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    Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Updated: Feb 20, 2025 · Published: Sep 25, 2023 by Chuckie · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Leave your cookie monsters guessing about the secret ingredient in these tasty Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies.

    Baked Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies on a cooling rack.

    Old Fashioned Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Is it really possible that people don't know that bacon grease is liquid gold that's full of rich flavor?

    Here l'll give you some guidance on how to save bacon grease, why to save bacon grease, and what to do with it.

    Spoiler Alert: Make these bacon fat chocolate chip cookies!

    Two Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies on a plate.

    Ingredients for Bacon Fat Cookies

    Utilizing my Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies recipes as a starting point, I found that subbing bacon grease for half of the butter was the "sweet spot", so to speak for delicious chocolate chip cookies that are perfectly tender, sweet, and soft.

    I betcha no one can guess your secret ingredient.

    • Bacon Grease
    • Unsalted Butter
    • White Sugar
    • Dark Brown Sugar
    • Large Egg
    • Pure Vanilla Extract
    • All Purpose Flour
    • Baking Soda
    • Kosher Salt
    • Semi-Sweet or Dark Chocolate Chips
    Ingredients for Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies.

    How to Make Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

    In a large bowl, mix the room temperature bacon fat into the unsalted butter.

    Add white and brown sugars to the butter and bacon grease. Cream them together until they are light and fluffy.

    Add the egg and vanilla, lightly incorporate these two ingredients. Don't get to crazy stirring the egg in or your cookies will be a tough.

    Add carefully measured all-purpose flour to the cookie mixture. When measuring flour make sure you stir the flour and never tap it or shake it. It should be measured with very light hands. Also add baking soda and salt.

    Sugars, butter, and bacon grease in a bowl.
    Adding egg and vanilla into cookie batter ingredients.
    Adding flour to cookie mixture in a bowl.

    Stir just until the dry ingredients are mixed in. Scrape the sides of the bowl and fold in semi-sweet chocolate chips.

    Scoop walnut-sized scoops of dough using a cookie scoop (maybe ping pong ball sized for those who need a different visual) onto the cool baking sheet.

    Leave plenty of room for the cookies to spread--3 cookies to a row is usually about right for most people's cookie sheets.

    Folding chocolate chips into the bacon grease batter.
    Scoops of Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookie dough on a baking sheet.

    Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are golden brown.

    Allow cookies to set on the cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes to firm up before removing them to a cooling rack.

    Baked Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies on a cooling rack.

    Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Leave your cookie monsters guessing about the secret ingredient in these tasty Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 cookies
    Calories 139 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup Bacon Grease
    • ¼ cup Unsalted Butter
    • ½ cup White Sugar
    • ¼ cup Brown Sugar
    • 1 Large Egg
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
    • 1 ½ cups All Purpose Flour
    • ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • In a large bowl, allow filtered bacon grease to come to room temperature along with the unsalted butter.
      ¼ cup Bacon Grease, ¼ cup Unsalted Butter
    • Add white and brown sugars to the butter and bacon grease. Cream them together until they are light and fluffy.
      ½ cup White Sugar, ¼ cup Brown Sugar
    • Add the egg and vanilla, lightly incorporate these two ingredients. Don't get to crazy stirring the egg in or your cookies will be a tough.
      1 Large Egg, 1 teaspoon Vanilla
    • Add carefully measured all-purpose flour to the cookie mixture. When measuring flour make sure you stir the flour and never tap it or shake it. It should be measured with very light hands. Also add baking soda and salt.
      1 ½ cups All Purpose Flour, ½ teaspoon Baking Soda, ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • Stir just until the dry ingredients are mixed in. Fold in semi-sweet chocolate chips.
      1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
    • Scoop walnut-sized scoops of dough (maybe ping pong ball sized for those who need a different visual) onto the cool baking sheet.
    • Leave plenty of room for the cookies to spread--3 cookies to a row is usually about right for most people's cookie sheets.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are golden brown.
    • Allow cookies to set on the cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes to firm up before removing them to a cooling rack.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 139kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 79mgPotassium: 57mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 73IUCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword bacon grease, bacon grease chocolate chip cookie recipe, chocolate chip cookie, cookie recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Saving Bacon Grease

    Writing this blog I consulted with friends near and far to assess people's bacon saving experience and habits.

    And believe me when I tell you I asked around. I was traveling to and from DC when writing this post and asked random people in the airport, on the plane, and in my conference.

    Is it really possible that people don't know that bacon grease is liquid gold that's full of rich flavor?

    What did I find out? Shockingly, some people don't save the fat that is rendered when cooking bacon. GASP!

