But for real, I can’t remember my life pre bacon jam and quite frankly I don’t wish to remember either. It’s literally my go-to addition for just about anything. My favourite combination being me, a spoon and a jar of bacon jam. Follow me…
Homemade Bacon Jam
First thing we’ll want to do is fry up some bacon. A favourite past time of mine. A timeless hobby if you will!
Low ‘n’ Slow
The key is ensuring you don’t have the heat above a medium. You want to render down as much fat as possible, and fry the bacon until nice and crisp. This will not only develop the flavour of the bacon, but it’ll also eliminate any chewy bits of fat. Once the bacon is crisp, remove it from the pan and leave a little bit of fat behind.
Making Bacon Jam
Alright, bacon done and dusted, time to make the jam! Here’s what you’ll need:
Bacon Jam Ingredients
Bacon – as discussed. Onion – this will be caramelized in the leftover bacon fat to add a gorgeous sweet flavour to the jam. Brown Sugar & Maple Syrup – adds sweetness and helps develop the sticky, jammy texture. Balsamic Vinegar & Apple Cider Vinegar – to balance out the sweetness. Strong Brewed Coffee & Bourbon – see below.
Okay, let’s address the 2 elephants in the room…
Bacon Jam with Coffee
Coffee and meat in general is an underrated combo, and it 100% works in bacon jam. It’s not overpowering in the slightest and gives a gorgeous depth of flavour to the jam. I’ve tested bacon jam with coffee and without, and the difference is very noticeable!
I don’t like coffee, should I still use it?
I don’t like coffee either! This is one of the few circumstances I’ll use it. You can’t distinctively taste the coffee, it just deepens the flavour.
Bacon Jam with Bourbon
Bacon and bourbon are a match made in heaven. It gives a gentle buzz to the jam.
I don’t drink/like bourbon, can I sub it?
Same as above, I’m not personally a fan of bourbon by itself, but in this context I wouldn’t go without it. Most of the alcohol will burn off, but if for whatever reason you don’t drink then just sub a little extra water or beef stock.
Once you’ve caramelized the onions, add the cooked bacon and all the other goodies in, then simmer until super soft and sticky! Now, strictly speaking, you could serve it up from there, but I highly recommend blitzing it in a food processor. This will help bind everything together and give you a finer, more spreadable texture.
What if I don’t have a food processor?
If you don’t have a food processor I recommend finely dicing the bacon once it’s cooked before you add it back into the pan. Also just dice the onion as finely as you can.
How to store Bacon Jam
Bacon jam is best served fresh, but you can allow the jam to cool and keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge. You will find that once it cools, small white dots will appear – this is the fat. Once it comes back up to room temp they will disappear (with a quick stir). I recommend warming it through on low heat with a splash of water to loosen it up (if needed) before eating again.
How long does bacon jam keep in the fridge?
I usually keep it in the fridge for no longer than a week, but you can leave it longer at your discretion. The jam is packed with a fair bit of salt and sugar so 2-4 weeks should be fine if it’s kept airtight and at fridge temperature.
Canning Bacon Jam
The FDA does not approve the canning of the bacon jam at home. This is due to not being processed with enough heat and pressure. Thank you, Bea, in the comments for this info!
Serving Bacon Jam
What can I use Bacon Jam for?
Cheese and Crackers Stuffed Chicken Breasts Bread/Croissants and butter Burger Filling (especially with blue cheese!) Grilled Cheese
If you love bacon in a sweet context then definitely check out my Maple Bacon Grilled Cheese and Cranberry Bacon Brie Grilled Cheese! Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for this bacon jam shall we?!
How to make Bacon Jam (Full Recipe & Video)
If you loved this Bacon Jam recipe be sure to Pin it for later! Already made it or got a burning question? Give me a shout in the comments below and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!
