Bacon Cheddar Bites

I did a marriage between Cheese Nibbles and Anna Olson’s Bacon Cheddar Shortbread. It was a marriage made in heaven! The result is a tasty treat to set out as a holiday appetizer (or to gobble up yourself before any guests arrive).

Chill your dough – ones on the left were chilled 2 hours, the ones on the right 1 hour

The dough can also be frozen and thawed in the fridge for baking later.

5 strips crispy cooked bacon, roughly chopped
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
½ cup cold butter, cut into pieces
3 cups coarsely grated extra sharp cheddar cheese
coarse salt, for topping (optional)

Using a food processor, pulse the bacon with the flour and seasonings until the bacon is finely chopped. Add the butter and pulse until blended, then add the cheddar and pulse until the dough comes together. Shape the dough into 2 logs, wrap in plastic and chill until firm, at least two hours. If you don’t wait for the dough to firm, your nibbles will spread out a bit during cooking.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Working with one log at a time, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice coins about ¼-inch thick (or roll out and cut to size). Arrange on the baking sheet, leaving about ½-inch between the cookies. Sprinkle the tops lightly with salt, if desired.

Bake for 18 minutes until the shortbread are lightly browned on the bottom. Rotate the pan midway through cooking.

Cool the cookies on the tray for 10 minutes before removing and storing in an airtight container.