Chocolate Peanut Butter Maple Bacon Fudge

No, that second-to-last word in the title is not a misprint. 
BACON.
Yum.

I was looking for something to supplement my younger brother's gift, and goodies for my friend's treat baskets this Christmas. Something different. Something a little strange but in a strangely good way. It turns out that Chocolate Peanut Butter Maple Bacon Fudge (say THAT 10 times fast!) was just what I was looking for.

You should probably give this out as gifts next year or ladies! Make this for your hubby/significant other this Valentine's Day. It's easy and men love bacon and chocolate (but so do I... who am I kidding.)

Let's gather your ingredients. You'll need:
• A package of bacon. I believe my package was either 12 oz or 16 oz.
• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter chocolate chips (spend the extra dollar and get the Reese's ones. You won't regret it. I didn't really have a choice as it's the only kind my store carried but you can't beat the taste of Reese's peanut butter!)
• 1 - 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• 4 TBSP of unsalted butter (I used salted as it was all I had - didn't make much of a difference.)
• 1/2 tsp maple flavoring *

You'll also need:
• A pan of some sort with the most straight up and down sides you can find. I ended up using a 12x9 French White Corningware dish.
• Crisco or Pam Spray

* A note on the maple flavoring - I didn't have it nor was I going to purchase it for 1/2 tsp - I used just a little bit of normal syrup and it turned out just fine. I don't think 1/2 tsp. of anything will make that much difference in this recipe, you really could probably even leave it out.

Grease up your pan before you get started.

Using your preferred method, crisp up your bacon. (some like baking bacon, some microwave it, and some pan fry it... I pan fried it.) You'll want to crisp it up to not where it's black but not where it's rubbery still either.

Cooking the bacon... not ready yet

When it's browned up and crispy, transfer it to a plate. Carefully blot at the grease on the bacon with a paper towel - don't burn yourself. Grease burns are no fun. I don't set a towel underneath as I cut my bacon into small pieces right on that plate with kitchen scissors, and cutting up paper towel with your bacon isn't going to taste so good.

Chop the bacon into fine pieces with your kitchen scissors. The more fine, the better.

Now, in a different pan (I used a dutch oven for this part), melt your 4 TBSP of butter, your 1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chips, your 1/2 cup of peanut butter chips, the 14 oz can of condensed milk, and your 1/2 teaspoon of syrup. Cook and stir until melted. Make sure to cook these ingredients over medium-low heat. It melts faster than you would think! Burnt chocolate is one of the saddest and worst smelling things.

Now, add most of your bacon - reserve a little on the side for garnish on top later.

Empty your dutch oven into your greased up pan. Try not to stir the grease (especially if you used pam spray) into the fudge mixture - to move it around to fill to the edges, take your spoon and lightly dab into the fudge to make it spread.

*drool*

Take the rest of the bacon you had reserved and spread it on top of the fudge. Hubba hubba.

Here's the best part - no baking! Let it cool for a few minutes, then cover it with aluminum foil and stick in the fridge. You'll want to give it at least 4 hours to set up, but overnight is better.

I was able to cut this into about 54 1x1 squares, so PLENTY to go around! And I may have had a piece or two while cutting it up. ;)

Thanks for following along! Let me know how this turned out for you! And try not to eat the whole pan! (I won't judge though if it happens. Ha! ;)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Maple Bacon Fudge
Adapted from Justapinch.com

Ingredients:
• A package of bacon. I believe my package was either 12 oz or 16 oz.
• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter chocolate chips
• 1 - 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• 4 TBSP butter (salted or unsalted)
• 1/2 tsp maple flavoring or syrup

 Directions:
1) Coat pan with Pam spray or Crisco. It can really be whatever size pan you want - just try to find the one with the straightest sides. I used a 12x9.
2) Cook your bacon until crispy. Move bacon to plate when complete, dab at grease with paper towel, chop into fine pieces.
3) To a different pan (not your bacon pan, I suggest a dutch oven), melt your remaining ingredients over medium-low heat.
4) When melted, remove from burner and add almost all bacon. Reserve a little for garnish.
5) Carefully scoop fudge into prepared greased pan. Jiggle to get the fudge to the edges or make indentations to get the fudge to move - just try not to mix the Pam spray or Crisco into the fudge.
6) Add remaining bacon pieces on top.
7) Cover with tinfoil, refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.