Bacon Explosion

Is it me or is there bacon everywhere? Bacon is apparently a growing trend. I have seen everything from Bacon Martinis to Bacon Ice Cream. Now those are a little over the top for me, however I am willing to try these tasty Maple and Bacon cookies.

The smoky profile of bacon against the sweetness of maple seems delicious, and not in an off-putting, ironic sort of way. (If you like your pancakes stacked with bacon and smothered in maple syrup, the pairing is a no-brainer.)

I recommend 410 Degrees to any bride looking for delectable welcome basket fillers or wedding favors. Additionally, it would be a surprising and scrumptious addition to a dessert table or for a brunch-time reception (if you want, company owner Adam Koven will work with you on customizing the packaging). For those still wary of meat in their sweets, 410 Degrees also offers a line of signature cookies that ranges from the conventional (maple-oatmeal and PB Overload) to the more daring (lemon-basil and cinnamon roll), and additionally offers the option to create your own Frankencookie. (Coconut cookie dough with dried pineapple chunks and Caramelo candy bits is on my wish list of combinations to try—might be that tropical honeymoon I'm dreaming about right now). All available online for $24 per dozen, plus shipping and handling.

Your Cookies, Your Way in 2 minutes!

Mix-ins have been a staple in many ice cream shops for years already, allowing customers near infinite possibilities in designing their own creamy confection. Now bringing comparable potential to the world of cookies is Toronto's Sweet Flour Bake Shop, which lets patrons design their own baked treats and eat them fresh from the oven just two minutes later.

More than 15,000 possible combinations face Sweet Flour customers, who begin by choosing the cookie dough base they'd like: original, peanut butter or oatmeal. From there they can choose from among more than 20 mix-ins, including chocolate chunks, dried blueberries and toffee pieces. Little patience is required after that, for Sweet Flour's baking process requires only two minutes before the customised goodies are ready to devour. Cookies are CDN 2.50 each, or CDN 19 by the dozen. Also available at Sweet Flour are customised muffin tops, cookie sandwiches and a signature homemade granola with mix-ins and fresh fruit.