Bacon Fried Crispy S'mores Treats

Backstory:

As I was wandering through a grocery store bakery, I noticed a package of store brand "S'mores Marshmallow Treats" which were a combo of rice crispy treat and Golden Grahams with a few chunks of chocolate here and there. These sounded tasty to me so in the cart they went. Unfortunately, upon returning home and sampling the treats I discovered they had no crisp left at all and were just a chewy mess. Not terrible but not terribly good either. My wife and I munched on these without much enthusiasm for a day and then left them alone. The next day we attended a small live music event and there was a local brewery in attendance selling beer. I imbibed my fair share while enjoying the music and I went home a little more than tipsy. Returning to the cabin by the lake with the drunk munchies, I saw the treats on the top of the fridge. My gaze wandered to the frying pan and a container of bacon fat and then inspiration struck! I could make the treats crispy again! This snack is simple but it sure hit all the right notes. Crispy, sweet, smoky, salty, warm, and gooey. For the purpose of this recipe, we will make our own treats but you could just as easily find some in your grocery store and fry them up in bacon fat just like I originally did.

Disclaimer/Warning: I do not suggest doing any of this drunk like I originally did. Hot frying pans, hot oil, sugary treats, and inebriation are a recipe for some wicked bad burns.

Recipe Video

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp salted butter

• non-stick cooking spray or more butter

• 1 (12 oz) package of mini marshmallows

• 4 cups Golden Graham cereal

• 3 cups Rice Krispies

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup rendered bacon fat (the better the bacon the better the fat is going to taste)

Method:

1. Make Treats

   1. Place chocolate chips in the freezer well ahead of time to reduce melting when mixed in.

   2. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray, butter, or fat of your choice.

   3. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once melted add in marshmallows and stir with a silicone spatula until melted and smooth.

   4. Add in Golden Grahams and Rice Krispies and mix until fully coated in the marshmallow mixture.

   5. Monitor temperature and pliability of the mix. You want to mix in your chocolate chips at the last moment as the mix is as cool as possible but still pliable enough to press into the baking dish.

   6. Press into prepared baking dish trying to get as flat a surface as possible.

   7. Wait until completely cooled to cut into your desired serving size rectangles.

2. Fry Treats

   1. Place a 10-12 inch non-stick saute pan over medium to medium high heat. You will need to find the best heat for your stove, too hot and you will burn them too cool and you won’t get the crisping.

   2. Once the pan is up to heat add in about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat and swirl to coat the whole pan.

   3. Add in treats with plenty of spacing. You will need to watch these to ensure they don't burn. This whole process goes FAST so pay attention. The time between a beautiful caramelized treat and a burnt treat is very short.

   4. Flip treats using tongs to caramelize both sides.

   5. Once you are pleased with the color and texture of your treats remove them to waiting plates to be served.

   6. These should be eaten while still warm but not so hot that they annihilate your mouth.