Description
This Easy Candied Bacon recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors with a delightful crispy texture. The bacon is glazed repeatedly with a brown sugar, rice vinegar, and maple syrup mixture, then baked until golden and caramelized, making it an irresistible treat perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a savory snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Glaze
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- Black pepper, about 1 tablespoon
Bacon
- 1 pound thick-sliced bacon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Glaze: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, rice vinegar, and maple syrup, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved. Add black pepper to taste, approximately one tablespoon, to add a slight kick to the sweet glaze.
- Arrange Bacon for Baking: Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Place a wire rack on top of the sheet pan and lightly spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Lay the strips of thick-sliced bacon in a single layer on the wire rack to allow even cooking and fat drainage.
- Initial Baking: Bake the bacon in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. After this initial cooking, turn the bacon strips over to ensure even cooking, and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
- Glazing and Further Baking: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the tops of the bacon strips generously with the prepared brown sugar glaze. Return the bacon to the oven and continue baking for another 5 minutes.
- Repeat Glazing and Baking: Every 5 minutes, take the bacon out, turn each strip over, and brush more glaze on top. Repeat this process until the bacon is deeply browned, crisp, and caramelized, usually taking between 30 to 45 minutes depending on the thickness of your bacon.
- Cooling and Serving: Once the bacon is crisp and caramelized, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool on the wire rack for about 10 minutes. This helps it firm up. Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container or a zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Thick-sliced bacon is recommended for best texture and glazing results.
- Keep an eye on the bacon during the final stages to prevent burning due to the sugar content in the glaze.
- You can adjust the amount of black pepper for more or less spiciness according to your taste.
- Use a wire rack to allow fat to drip away for crispier bacon.
- Allow the bacon to cool before storing to maintain its crispness.
