3672. DUTCH APPLE BABY with BLACKBERRY HOISIN BACON

serves six


1 lb thick slice bacon

2 large apples

4 tablespoons granulated sugar divided

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/3 cup unsalted butter

3/4 cup flour

1/2 package salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 large eggs

1 cup blackberry jam

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

2 tablespoons coarse ground mustard

powdered sugar garnish

maple or blackberry syrup

 

For the bacon: Preheat oven 500ºF. Place 10 slice bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet lengthwise, pull bacon to stretch about half its original length (this helps with shrinkage during the cooking process) don't allow bacon to go over sheet pan edges In a small bowl add, mustard, blackberry jam, hoisin sauce, and 2 tablespoon brown sugar, stir to combine. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of jam mixture over each piece of bacon, using a basting brush spread the jam mixture to coat the entire side of bacon, flip bacon over and repeat this process. To cook, cover the bacon with an additional sheet/baking pan laying the bottom of the pan directly on top of the bacon. Place pans in oven and par-cook bacon for 5-6 minutes or until hot and bubbling but not browned. Remove from oven and set aside until ready to use. Reduce oven heat to 400ºF. Brown remaining bacon slices and crumble for garnish.

 

For the batter: Peel and core apples, cut them into slices then slice into halves and thirds (about 3 cups apples) In a small mixing bowl combine 3 tablespoon sugar with cinnamon and ginger, set aside until ready to use. Cut butter into chunks and place in a deep cast iron skillet. Put the skillet into the oven for 3-4 minutes or until the butter is melted and skillet is hot. Remove skillet from oven, sprinkle bottom of pan with about 1/3 brown sugar mixture. Carefully spread apples over the bottom of the skillet and sprinkle remaining sugar over apples. Put skillet back into the oven, cook for 5-8 minutes to caramelize apples (you should be able to complete the next step while apples are caramelizing)

 

Whisk flour with remaining tablespoon sugar, salt and nutmeg. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. When flour batter is smooth, beat in vanilla and eggs one by one. Beat by hand for approximately 2 minutes. Let batter rest for 5 minutes. Remove apples from the oven
 

Add one strip of bacon to the bottom of the skillet at a time trying not to overlap the pieces, arrange in a star or spoke pattern so that when sliced each piece will have a slice of bacon cooked into the batter. It may be necessary to cut bacon to fit skillet. Try not to go over the edge of the skillet to keep bacon from becoming too darkened while cooking. Pour batter over bacon and caramelized apples, bake in the 400º oven for 20 minutes or center is set and sides are golden brown. The pancake will puff dramatically while baking but fall within a few minutes after baking. Slice pancake into 6 pieces, sprinkle with powder sugar, bacon bites and serve with blackberry or maple syrup.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Rebecka Evans (member), Just a Pinch