Snack: Salted Caramel Glazed Maple Bacon Cake Pops

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Honey

Health benefits of Salted Caramel Glazed Maple Bacon Cake Pops

Honey, often hailed as a superfood, possesses a wealth of nutritional benefits that make it a valuable addition to a balanced diet. With a glycemic index (GI) of 55 for one tablespoon, honey is considered a moderate GI food. This means it does not spike blood sugar levels as high or as quickly as high-GI foods, making it a better choice for maintaining steady energy levels and supporting overall health.

Rich in antioxidants, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, honey offers protective benefits against oxidative stress and inflammation. These antioxidants can help combat the damage caused by free radicals, which are linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Furthermore, the natural sugars in honey can provide a quick energy boost, making it an excellent option for a pre-workout snack or a natural sweetener in beverages and meals.

Honey's benefits extend beyond its nutritional profile. Its antimicrobial properties make it a natural remedy for wounds and burns, promoting healing by providing a moist environment and acting as a barrier to infection. Additionally, honey has been used for centuries to soothe sore throats and coughs, thanks to its ability to coat the throat and reduce irritation.

However, it's important to consume honey in moderation. While it is a healthier alternative to refined sugar, it is still a form of sugar and can contribute to weight gain and other health issues if consumed in large amounts. For individuals with diabetes or those monitoring their blood sugar levels, it's crucial to account for honey's GI and its effects on blood sugar.

Choosing raw, unprocessed honey can also maximize its health benefits. Raw honey is more likely to retain its antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that can be lost during processing. Incorporating honey into your diet can be as simple as adding it to yogurt, drizzling it over oatmeal, or blending it into smoothies. Its natural sweetness and health-promoting properties make honey a superfood worth including in a healthy, balanced diet.

Ingredients

MAPLE BACON CAKE POPS
6 Oz. Burgers’ Smokehouse Country Bacon
5 large Eggs, seperated
1/4 cup Maple Syrup (recipe here)
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup NOW Erythritol
1/4 tsp. Liquid Stevia
1 cup Honeyville Almond Flour
2 tbsp. Psyllium Husk Powder
1 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tbsp. Butter
1/2 tsp. Cream of Tartar

SALTED CARAMEL GLAZE
5 tbsp. Butter
5 tbsp. Heavy Cream
2 1/2 tbsp. Torani Sugar Free Salted Caramel

Instructions

1. Slice 6 Oz. Burgers’ Smokehouse Country Bacon into small bite size chunks. Either freezing the bacon for 30 minutes prior, or using scissors normally helps with this process.
2. Heat a pan to medium-high heat and cook the bacon until crisp.
3. Once crisp, remove the bacon from the pan and allow to dry on paper towels. Save excess bacon grease to saute vegetables or other meats in it.
4. Preheat oven to 325F. In 2 separate bowls, separate the egg yolks from the egg whites of 5 large eggs.
5. In the bowl with the egg yolks, add 1/4 cup maple syrup (recipe here), 1/4 cup erythritol, 1/4 tsp. liquid stevia, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract.
6. Using a hand mixer, mix this together for about 2 minutes. The egg yolks should become lighter in color.
7. Add 1 cup Honeyville almond flour, 2 tbsp. psyllium husk powder, 2 tbsp. butter, and 1 tsp. baking powder.
8. Mix this again until a thick batter forms.
9. Wash off the whisks of the hand mixer in the sink to make sure all traces of fats are washed off of the whisks.
10. Add 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar to the egg whites.
11. Whisk the egg whites using a hand mixer until solid peaks form.
12. Add 2/3 crisped bacon into the cake pop batter.
13. Add about 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter and aggressively mix together
14. The batter should be much less dry now. Add the rest of the egg whites and gently fold them in to the batter.
15. The result should be a light and airy batter.
16. Spoon mixture into a greased cake pop pan (I use this one from Nordic Ware), filling with a mound of batter that rises above the mold. Place the lid on top and bake for 20-25 minutes. You can either make 24 more cake pops, or make cupcakes with the remaining batter (same cook time, yields about 7 cupcakes).
17. Once finished, remove the cake pops and let cool.
18. As the cake pops are cooling, we need to make the sauce. You can either make this in 3 batches (as you will the cake pops) or you can make it into 1 large batch. I choose to do it 3 times. Add butter to the pan over medium-low heat and cook.
19. Cook the butter until it’s browned and the bubbling stops.
20. Add heavy cream and sugar free torani salted caramel syrup to the pan. The cream should bubble right away.
21. Mix everything together and continue to cook it while letting it reduce some. Once you can pull your spoon through the mixture and it slowly comes back together, that’s when it’s ready.
22. Poke lollipop sticks through the cake pops and dip into caramel sauce.
23. Arrange cake pops into an egg carton and sprinkle with a few small pieces of bacon. Refrigerate for 20-40 minutes (or longer, if you need to).
24. Enjoy!