Banana Bacon Caramel and Peanut Butter Shortcake

Sometimes a dessert comes along and you can't help but go whattheheckisthatallabout.

This is one of those times.

You may be tempted to look at the title and think "Uh no...WAY too weird to try". 

Not true.

It's just weird enough.

I fell in love with the combination of the chewy biscuit, crunchy bacon, squishy banana, fluffy whipped peanut butter cream, and last-but-not-least the warm and smooth caramel. 

I could go on and on about the different ways this will most definitely become your new favorite but I won't. That list is waaaaay too long. 

This will become your new favorite though.

For realz. You're doomed.

Banana Bacon Caramel and Peanut Butter

(Adapted from Food Network Magazine March 2014)

Ingredients

Biscuits

1/3 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup brown sugar

pinch salt

1/4 cup butter, chilled

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup butter, softened

sugar for sprinkling

Whipped Cream

1 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup icing sugar

2 Tbsp peanut butter, smooth

Caramel 

1/4 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 Tbsp vanilla

4 bananas, sliced

Toppings

8 - 10 slices bacon, cooked and broken into pieces (not crumbled)

Directions

Prepare biscuits - Preheat oven to 375. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, stir together the 1/3 cup crumbled bacon, flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In a smaller bowl, whisk together milk and vanilla.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until dough comes together. 

Turn onto a lightly floured work surface and knead gently 3 - 4 times. Roll dough out into a 1/2 inch high rectangle. Spread the softened butter onto the rolled out dough.

Fold the dough in half, lengthwise, and lightly roll out to 1 inch thickness.

Using a 2 - 3 inch biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits and place on prepared cookie sheet. Sprinkle with a pinch of sugar.

Bake at 375 until biscuits are puffed up and tops are browned, about 15 - 20 minutes.

Prepare whipped cream - In a large bowl, using electric beaters, beat whipping cream and icing sugar until soft peaks form, scraping sides as necessary. Add in peanut butter and beat until stiff peaks form.

Chill until ready to serve.

Prepare caramel - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir butter, brown sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla together. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 7 minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and stir in the sliced bananas. 

Assemble shortcakes - Take a biscuit and separate it in the middle. 

Top with a scoop of the warm caramel and bananas, a few pieces of the bacon, and then a generous scoop of the peanut butter whipped cream. Place top half of biscuit back on top.

Serve immediately.

A few notes - The biscuits can be made in advance and frozen in an airtight container. Just bring to room temp before serving or pop in the oven or microwave until warmed slightly.

I believe I got 12 biscuits from this recipe - which, by the way, can be easily doubled.

FYI - don't be cheap with the caramel and banana and bacon toppings. Pile it on. The more the merrier.

 

Be sure to visit these great sites for tons of links - The Chicken Chick, Ms. enPlace, My Turn (for us),