Category: Desserts

Bacon Wrapped Dessert

3/3/2026

Because Self-Control Is Overrated
Some recipes are refined.
Some are elegant.
And then there’s bacon wrapped Twinkies and Oreos.
This is the dessert that makes people pause, squint, and say, “You did what?”
Yes. We did.
And we regret nothing.

This is what happens when backyard grilling collides with a sweet tooth and nobody in the group says no.

You take soft, sweet Twinkies.
You take chocolatey, cream-filled Oreos.
You wrap them in bacon.
And then you let the smoker do something magical.

At 280 degrees, that bacon slowly renders, crisps, and tightens around the dessert like a salty little hug. The sugar inside caramelizes. The cream softens. The outside gets smoky and slightly crispy while the inside stays indulgent and melty.
It’s sweet and salty in the most unapologetic way possible.

Ingredients

Bacon
Twinkies
Oreos

That’s it. No apology.

🔥 Directions
Wrap each Oreo and each Twinkie tightly in bacon.
Secure with a toothpick so the bacon stays in place while cooking.
Preheat your smoker to 280 degrees.
Place the wrapped desserts directly on the smoker grates.
Smoke for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bacon is crisp and caramelized.
Let rest for a few minutes before serving — that filling is molten lava level hot.

What Happens in the Smoker
The bacon crisps and renders slowly, soaking up that smoky flavor.
The sugar in the Twinkie caramelizes slightly.
The Oreo softens just enough to become gooey inside while staying structured.
The result? A salty, smoky exterior with a warm, sweet center.
It’s ridiculous.
It’s indulgent.
It’s wildly good.

🔥 MDM Pro Tips
• Use thin-cut bacon for better crisping.
• Want extra caramelization? Brush lightly with maple syrup the last 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle with a pinch of chipotle powder for sweet heat.
• Serve with vanilla ice cream if you’re really trying to cause a scene.
And yes — use a sharp knife if trimming bacon or slicing for serving. Rebex Cutlery keeps prep clean. Use promo code GRILL15 at RebexCutlery.com and cut like you mean it.

When to Serve This
Tailgates.
Backyard parties.
Late-night bonfires.
When someone says “We don’t need dessert.”
That’s when you pull these out.
Watch the silence.
Then watch them disappear.

Final Thoughts
This is not health food.
This is not subtle.
This is not trying to win awards for restraint.
This is bacon. Wrapped around dessert. Smoked until crispy.
Sometimes that’s all you need. 🥓🔥

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Whoppers Cheesecake Pizza

1/1/2026

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If Wisconsin made a dessert and said “screw it, let’s add cheddar.”
Let’s be honest — this recipe sounds like it was invented:

after three Sun Drops,
one fishing story that went on too long,
and someone saying “what if… hear me out…”

And that’s exactly why it belongs on the grill.
Because Midwestern cooking isn’t about rules — it’s about vibes.

And today's vibe?
Dessert. Pizza. Cheesecake. Whoppers. CHEESE.
(Grandma is clutching her pearls and we haven’t even lit the grill yet.)

This masterpiece is:
✔ wrong in concept
✔ right in execution
✔ likely to spark family debate
✔ definitely something Merrill would eat at 10pm over the sink
It’s sweet. It’s salty. It’s creamy. It’s crunchy.
It’s basically the Super Bowl of sugar and dairy.
And we’re grilling it outdoors in 14° weather, because we’re Midwest tough and the grill needs love in the off-season too. ❄🔥

Ingredients
(aka everything your dentist warns you about)

1 Pizza Stone for your Pit Boss — warms better than your high school flame ever did
1 Pizza Crust — frozen, fresh, or stolen from a kid’s Lunchable (we won’t tell)
1 box Shortbread Cookies — crush ‘em like Green Bay crushed your hopes last season
1 ½ cups Whoppers Malted Milk Balls — the candy that sounds like a fish lure
1 tub Philadelphia Cheesecake Filling — straight from the heavens
1 ½ cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese — because… Wisconsin. That’s it. That’s the reason.

