It's probably time to admit that, as a society, we may have taken the whole bacon thing a little far. But bacon's irresistible mix of salty, smoky perfection makes it tough to give up altogether. So while bacon bikinis or bacon cocktails maybe shouldn't happen, bacon still has a place where it's always belonged: in food. Gather your dignity, and get your bacon fix like a grown-up with one of these clever, completely tasty bacon recipes.
1. Green Apple and Bacon Salad with Spiced Almond Dressing
When you make your own bacon bits, it really drives home what a poor imitation those fake ones from the salad bar are. It's time to shatter your illusions and step into the light — the light of real bacon bits.
Get the recipe on An Edible Mosaic.
2. Peanut Butter Bacon Rice Crispies
Since peanut butter and bacon are clearly the ideal salty-sweet complements to one another, it's a wonder you don't see them together more often, especially in this golden age of salty-sweet treats. These rice cereal treats go a long way toward correcting that oversight.
Get the recipe on Foodologie.
3. Mini Ricotta Cheesecakes with Bourbon Fig Jam and Candied Bacon
The thing you need to ask yourself is, "Is there anything delicious that isn't in this tiny dessert?" Creamy sweet ricotta topped with boozy fig jam and candied bacon? Have two. You've earned them.
Get the recipe on The Tomato Tart.
4. Buckwheat Pancakes with Brown Sugar and Bacon
Buckwheat pancakes and bacon have been flirting with each other for years, so it's nice to see them finally take that next step.
Get the recipe on Brooklyn Supper.
5. South of the Border Bacon Dip
A good cheese dip is a cheese dip that overdoes it juuust a little. With cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, and bacon, this dip fits the bill and it's wonderful.
Get the recipe on Kailley's Kitchen.
6. BLT Pizza
Essentially, this is a fresh summer salad served on a bacon pizza. Your boyfriend's going to think the concept's weird at first (and he'll be right), but the two of you are going to eat the whole thing nonetheless.
Get the recipe on This Week for Dinner.
7. Bourbon Bacon Maple Cupcakes
Smoky-sweet bourbon teams up with smoky-sweet bacon and smoky-sweet maple syrup to form the perfect smoky-sweet cupcake.
Get the recipe on Wonky Wonderful.
8. Creamy Bacon Dressing Over Greens
Sure, putting bacon on a salad is nothing new. But making a creamy delicious dressing out of leftover bacon grease? Pure. Genius.
Get the recipe on Nutmeg Nanny.
9. Jalapeño Bacon Poppers
We've all had our fill of bacon-wrapped dates. Luckily, there's any number of appetizers that can be wrapped in bacon. You're going to want to make these cheesy jalapeño bacon poppers immediately.
Get the recipe on Cravings of a Lunatic.
10. Gluten-Free Bacon Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
There's bacon and oatmeal in these, so as long as nobody's there to call you out, you can absolutely have them for breakfast.
Get the recipe on So...Let's Hang Out.
Elizabeth Stark is a food writer with a passion for seasonal food, great desserts, and inadvisable wine pairings. Read more on her blog, Brooklyn Supper.
This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com.
