Tired of pumpkin spice? TryH-E-B’sHayride Bacon

I’ll go ahead and raise my hand right now. Guilty as charged.

Pumpkin spice flavor in coffee, or even a cold beer, does not generate seasonal excitement for me. Swallowing a liquid cinnamon stick is usually what comes to mind.

So the new Hayride Bacon recently released by H-E-B was fighting an uphill battle when I decided to grab a 24-ounce package ($7.99 for 16 slices), just to see if those holiday flavors also could ruin a few good strips of pig candy.

What I got was further proof that bacon makes absolutely everything better. Even the pumpkin spice.

Hayride Bacon is cut super thick, like the brisket you may get off a butcher block at your favorite barbecue restaurant. Cinnamon, nutmeg and a heavy hit of clove join the pumpkin spice party.

Dinner on Friday, which tasted more like a glorified dessert as the ingredients melted into the pork belly, was six strips of bacon and a tall glass of beer. I might do the same tonight, because it was some of the very best commercial bacon I have ever had.

The flavor profile screams to be used like a low-and-slow pan sizzler in a cast iron skillet. Or you can give it a good bake in the oven set to 375 degrees for about 25 minutes.

While there may be some magic to be had with the Hayride in BLT form, no sandwiches were tested.

I can also see some special applications for holiday dishes. I’m tempted to try using it as a stirring stick for a glass of eggnog or to top a pumpkin pie with a fewslices.

The small batch bacon is a specialty product, so load up now while you still can. A stockpile of about 5 pounds is in my freezer, stowed away like early COVID-19 paper products.

Chuck Blount / Staff Hayride Bacon is a new item available at H-E-B stores. It features flavors of pumpkin, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg.