Bacon Jam

This recipe can be used for spooning on Granny’s old-fashion biscuits, or put a dollop on fluffy scrambled eggs. On a toasted slice of a crusty bread or good crackers it would be divine. Whatever you use this for, it will work beautifully, because everything is better with bacon!

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • ½ cup bacon drippings

  • 2 large yellow onions, cut into very thin slivers

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • ¼ cup garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1 cup bourbon whiskey

  • 1 cup brewed coffee

  • ½ cup sherry vinegar

  • ½ cup maple syrup

  • ¾ cup ketchup

Directions

  • Cook and stir bacon in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until bacon starts to brown, about 10 minutes; drain grease, retaining 1/4 of the drippings. Stir onions into bacon and drippings; cook and stir until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in brown sugar; cook until onions are sticky and browned, about 5 more minutes. Mix in garlic, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook and stir until garlic is soft, about 5 minutes.

  • Mix in bourbon whiskey, coffee, sherry vinegar, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook until the bacon jam is thickened but not completely dry, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, about 35 minutes. Mix in ketchup and cook 5 more minutes.

  • Remove from heat, let the bacon jam cool, and pulse in a food processor to a slightly chunky, spreadable consistency. Bacon jam will store in the refrigerator, covered, up to 2 weeks.