Candied Bacon
Thick bacon rashers brushed with maple syrup, coated in brown sugar and black pepper and baked until glossy, crisp and lacquered. Sweet, salty and hard to resist.
How to Make Candied Bacon
Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.
-
Heat the oven to 190°C / 375°F (170°C / 340°F fan). Line a large baking tray with foil and set a wire rack on top.
-
Mix the brown sugar, pepper and cayenne in a small bowl.
-
Lay the bacon rashers in a single layer on the rack, close together but not overlapping. Brush each rasher lightly with maple syrup and sprinkle with the sugar mixture, pressing it on.
-
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, turning the tray once, until the bacon is deep mahogany brown and the sugar is bubbling.
-
Cool on the rack for 5 minutes, until the coating hardens and the bacon crisps. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips for Making Candied Bacon
- Use a wire rack. It lets the fat drip away, so the bacon crisps evenly, and the sugar does not sit in grease and burn.
- Choose thick-cut bacon. Thin rashers cook faster than the sugar can caramelise, and they become brittle or burn.
- Watch it closely in the last 5 minutes. Sugar goes from caramelised to burnt quickly, and the bacon will continue to crisp as it cools.
What to Serve with Candied Bacon
- Bloody Mary
- Cornbread
- Brunch eggs
Storing & Reheating Candied Bacon
Keeps in an airtight container for 3 days at room temperature, or 1 week in the fridge. Recrisp in a 180°C / 350°F (160°C fan) oven for 5 minutes.
Candied Bacon FAQ: Common Questions
How long does Candied Bacon take to make?
About 40 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 8.
What are the key tips for making Candied Bacon?
Use a wire rack. It lets the fat drip away, so the bacon crisps evenly, and the sugar does not sit in grease and burn. Choose thick-cut bacon. Thin rashers cook faster than the sugar can caramelise, and they become brittle or burn. Watch it closely in the last 5 minutes. Sugar goes from caramelised to burnt quickly, and the bacon will continue to crisp as it cools.
What should I serve with Candied Bacon?
Bloody Mary; Cornbread; Brunch eggs.
How should Candied Bacon be stored?
Keeps in an airtight container for 3 days at room temperature, or 1 week in the fridge. Recrisp in a 180°C / 350°F (160°C fan) oven for 5 minutes.
Is Candied Bacon suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Candied Bacon?
About 158 kcal per serving, with 8 g protein, 9 g carbohydrate and 10 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Candied Bacon Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
Cooked this? Leave a review
Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
Related Recipes
More American cooking and appetizers ideas from Weekly Delight.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brown butter, a 24-hour rest and two sizes of chocolate produce cookies with crisp edges, a chewy middle and pools…
Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
Tall, tender pancakes with a tangy edge and a golden, even surface. The lumps in the batter are not a mistake — they…
Classic Smash Cheeseburger
A smash burger with lace-edged, deeply browned patties, American cheese melted to the edges and a soft toasted bun…
Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
Cocoa-based brownies with a paper-thin crackly top and a dense, fudgy middle. No chocolate to melt, no mixer needed…