Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.

In a bowl, rub together the sugar and vanilla beans until combined. Place the bacon on the rack and rub the sugar over each piece – just a light coating. Place the sheet in the oven.

Bake for about 20 minutes, until the bacon is crispy. Remove and let it cool completely, then break it into pieces to fit the size buns and burgers you have.

In a bowl, season the beef with salt and pepper, gently mixing with your hands. In a separate bowl, whisk together the espresso powder, garlic and smoked paprika. Add another pinch of salt and pepper into the bowl. Form the beef into patties that match the size of your buns (mine were a little less than 2 inches in diameter). Sprinkle them with the spice mixture and gently press it into the beef.

You can cook the sliders on the stovetop or grill them of course – I did the stovetop for these! Add the oil and butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the burgers and cook until browned on both sides and your desired doneness is reached – I did about 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-well. A minute or so before the burger is done, top it with a slice of havarti cheese and let it melt.

To assemble the burgers, spread some jam on the bottom bun and top it with spring greens. Add the burger, bacon, bun top and you’re good to go!