Candied Maple Bacon Strips

Name: Candied Maple Bacon Strips
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb thick-cut bacon (about 12 slices); 1/4 cup pure maple syrup; 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper; 1/2 tsp black pepper

45 min 6 servings easy

All Recipes

Candied Maple Bacon Strips

Thick-cut bacon coated in maple syrup, brown sugar, and a kick of cayenne, then baked or smoked until caramelized and candy-like.

Prep

10 min

Cook

25 min

Total

45 min

Servings

Difficulty

easy

Candied bacon is the treat that bridges the gap between sweet and savory. Thick strips of bacon are coated in maple syrup and brown sugar with a hint of cayenne for heat, then slowly baked until they become crispy, caramelized, candy-like strips of pure joy. They are addictive beyond reason.

Ingredients

Servings

Candied Bacon

Instructions

Prep the bacon

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top. Lay bacon strips on the rack in a single layer without overlapping.

Make the coating

Mix brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and black pepper in a small bowl. Brush each bacon strip with maple syrup, then sprinkle generously with the sugar mixture.

Bake low

Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the bacon is deeply caramelized and the sugar coating is bubbly and set.

Pro tip: Watch carefully after 15 minutes — the sugar can go from caramelized to burned in seconds.

Cool completely

Let the bacon cool on the rack for at least 10 minutes. The coating will harden into a crispy candy shell as it cools. Do not remove the bacon too early or the coating will be sticky.