serves
8
prep
10 minutes
cook
10 minutes
difficulty
Mid
serves
8
people
preparation
10
minutes
cooking
10
minutes
difficulty
Mid
level
“Halloween used to be a much simpler time. I remember dressing up like a genie, head to toe in cheap magenta polyester, lagging around a plastic pumpkin pail. The pumpkin and I grinned from ear to ear as we both filled to the brim with sweet treats.
At the end of the evening, my friends and I would sit on the curb, rummaging through our loot of bags chockfull with homemade cookies, crinkled parchment-wrapped caramels and silver-foil bound candies.
Now a day, youngsters are only allowed to relish in pre-packaged candies. So here is a treat of bacon bourbon brittle. As I devour my homemade candy, I’ll dream of a simpler world – or at least a simpler Halloween.”
Ingredients
- vegetable oil, for greasing
- 110 g (½ cup) caster sugar
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- 1½ tbsp water
- 15 g butter
- 3/8 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp bourbon
- ½ cup small crisp bacon pieces
- sea salt, to sprinkle
Cooling time 10 minutes
Instructions
Brush a baking paper-lined baking tray with vegetable oil and set aside.
Bring the sugar, corn syrup and water to the boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Fit the saucepan with a candy thermometer and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the thermometer registers 143°C.
Stir in the butter and cook, stirring often, until the thermometer reaches 148°C. Take off the heat and add the baking soda, bourbon and bacon pieces. Stir together and immediately spread onto the prepared baking paper and spread with a heatproof spatula. Sprinkle with desired amount of sea salt. Let cool.
Break the brittle into pieces. Enjoy!
Note
• This brittle can be made one week ahead. Store in an airtight container, layered between pieces of baking paper, at room temperature.
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
“Halloween used to be a much simpler time. I remember dressing up like a genie, head to toe in cheap magenta polyester, lagging around a plastic pumpkin pail. The pumpkin and I grinned from ear to ear as we both filled to the brim with sweet treats.
At the end of the evening, my friends and I would sit on the curb, rummaging through our loot of bags chockfull with homemade cookies, crinkled parchment-wrapped caramels and silver-foil bound candies.
Now a day, youngsters are only allowed to relish in pre-packaged candies. So here is a treat of bacon bourbon brittle. As I devour my homemade candy, I’ll dream of a simpler world – or at least a simpler Halloween.”
