peanut butter and sesame seeds are two of my favorite flavors and when combined, they blend beautifully. the sandy texture of a peanut butter cookie is a perfect match for the crispy little seeds. so why mess with the perfect combination of flavors and textures?
the current trend of adding bacon to desserts and sweets is a bit over done. when you start seeing bacon sundaes on fast food menus, it is time to move on. it wouldn't be so bad if the result wasn't a smack in the face; the overpowering flavor of salty- smoky bacon that screams it's presence bite after bite. as a pastry chef, i have learned to blend seemingly opposite flavors to form a new flavor with subtle hints and notes that leave people guessing just what might be in this dish.
to really give desserts a bacon flavor, i always reach for the pan after the bacon is cooked. the fat left in the pan is full of flavor. when used in small amounts, it can add a touch of smoke, a hint of bacon that will not mask the remaining nuances and will enhance them.
for the best flavor, use a smoked bacon that hasn't been cured with nitrites or nitrates. with all of the artisanal producers out there, you are bound to find a nice, smoky bacon that hasn't been cured. finding it is easier than you think, many supermarkets now carry uncured bacon, i buy mine locally at trader joe's. —janeofmanytrade
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