Vanilla Ice Cream Gets An Instant Upgrade With 2 Unexpected Ingredients

Few are strangers to the famously delicious combination of salty and sweet. When it comes to the most memorable desserts, usually sweetness is balanced with salt, fat, or heat. And while common breakfast staples may not be the first thing you think of when you imagine what you'd like to add to your next dessert ... you may reconsider when you learn about a delicious ice cream upgrade. All you need is vanilla ice cream, maple syrup, and bacon. 

While this pairing may seem a bit nontraditional when it comes to this classic frozen treat, the combo makes perfect sense. For example, maple syrup and bacon are commonly enjoyed together, often at the start of the day alongside fluffy pancakes. The salty, savory flavors inherent in bacon — especially smoked bacon — expertly balance alongside comforting vanilla. This robust taste is only further elevated with the addition of sweet, slightly woody, caramel-adjacent maple syrup. 

Vanilla ice cream is neutral enough on its own that these ingredients will actually elevate and balance the flavor profile, instead of muddying it. As with some combinations that may become too complicated, each individual component will actually be heightened by the addition of the next. Crispy bacon also provides textural nuance, giving the ice cream mixture a bit of crunch with each bite. The great news is you can achieve this yummy combination easily at home with simple ingredients you probably already have.

There are a number of ways you can craft this dessert at home. If you plan to make the vanilla ice cream from scratch, try incorporating vanilla bean paste. There are also many no-churn ice cream recipes out there, which merely require an electric whisk or a stand mixer. But if you don't have the time, store-bought vanilla ice cream will work just fine. Just don't forget to note these 11 popular vanilla ice cream brands, ranked worst to best, before you buy.

When it comes to the bacon, you'll want to grab a standard sliced option to either pan-fry or cook on a baking sheet. The latter method will allow you to double up on flavor and crunchy texture by coating the bacon in maple syrup before baking. For extra crunchy results, try this simple hack to make your bacon even crispier: bake it on a wire cooling rack. Once cooked, merely crumble the bacon and serve over a generous helping of vanilla ice cream. Some chefs will also combine crumbled bacon into the ice cream directly, saving some on the side for a garnish. 

Others have taken this combination even further by combining it with simmered strawberries or peaches, adding yet another layer of flavor and texture. If you enjoy nutty flavors, you could always cook down some pecans in a pan with the bacon — just make sure to add these pre-chopped to ensure a balanced bite. For the finishing touch, drizzle the ice cream with maple syrup for the perfect savory-sweet dessert.