Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies

Yes, you read that correctly. And they're rad. Just let go and make these. It won't hurt, I promise.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies

Adapted from The Food Network Magazine

Ingredients

1 1/4 c all purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch of chipotle powder

1/4 tsp salt

5 strips bacon

4 tbsp butter, at room temp

1/2 c creamy peanut butter

1/2 c granulated sugar

1/2 c brown sugar, packed

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c roughly chopped peanuts

1/2 c chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine the flour, baking soda and powder, cinnamon, chile powder, and salt in a large bowl.

Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate; reserve 2 tbsp of the drippings and set aside to cool. Crumble the bacon, discarding any chewy bits.

Beat the butter and reserved bacon drippings in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Beat in the peanut butter until combined. Beat in the 2 sugars until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.

Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture in 2 additions, scraping down the bowl as needed. Stir in the peanuts and all but 2 tbsp of the chocolate chips and bacon.

Form dough into 12 balls and arrange 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Flatten with your fingers (the cookies will not spread when baked), press the reserved bacon and chocolate chips on the tops of the cookies. Bake until golden, about 12-14 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.