/community/blogs/viewblog/andiblog/2010/7/19/twin-cities-bacon-takedown


Ingredients:


1 lb bacon
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter (no substitutions)
1 1/2 bags (10 oz each) marshmallows
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
6 cups rice Chex® cereal
6 cups corn Chex® cereal

Directions:


1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place bacon on pan in single layer. Sprinkle with half of the brown sugar. Bake 9 to 11 minutes until the sugar is dissolved. Turn bacon over, sprinkle with remaining brown sugar. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until bacon is crisp and sugar is melted. Allow bacon to cool, and then chop finely. if you didnt bake your bacon long enough it may be a little sticky, and that's ok, just be sure that it is chopped well. it may take some time. 


2. In large saucepan melt butter on medium heat, stirring frequently until it turns golden brown and begins to smell nutty. if you are prone to burning your butter rather than browning it- which is very easy to do- just add the marshmallows while the butter is melted. As the marshmallows melt, the butter is likely to brown some on its own anyway. 


3. Add in marshmallows, stir until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, salt and finely chopped candied bacon until well mixed. Gently stir in cereal, until well coated.


4. Pour Mixture into 13x9-inch glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Wet your hands slightly with water or butter and press the mixture evenly into the pan. Cool completely. Cut into Squares.


Enjoy!