Maple Bacon Pecan Muddy Buddies

INGREDIENTS

• 10 thick-cut bacon strips, chopped

• 8 cups Corn Chex™ cereal

• 2 cups pecan halves, toasted

• 10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

• 1 container (7 ounces) Pine River Maple Bacon Cold Pack cheese

• 4 tablespoons butter, cubed

• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

• 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

• 1/4 cup baking cocoa

DIRECTIONS

1. Fry bacon, in batches, in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Cool completely.

2. Combine the cereal, pecans and bacon in an extra-large bowl.

3. Melt the semisweet chocolate, maple bacon cheese and butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Stir in maple syrup.

4. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal mixture; toss to coat. Transfer cereal mixture to large sealable plastic bags.

5. Sift confectioners’ sugar and cocoa into a separate bowl. Add sugar mixture to the bags; seal bags. Shake to coat the cereal.

6. Spread out cereal on parchment paper to cool completely and dry. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Recipe and photos courtesy of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. Visit: WisconsinCheese.com.