Bacon. I bet that got your attention. I’m about to deliver to you the best recipe ever! A new twist on the cinnamon roll. Cinnamon rolls are so amazing because it’s actually ok to eat them for breakfast. Add some bacon and maple syrup, even better! I apologize in advance for posting this right before bathing suit season, but live a little people! Just run an extra mile 😉 Enough talking (typing?) and let’s go…

Note: This is not an easy recipe and probably one of the hardest I’ve ever conquered. The end result is so delicious though, so if you have the time, believe in yourself and give it a try! Just read slowly and carefully before starting.

What you will need:

Greased 9×13 inch pan

For the dough:

1 package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup scalded milk (heat in saucepan until just boiling)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsalted melted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 – 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 lb. bacon
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature

For the frosting:

1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons maple syrup

First, you need to cook the bacon. The bacon needs to be extra crispy. I just placed a few strips in the microwave, and cooked until dry and crispy. Or you can cook on the stovetop, however you normally make bacon. Once all the bacon is cooked, place on paper towel to soak up all the grease.

To make the dough:

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together scalded milk, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup melted butter, salt and egg. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour and mix to combine. Add yeast mixture and 1 more cup of flour and mix until you get a smooth, easy to handle dough, adding more flour as needed.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead about 5 minutes. Then, place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for about 1 hour.

While the dough is rising, place dried bacon in a food processor (if you have one) and pulse until you get bacon bits. Place bacon bits in a bowl and mix with 1/2 cup sugar, set aside. Tip: I do not have a food processor, so I put a few strips in a ziplock bag and banged it with a rolling pin. Hey, we do what we can 🙂

Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll into a large rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the top with 1 tablespoon of butter. Cover that with the bacon/sugar mixture, leaving about 1/2 inch from the edge of the dough. Roll up, beginning with the long side. Cut into 12 sections (or rolls) and place each roll face up in a greased 9×13 inch pan. (see picture)

Once all the rolls are arranged in pan, allow to rise another 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Bake for 30 minutes and allow to cool.

To make the frosting:

While rolls are cooling, whip 1/2 cup butter until smooth. Sift in powdered sugar until well combined. Stir in maple syrup, tablespoon by tablespoon until everything is incorporated.

Frost the cooled rolls and enjoy!