    If you don't save your bacon fat, we can still be friends. But I'll keep an eye on you. 😉

    A friend of mine from Arkansas once told me you can render a Southerner speechless, by saying, "Why don't you just throw that bacon grease out?".

    My people saved lots of things in case someone needed them--jars, plastic containers, paper bags, rags, seeds, etc.

    However, saving bacon grease, for my people is almost a religion.

    Pro Tips for Bacon Fat

    • You can strain your bacon grease from cooked bacon in a jar to use later. Some people find it best to pour the grease through a fine strainer in a heat proof container, such as a Mason jar.
    • My sweet baby angel daughter bought me a grease can for Mother's Day this year and I sure love it! I wonder how I ever lived without it! Go ahead and snag one for you (or your momma).
    • I stir my cookie dough by hand using a wooden spoon so I have better control over the amount of stirring. If you must use a mixer and paddle attachment, mix on low. And note, the amount of mixing should be minimal when adding the egg, flour, and chocolate chips to ensure a tender cookie.
    • Ensure the baking sheets are cool when scooping dough onto them to prevent cookies from spreading out before they enter the oven. I find it helpful to rotate 2 cookie sheets, allowing 1 to cool while the second batch bakes.

    How To Store Bacon Grease

    According to our friends at Southern Living: To safely store bacon grease, you must first get rid of any small bits of bacon that are left behind:

    • Place a coffee filter or cheesecloth over the mouth of a glass container, like a Mason jar, or a container made for bacon drippings. Press the filter down so that it fits snugly inside the mouth of the jar.
    • Slowly pour the warm (not hot!) bacon grease into the jar—don't rush this step. (It's easier to do this if you transfer the drippings from the skillet into a glass measuring cup.) The coffee filter will trap whatever is left behind in the grease, leaving it nice and clear. You can also use a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth if you don't have coffee filters on hand.

    Removing the bacon bits will also help prevent the grease from going rancid and it's best to store it in the fridge.

    FAQ

    Is it safe to save bacon grease?

    Yes! Straining the small bacon pieces out of the bacon fat will help it last longer and keep it from going rancid. Store bacon grease in the fridge to help it last longer.

    What can I do with saved bacon grease?

    Well, of course, you can make these Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies, but bacon drippings are also great for flavoring veggies such as green beans, frying eggs, making a vinaigrette, making gravy, flavoring cornbread, or in Instant Pot Ham and Beans.

    Do Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies taste like bacon?

    When experimenting with this recipe, I had several taste testers (thank you UPS and FedEx delivery people for your service here at Laughing Rooster Eats).

    I let them know there was a mystery ingredient and asked each of them to try to guess. NO ONE GUESSED. And even after I told them the secret ingredient they couldn't believe it.

    Can you buy bacon grease?

    The answer is yes. You can order it online, but my ancestors would think I had done lost my mind. However, it's OK if you order it.

    Can I make bacon grease chocolate chip cookies in advance?

    Absolutely! I find it best to shape and freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls by putting them on a cookie sheet and freezing until hard. Freeze up to three months. Or refrigerate dough for 2-3 days if needed.

    Can I use bacon grease instead of butter? Can bacon grease be used in baking?

    Bacon grease is a great replacement for fat in basically any recipe, and baked goods are no exception.

    Rows of Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies on a sheet.

    Substitutions and Variations

    This recipe is an excellent base recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Feel free to substitute butter for bacon grease, if needed.

    Choose a Chip Cookie--Try any flavor of baking chip you enjoy. I think caramel bits and butterscotch chips are close seconds to chocolate in my house.

    Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies--instead of baking individual cookies, pour the cookie batter into a greased 9x9 baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.

    Fruity Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies--add raisins or dried cranberries to the batter for a little interest.

    Nutty Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies--add nuts along with chocolate chips. Try pecans, walnuts, pistachios, etc.

    Bacon Cookies--Add some chopped bacon to the batter if you want to lift up the bacon flavor. Sprinkle the top of each cookie with flaky sea salt, if desired.

    Storing Bacon Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Cookies will store well in an airtight container for up to a week. Of course, these last about 1 hour here.

    The dough can be refrigerated for 2-3 days.

    Or frozen for 2-3 months. If freezing it, I would suggest making it into cookie balls before freezing for ease. Scoop your dough into balls, place on a cookie sheet, and allow to freeze. Then put the cookie dough balls into a freezer bag for easier storage.

    Why use bacon grease in Chocolate Chip Cookies?

    1. For the love of bacon, it's fun.
    2. It's a great way to use bacon grease when I have an abundance.
    3. It's cost-effective as bacon grease is considered a by-product by some.
    4. These cookies are delicious!

