Take, for example, these three simple words: Bacon Salted Caramel. Just three little words and you know exactly the kind of delicious salty-sweet experience you're getting yourself into.
Some may tell you that the bacon-plus-sweet-stuff trend is getting dangerously close to becoming a cliche, and they might be right. But even the weariest of cliches are based on the best of the best, the beautiful examples of ideas that, in time, can become overused.
Without further ado, amid the many imitators, there are some still doing justice to the lofty ideal of bacon-influenced desserts. Enter: Denver Bacon Company.
(Takes a bite of bacon caramel, proceeds writing with slightly sticky fingers. Is not being very ladylike.)
So, these caramels. Unlike certain anonymous bacon sweets I've tried, the bacon element in these is perfectly integrated into the smooth, buttery caramel so that the overall effect isn't reminiscent of bacon bits at all, rather it's as though the bacon essence is steeped into the very fabric of the caramel. The caramel, by the way, is delicious in its own right and manages not to be overly sweet. A pretty neat trick, considering caramel is primarily made of sugar.
(Takes another bite, generously decides to save half for husband.)
(Eyes remaining half of caramel, remember promise to husband. Continues writing.)
This review wouldn't be complete without touching on the candy's texture – in my opinion, food's most powerful aspect. The caramel itself is smooth and pliable, yet firm – but not so firm that it sticks all up in your teeth. Interspersed through the creamy, smoky caramel, tiny nibs of bacon provide an interesting mouthfeel and keep the experience alive from the first taste to the last bite. Speaking of...
(Realizes caramel has made it into hand and hand has made it halfway to mouth. Fleeting image of husband not getting to taste caramel appears. Decides to blame it on cats. Is not being a good example.)
For more information on the masterminds behind these caramels, visit their website or Facebook page.