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Have you ever craved something sweet, savory, and utterly unique, that’s also an easy recipe? Let me introduce you to a delight that’s easy to make and packs a punch of flavors – Smoked Elvis Bites. This easy recipe is a nod to the King of Rock and Roll, combining the classic flavors of peanut butter, banana, and bacon into a smoky, bite-sized treat. Perfect for a snack, appetizer, or even a quirky dessert, these bites are sure to become a favorite. Let’s dive into this easy recipe and get cooking!
Let’s Prep:
Before we get to cooking this easy recipe, we need to prepare our ingredients. This easy recipe calls for a few simple steps to ensure everything comes together perfectly.
Seasoning for this recipe: Queen Bee Honey BBQ Seasoning (Discount Link)
Ingredients:
- 8 Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches (Ritz or similar)
- 8 strips Thick Cut Bacon
- 1 Banana, sliced thin
- Honey (or hot honey, optional) for glaze
- Queen Bee Honey BBQ Seasoning (Discount Link)
Step-by-Step Prep:
Slice the Banana: Start by slicing your banana into pieces about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick. Lay them out in a single layer on a plate and pop them into the freezer for about 30 minutes. Freezing the banana slices helps them hold up better during cooking.
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Prepare the Crackers: While the banana slices are chilling, separate your peanut butter cracker sandwiches. If you prefer for this easy recipe, you can use regular Ritz crackers and your favorite peanut butter, but I find that the pre-made peanut butter crackers save time and effort, making this an easy recipe to whip up.
Bacon Time: Grab your thick-cut bacon strips. Trust me, thick-cut bacon holds up much better in this recipe than the thin stuff. Cut each strip of bacon in half so that you have 16 pieces in total.
Let’s Cook:
Easy Recipe ahead!
Now that we have everything prepped, it’s time to fire up the smoker and get these Smoked Elvis Bites cooking.
Instructions:
- Preheat the Smoker: Set your smoker to 350°F. While it’s heating up, we can assemble our bites.
- Assemble the Bites:
- Take a peanut butter cracker half and place a frozen banana slice on it.
- Sandwich it with the other half of the cracker.
- Wrap each sandwich with a half slice of bacon, making sure the seam where the bacon ends meet is on the bottom. This helps everything stay together nicely during cooking.
- Season: Place your bacon-wrapped sandwiches on a wire cooking rack. Sprinkle a generous amount of Queen Bee Honey BBQ Seasoning over the top. This seasoning adds a delightful sweet and smoky flavor that complements the peanut butter and banana perfectly.
- Smoke ‘Em: Place the rack in your preheated smoker. Let them cook for about 30 to 35 minutes, but check them at the 20-minute mark. Cooking times can vary slightly depending on your smoker, but you’re looking for the bacon to turn a dark amber color without charring.
- Glaze with Honey: During the last few minutes of cooking, drizzle a small amount of honey (or hot honey if you like a bit of heat) over the top of each bite. Close the lid and let the honey glaze for 1-2 minutes.
- Cool Down: Once they’re done, remove the bites from the smoker and let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes. This cooling time allows the flavors to meld and makes them easier to handle.
Let’s Eat:
The moment we’ve all been waiting for – tasting these delightful Smoked Elvis Bites! This easy recipe produces bites that are crispy, sweet, salty, and smoky all at once. Each bite offers a perfect blend of textures and flavors, making them an irresistible treat.
Serving Suggestions:
- As an Appetizer: Serve these bites on a platter at your next gathering. They’re sure to be a conversation starter and a hit with guests around this easy recipe.
- As a Dessert: For a quirky dessert, pair these bites with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrast between the warm, smoky bites and the cold, creamy ice cream is divine.
Tips and Tricks:
- Customizing: Feel free to customize this easy recipe to suit your taste. Try different types of honey or experiment with other seasonings.
- Presentation: For a fun presentation, skewer each bite with a toothpick and serve them on a decorative plate.
A few extra notes to help you perfect this easy recipe:
- Ritz Peanut Butter Crackers: I start with Ritz Peanut Butter crackers because they’re convenient and delicious. However, if you prefer, you can use regular Ritz crackers and spread your favorite peanut butter between them. It’s all about what you enjoy!
- Honey Glaze: The honey glaze adds a beautiful finish to these bites. If you like a bit of heat, substitute regular honey with hot honey. It gives a nice kick that complements the sweetness of the banana and the saltiness of the bacon.
- Bacon Choice: Thick cut bacon is the way to go for this recipe. It holds up better during smoking and provides a satisfying, meaty bite. Thin bacon tends to overcook and can fall apart easily.
Ingredients
- 8 Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches Ritz or similar
- 8 strips Bacon thick cut
- 1 Banana sliced thin
- Honey (or hot honey, optional) for glaze
- Queen Bee Honey BBQ Seasoning
Instructions
- Slice Banana into slices about 1/2 – 3/4", place slices in single layer on plate and in freezer for 30 minutes
- Preheat smoker to 350F
- Separate peanut butter cracker sandwiches and place slice of banana in between
- Wrap in half slice of bacon, and place on wire cooking rack. Pay attention that the seam where the bacon comes together is on the bottom – this will help it all stay together
- Season with Queen Bee Honey BBQ Seasoning
- Place in smoker for 30 – 35 minutes (check it at 20 minutes) – cooking time could vary slightly- make sure bacon is a dark amber color and not charring
- Add a small amount of honey on top of bacon while it's cooking – allow to glaze for 1-2 minutes with lid closed
- Remove and let cool 5 – 10 minutes
Grab the seasoning for this recipe: Queen Bee Honey BBQ Seasoning (Discount Link)
