It’s October, a solid five months before National Grilled Cheese month in April. I know I am early but I couldn’t help myself with this one. Cheese? Bacon? Individually they are two of my favorite foods and also ingredients. When you put them together it’s pure magic! Heavenly some would say. Open up the gates ’cause i’m coming on in.
Last week I was craving a grilled cheese. Not ANY grilled cheese. I wanted something new and flavorful. It needed to hit the spot. A slice of store bought cheese placed between two boring pieces of bread isn’t exciting anymore. Let’s be honest, was it ever? Grilled cheese sandwiches have so much potential. A high quality cheddar makes all the difference but it’s not the only thing that can transform the popular comfort food. This is why I decided to take one recipe and combine it with another. Using brown sugared bacon I made a savory grilled cheese sandwich to satisfy my sweet and salty cravings!
To make two grilled cheese sandwiches the ingredients are as followed
- 1/2 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons of chile powder
- 4 slices of white/wheat bread
- 5-8 slices of bacon (depending on the thickness & cut)
- 1 Cabot Cheese Farmhouse Reserve Aged Cheddar Brick sliced
To get started you will need to take your favorite Cabot cheese and cut it into generous slices. For a super-duper gooey sandwich you can use a cheese grater to create finer pieces. This will make it melt much faster. Choosing the perfect cheese is really up to you. I went with the Farmhouse Reserve Aged Cheddar Cheese because it’s sharp, rich, and creamy. It balances the flavors and is complimented by the sweetness of the bacon. It’s also delicious to snack on while you are preparing your finished product!
The next step is my favorite part of this heavenly creation. It may be because I really love bacon OR the fact that it’s coated in brown sugar goodness! Preheat your oven to 400° and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the desired slices of bacon and coat each piece with your brown sugar mixture. Bake the bacon between 15-20 minutes. Make sure to remove the candied bacon from the aluminum immediately after cooking. If you allow it to sit too long, the crystallized coating will harden and you will not be able to remove the strips.
Once your ingredients are prepared you can start assembling your sandwiches. Everyone knows how to make a grilled cheese so this is the easiest part of all. Coat your bread lightly with butter and place inside the heated skillet. When the cheese has started to melt, place your layer of bacon and add on the top half of the sandwich. VOILA! There you have it. The Brown Sugared Bacon Grilled Cheese is very indulgent and each bite is filled with a medley of flavors.
Special thanks to Cabot Cheese for sending me a box full of delicious goodies, coupons, and my newest obsession- the cheese cutter. Since receiving this nifty little tool I have been cuttin’ cheese like it’s nobody’s business. I know what you’re thinking. Not that kinda cheese guys!
You can learn more about Cabot Creamery and their products by visiting the official website here. Get social and like Cabot on Facebook, follow along on Twitter, and share YOUR cheesy creations on Instagram! There is also a section on their website where you can browse through yummy recipes and find new ways to incorporate cheese into your favorite meals.
-stephanie j