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You might be thinking “bacon in gelato?” but hear me out. Bacon makes everything better, including gelato. That’s why this maple bacon gelato is something you’ll want to make over and over again once you try it!
Now that fall is in full swing, it’s time for maple bacon (a truly classic combo) to take the stage. The sweetness of the maple combined with the saltiness of the bacon brings an amazing flavor to this Ninja Creami gelato recipe.
For this recipe, you’ll need some freshly cooked and candied bacon. You can use some of the microwavable bacon (the kind that cooks for 30 seconds in the microwave), or you can get the full-fat kind you cook on the stove or bake in the oven.
I highly recommend buying the raw bacon you cook on the stove, but you can go with whatever you’d like to make it easier! I’m sure the flavor will still be delicious.
A side note for cooking the bacon: if you don’t like all of the bacon grease and cleanup that comes from cooking the bacon, you can bake it in the oven! It keeps the grease contained much better, and you can cook many more strips at a time. Less mess and more bacon!
To make this gelato extra special, we decided to use candied bacon instead of regular bacon as a mix-in. In order to candy the bacon, you’ll need some brown sugar on hand. Candying the bacon is essentially cooking it with a brown sugar rub, and I’ll tell you now that it makes bacon taste even better (which I didn’t think was possible).
Besides the bacon, you’ll need maple syrup and maple extract for this gelato recipe. The maple syrup is best when it’s pure maple syrup, but Mrs Butterworth’s will do just fine! They both taste delicious, I just love the pure maple syrup flavor.
While this maple bacon gelato recipe does require a bit more up front work, the end result is definitely worth it!
So grab a Ninja Creami pint, bacon, maple syrup, and get spinning!
To Make Dairy-Free Maple Bacon Gelato, Use the Following:
- 1 cup oat milk for 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup cream of coconut for 3/4 cup heavy cream
First Time Using the Ninja Creami or Looking for Tips?
While the Ninja Creami is a machine with only 7 (or 11) buttons, it can still be intimidating! Here are a few tips and tricks Alex and I have picked up since beginning our ice cream journey with the Ninja Creami!
- If I don’t have pure maple syrup, can I use the syrup from a plastic container (like Ms. Butterworth)?Sure! It might not have the same flavor, but adding syrup to anything usually makes it better, so I say go for it!
- Where can I find maple extract? Maple extract can be found at almost any grocery store, or you can buy it from Amazon here!
- How do I make candied bacon? To make candied bacon, you need to cook the bacon with a brown sugar rub on it. All you need to do is take the raw bacon and sprinkle some brown sugar over it before you start to cook it. Once the bacon cooks with the brown sugar on it, it will make candied bacon!
- If I put the pint back into the freezer, do I need to mix the ice cream up again before enjoying? Surprisingly, no! When using the typical base ingredients (whole milk, heavy cream), re-spinning is probably best to get the ice cream back to its original creamy consistency after freezing. However, we have found when using oat milk and cream of coconut, our first spin leaves the ice cream very creamy (almost like a soft-serve texture). After putting it in the freezer for 24 hours after this original spin, the ice cream is the perfect texture to enjoy without re-spinning! My suggestion is see how the texture is without a re-spin, and re-spin only as necessary!
- What button should I use to spin my gelato? This all depends on the consistency you’re going for! Each button operates the machine at varying speeds. For thicker concoctions (like ice cream), the ice cream button is best. However, if using eggs in the recipe (like a gelato), use the gelato button! The sorbet button is best used with fruit mixtures. For example, if mixing a can of pineapples in heavy syrup, use the sorbet button to make a delicious fruity creation! Overall, it’s something you can experiment with to find your personal preference for your ice cream consistency!
Looking for More Ninja Creami Recipes?
If you’re on the hunt for more Ninja Creami recipes, be sure to grab one of our recipe e-books, Top 25 Ninja Creami Recipes ($2.99), or the great value of over 50 recipes in Ninja Creami Cookbook: Ice Cream & Gelato Edition! Each includes favorites such as cake batter gelato, red velvet ice cream, Shirley Temple ice cream, and many more!
If you’re like us and are running out of ice cream storage containers, grab a two-pack of Ninja Creami pints to keep your freezer full with all of your ice cream creations!
Or if you don’t have a Ninja Creami and are on the fence about getting one, check out my honest review!
Do You Want to Make Your Own Ninja Creami Cookbook?
If you want to make your own version of a Ninja Creami cookbook, check out our Ninja Creami Recipe Page Template! Besides the fun design, it has space to write the spin setting, number of servings, ingredients, directions, and notes (everything a Creami recipe needs)!
Ninja Creami Maple Bacon Gelato
Description
Maple bacon ice cream uses candied bacon, maple syrup, and maple extract to create a delicious ice cream flavor! By using candied bacon, this maple bacon ice cream has a sweet and salty taste that is undeniably good!
To make this recipe in the Ninja Creami Deluxe, multiply all ingredients by 1.5
Note: 1 serving = 1 pint
Ingredients
Instructions
Place a few strips of raw bacon in a stove top pan or on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with a a light coating of light brown sugar.
Cook/bake the bacon until it's fully cooked and outside begins to get hard (candied).
For baking, it was about 20 minutes at 350 degrees, flipping halfway through.
Allow the bacon to cool, and chop 1/4 cup candied bacon. Set aside to use as a mix-in when the pint is ready to be spun.
Combine 1 tsp maple extract, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup whole milk, 3/4 cup heavy cream, 2 egg yolks, 2 tbsp pure maple syrup in a pot and cook on the stove at medium heat for 5 minutes, whisking constantly. This will ensure the eggs will not be scrambled.
Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, ensuring it does not go over the max fill line.
Wait for the pint to cool, then place it into the freezer (ensuring it is on a flat surface). Freeze for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, remove the pint from the freezer, and plug in your Ninja Creami machine! Time for the magic.
Remove the lid from the pint and grab the Ninja Creami outer bowl. Place the pint securely into the outer bowl and cover with the lid. Once the lid is on, place the outer bowl into the machine, twisting to the right until it locks into place. Press the "Gelato" button and (try to) wait patiently for the creamy treat coming your way.
Once the process is finished, press and hold the button on the left side of the Creami to twist the bowl to the left and remove it from the machine. Twist the lid off of the outer bowl and remove the pint.
Carve a hole down the center of the spun gelato and add in 1/4 cup candied bacon.
Place the pint into the machine and press the "Mix-In" button.
When the mix-in is done spinning, remove the pint from the Ninja Creami.
Now your maple bacon gelato is ready to enjoy!
Note
If you don't like following recipes, don't worry - you can customize it however you want! We personally use oat milk and coconut cream to avoid most of the dairy, and it's some of the best ice cream we've ever had.
If you liked this recipe, check out our recipe for maple bacon ice cream here.
I wonder what can one substitute the egg with?
I’ve never tried any substitutes, but after a quick search online it looks like cornstarch + cream cheese may be able to be used! I have never tried it so I’m not certain it’ll work, but it might!