Apple Maple Bacon Coffee Cake-Award Winning Recipe
 
 
This red-ribbon award winner (2011 Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center Blue Ribbon Country Fair) is an adaptation of my great-great-grandmother's coffee cake batter...with a few modern twists.
Author:
Ingredients
  • FOR THE BACON WEAVE:
  • 1 pound thick cut bacon
  • 4 tablespoons real maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon sanding sugar
  • FOR THE FILLING:
  • 4 granny smith apples, peeled, cored, cut in 8ths.
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider syrup
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons apple brandy (optional)
  • FOR THE CAKE BATTER:
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 6 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 6 Tbs melted butter
  • 1½ cups half and half
Instructions
  1. Spray a metal rack, placed over a baking sheet, with Pam.
  2. Weave the bacon in a basket-weave pattern.
  3. Brush with maple syrup.
  4. Bake in 300 degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
  5. In a large skillet, melt the butter.
  6. Add the sliced apples.
  7. Squeeze lemon juice over the apples.
  8. Add the two syrups and the apple brandy and allow to caramelize, about 15 minutes on medium high heat.
  9. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  10. In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients.
  11. Add the melted butter and milk and stir with a wooden spoon. *
  12. Press the ⅔ of the dough into a greased 9" springform pan.
  13. Arrange the caramelized apples on the top of the dough.
  14. Place the remaining dough on top of the apples.
  15. Lay the bacon weave on top of the cake, and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
  16. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  17. Allow to cool.
  18. Remove from pan and place on serving platter.
Notes
* The dough will be quite stiff and will pull away from the bowl and form a ball.
Recipe by The Saucy Southerner at http://www.thesaucysoutherner.com/apple-maple-bacon-coffee-cake-award-winning-recipe/