Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies

Where you in on the chocolate/bacon craze that came about a year or so ago?  The first time I had the combination was in a chocolate bar I bought at World Market.  I loved the sweet creaminess of the chocolate paired with the salty crispness of the bacon.  I think it's a match made in heaven.  So naturally when I ran across this recipe, I knew I'd be making it.

For one who doesn't have much of a sweet tooth, this is the perfect combination.

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHIP BACON COOKIES (makes about 2 dozen cookies)

1 1/8 cup AP flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3 Tbsp bacon fat, reserved when cooking the bacon
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
12 thick-cut bacon strips (12 oz package), chopped and cooked until fat is rendered and bacon is lightly crisped and browned

Preheat oven to 350F.  Line 2 cookie sheets with Silpat or parchment paper (for easier clean-up).  Set them aside until you're ready to bake the cookies.

Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

Beat the butter, bacon fat, and both sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, until light and creamy.  Add the egg and the vanilla and mix until fully incorporated.  Add the flour mixture in 2 batches and mix well after each addition.

Add in the chocolate chips and chopped, cooked bacon and mix until evenly distributed.

Spoon heaping tablespoons of the cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes.  Let cool before serving.