Directions
(put on your big griller pants — it’s showtime)

Put cookies in a bag and crush like you’re dealing with winter rage energy.
Whoppers go in another bag — smash them like ice on the driveway.
Preheat your Pit Boss with the pizza stone inside.
- If you don’t preheat the stone, it cries.
Slather — not spread, slather — that cheesecake filling on the crust.
- Thick enough you could lose a fork in it.
Rain the crushed Whoppers down like confetti at a Packers win (rare, but magical).
Sprinkle cookie crumbs like snow in April.
Add cheddar cheese on top. Yes. On dessert.
- If this feels wrong, you’re doing it right.
Slide onto the stone and grill until the cheese is melted, gooey, and lightly golden.
Remove from the grill with pride and confidence.
Eat. Immediately.
- Share? Optional.
- Regret? Minimal.
- Sticky fingers? Guaranteed.

Tasting Notes
First bite: “Wait… what?”
Second bite: “…hold on…”
Third bite: “OH OKAY THIS ACTUALLY SLAPS.”
It’s like:
🍯 cheesecake
🍫 meets malt balls
🧀 meets dairy aisle
🔥 meets backyard grill
💖 meets therapy
Dessert pizza is the moment.
Cheddar is the plot twist.
The Whoppers are the chaos that ties us all together.

Serve this at:

deer camp
Super Bowl parties
Tuesday
baby showers
after ice fishing when your face is numb and you need joy
anytime Aunt Linda says “don’t do anything crazy”

Final Advice
Cut it like pizza.
Eat it like cheesecake.
Pretend you invented it.
Take credit confidently.
Mad Dog & Merrill® Midwest Grill’n — where good decisions taste like bad ideas, and bad ideas taste delicious.

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American Pie

2/9/2025

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Ingredients

1 Jar Cherry Pie Filling
Splash of Bourbon
1 C Pecans
1 C Dried Cherries/Blueberries
1 C White Chocolate Chips

Toppings

1/2 C Brown Sugar
1/2 C Flour
1/2 C Oats
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Allspice
1/2 C Melted Butter

Directions

Layer pie ingredients in a cast iron skillet.
Mix topping ingredients together.
Sprinkle toppings over pie.
30-35 minutes indirect heat
Pro Tip from Fast Freddie, “With what’s left in the (cherry pie filling) bottle, you could always put a little whiskey in there.”

American Pie is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "Fiddlesticks" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Bacon Trinity, Grill'n Meats, Midwest Chili, Grilled Garlic, Italian Corn, American Pie and Cherry Bombs. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

Mad Dog & Merrill® only endorse the highest quality of products and services.
What kind of grills do Mad Dog & Merrill® use? Our favorite grills include Pit Boss Pellet Grills and Louisiana Grills.
Where can the products used on the Midwest Grill'n show be found? Sun Drop Soda, Awesome Shrimp, and Wisconsin Potatoes.
Help us thank our sponsors by patronizing their local business, such as Shooting Star Casino.
Produced by Lashbro Visual Communications.

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Smores Cones

12/22/2024

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Ingredients

Ice Cream Cone
Peanut Butter
Mini Marshmallows
Chocolate Chips

Directions

Wrap with foil
Grill 10-15 minutes indirect

Smores Cones is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Eighteen of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "Marinette" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include 4 Seasons Stir Fry, Lemon Walleye, Smores Cones, Jalapeno Popper Smores, Rich Boy Brats and Chili Cheese Dip. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

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Fig & Honey Chevre Dessert

9/4/2024

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Ingredients

Pound Cake
Honey
Pineapple
Strawberries
Pecans
Honey and Fig Chevre

Directions

Cut pound cake into thick slices.
Grill a minute or so on each side.
Drizzle with honey.
Top with pineapple, strawberries, pecans and Honey and Fig Chevre.

Fig & Honey Chevre Dessert is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Fifteen of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "Goat Cheese" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Korean Veggies, Smothered Chicken, Zesty Shrimp, Sweet Avalon Corn, and Fig & Honey Chevre Dessert. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

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Bacon Wrapped Dessert

Whoppers Cheesecake Pizza

American Pie

Smores Cones

Fig & Honey Chevre Dessert

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