Maple Bacon Pecan Pop

If you are looking for a memorable valentine, these pie pops are perfect for office mates and friends. Place one or two of them in a cellophane bag and tie with red ribbon for an irresistible home-baked gift.

Eat well this winter, Angie

Ingredients

For Pop

1 Eckert’s frozen 9-inch unbaked pie shell, defrosted
About 2 to 3 tablespoons flour to prevent pie dough sticking
14 to 16 wooden popsicles sticks
2 ½-inch cookie cutter design heart

Egg Wash
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
Soak wooden sticks in water about 10 to 15 minutes. Before using sticks, drain off water and pat with paper towel to remove extra water.
Remove pie crust from pan; then on a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Dip cookie cutter into flour. Cut hearts in pie dough. Reserve the leftover dough to cover the wooden stick. Place pie dough shapes on a parchment lined or lightly greased baking sheet.
Whisk together egg and water in a small bowl. Dip tip or about ½-inch of one end of wooden stick into the egg wash. (An 8-ounce fruit jar works great.)
Lay egg-dipped stick on the bottom half of the heart pie dough. Cut a piece of the leftover dough to fit tightly over the stick. Use a dry stick to gently seal the dough. Dot with egg wash to “glue” dough together.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until slightly brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes. Then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.
HINT: The cookies can be made and baked up to 3 days before frosting. Carefully store in an air-tight container. Baked pie pops can also be frozen up to 1 month.
5 strips cooked crispy bacon, finely mince

Pop frosting
About 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple extract
About ½ cup cold heavy cream
¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted, for garnish
In a medium bowl, beat together sugar, vanilla and maple extract with electric mixer. Add cream and whip until thick about 2 minutes. Add a little more sugar or cream to make a thick consistency. By hand fold in minced bacon; mix well.
Frost baked pastry and garnish with pecans.
Makes about 16 to 18 pops.