Recipe and image provided by D'Artagnan.

Make the candied bacon: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Set a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet, lined with parchment paper or foil. Place the bacon in a single layer on the rack without overlapping slices. Put about 1 heaping tablespoon of brown sugar onto each slice of bacon and spread evenly using the back of a spoon. Season with crushed fennel seeds.

Bake until bacon is crisp and all the sugar has melted into a shiny glaze, about 14 – 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on the rack. When cooled, cut into ½” strips. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat.

Raise oven temperature to 475 degrees F.

To a blender, add eggs, milk, half & half, vanilla, and salt. Blend until mixed. Add flour and melted butter. Blend until smooth, scraping down any flour from the sides of the blender, about 30 seconds total. Stir in half of the candied bacon.

Heat reserved bacon fat in a 10” cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When fat is hot, pour in batter. Immediately put skillet in the oven and bake until Dutch baby has risen and is puffed all over and golden browned, about 18 minutes.

Let the Dutch baby cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar and top with remaining candied bacon. Serve with warm maple syrup and softened butter.