Mac and Cheese Cones with Bacon "Bling"

I found this recipe in the Eat. St. cookbook one day while at work. It was taken from the Gypsy Queen Cafe, a food cart in Baltimore, MD. The recipe can be found online with metric measurements, so I'm posting it here with standard measurements for those of us in America. ;)

Photo courtesy of Food Network

Ingredients:

Bacon "Bling":
1 lb bacon, diced
1 large red onion, finely chopped
2 tart apples, diced
3 cups barbecue sauce
3 tbsp liquid smoke
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Mac and Cheese Cones:
1.5 lb macaroni, cooked and cooled
2 cups cream cheese, softened
1 lb American cheese, cubed
8 oz Asiago cheese, grated
4 cups 10% cream
6 large malted waffle cones

Directions: 

For the "bling," in a large skillet, cook bacon, onion, and apples over medium-high heat until bacon is crisp. Stir in barbecue sauce, liquid smoke, and vinegar. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until thick and caramelized, about 1 hour. Remove from heat.

For the cones, in a large saucepan, combine macaroni, cream cheese, American cheese, Asiago cheese, and cream. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until cheeses are melted and well blended. Spoon mac and cheese into malted cones and top with bacon "bling."