    What can I make with bacon grease?

    Other than these delicious cookies--I use bacon grease for many savory applications including cooking beans, in salad dressings, to flavor green beans, to cook an egg, instead of oil in cornbread, etc.

    Equipment

    Cookie Sheets are so handy to have around. You need at least 2 so you can alternate them and allow them to cool between batches.

    Cooking Racks are important so your cookies cool without sticking together or to the plate/countertop.

    Cookie Scoops make it easy to scoop your dough and keep all the cookies similar in size so they cook evenly.

    Related Recipes

    I love a good dessert--especially a chocolate one (that's likely evident in our dessert category! Try out our Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies, Espresso Brownies, Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Filling, or Chocolate Chip Mug Cake.

    • Cornflake crunch cookies served on a blue plate with milk.
      Cornflake Crunch Cookies
    • Espresso Brownie on a plate.
      Espresso Brownies
    • Two Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies on a plate with a bite taken out of one.
      Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Finished Black Forest Overnight Oats in a jar.
      Black Forest Overnight Oats

    DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

    If you have any questions about this recipe, please leave a comment below. I'll do my best to answer you quickly!

    Lastly, if you made Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a rating!

    I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.

    And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and hashtag it #laughingroostereats! Seeing your photos is our favorite thing!

    FOOD SAFETY

    • Wash hands before cooking
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended

    • cutting the M&M rice krispie treats and serving them.
      M&M Rice Krispie Treats
    • Cadbury egg mini cookies served on a robin egg blue plate.
      Cadbury Mini Eggs Cookies
    • Fruity pebbles cereal bars stacked on a black plate.
      Fruity Pebbles Cereal Bars
    • Finished cupid crunch served in a blue heart dish.
      Cupid Crunch

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Krista Brakhage says

      November 05, 2023 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      These are the best things I have ever put in my mouth. I’m totally serious.

      Reply
      • Chuckie says

        November 06, 2023 at 7:07 pm

        You crack me up! I'm so glad you enjoyed them. It makes my heart happy!

        Reply
    2. Linda says

      November 05, 2023 at 4:39 pm

      5 stars
      Outstanding cookies!!! I will be making this recipe many times. ❤️

      Reply
      • Chuckie says

        November 06, 2023 at 7:07 pm

        Yay!! So happy to add to your cookie arsenal. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Susan says

      November 06, 2023 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious

      Reply
      • Chuckie says

        November 06, 2023 at 7:03 pm

        Thank you! So glad you enjoyed them! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Marci says

      December 03, 2023 at 7:22 pm

      5 stars
      What??? 2 of my favorite things….gotta try this one! Can’t wait to taste them but I know they will be 5 Star!!

      Reply
      • Chuckie says

        December 05, 2023 at 11:56 am

        Right??! Come back and let me know how you like em!

        Reply
    5. Stephanie Velez says

      January 19, 2024 at 12:02 pm

      Can I double the recip?? And btw OMG!!!! The BEST I’ve ever tasted! My family Loved them!!

      Reply
      • Chuckie says

        January 19, 2024 at 4:18 pm

        Right??! We love these cookies so much, too! I have not doubled this recipe (why? Idk!), but typically speaking you can double cookie recipes with no adjustments. For easy doubling, click on the "2x" in the upper right-hand corner of the recipe card and the recipe will double for you! Thank you for your feedback.

        Reply
    6. Lisa Hemby says

      February 20, 2024 at 7:15 am

      5 stars
      Made these last night. Perfect mix of sweet and salty!

      Reply
      • Chuckie says

        February 20, 2024 at 11:02 am

        Yay!!! So glad you enjoyed this little weirdo recipe. I love these cookies too!

        Reply
      • Chuckie says

        February 27, 2024 at 8:45 am

        Thank you for your feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Karen Kukovich says

      January 22, 2025 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      I can’t believe I never personally thought of using bacon grease, which I always have on hand, in chocolate chip cookies! What a great flavor combination!

      Reply
      • Chuckie says

        January 22, 2025 at 2:38 pm

        Right??! Now I look for other novel of ways to use it. Have you made my Bacon Grease Banana Bread? Give it a try!

        Reply
      • Chuckie says

        February 03, 2025 at 5:27 pm

        Pretty sneaky, huh? So glad you enjoyed these delish cookies, too.

        Reply
    5 from 6 votes

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    Hi, I'm Chuckie, food blogger, photographer, and head cook at Laughing Rooster Eats! As a mom, cooking show host, and cooking teacher, I'm here to help you develop your "cooking gene"...

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