Guest Chef Betty Crocker wins Twin Cities Bacon Takedown

Can you imagine winning a Bacon recipe contest with cereal bars??? Betty Crocker's  Digital Food Editor, Kristen, entered and won the Twin Cities Bacon Takedown! Click to read more....

Brown Butter Cereal Bars with Candied Bacon
1 lb bacon
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter (no substitutions)
1 1/2 bags (10 oz each) marshmallows
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
6 cups rice Chex® cereal
6 cups corn Chex® cereal

Heat oven to 400°F. Line broiler pan or 10x15 pan with parchment paper or foil. Place bacon on pan in single layer. Sprinkle with half of the brown sugar. Bake 9 to 11 minutes until the sugar is dissolved. Turn bacon over, sprinkle with remaining brown sugar. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until bacon is crisp and sugar is melted. Set aside to cool, finely chop.

In 5 quart dutch oven melt butter on medium heat, stirring frequently until it turns golden brown and begins to smell nutty. Add in marshmallows, stir until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, salt and finely chopped candied bacon until well incorporate. Gently stir in cereal, until well coated.
Spoon into 13x9-inch glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Wet your hands slightly with water and press the mixture evenly into the pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into small (1-inch) bite sized pieces.