Maple candied bacon is the perfect mix of sweet and savory. Bacon is coated with a maple syrup, brown sugar and black pepper mixture and baked until crispy to make a sweet and spicy treat.
This tasty maple candied bacon is perfect for breakfast, brunch or snacking. The leftovers are great in green beans too. This easy recipe takes bacon from good to great.
Serve your candied bacon with pancakes for a fabulous breakfast. Or use it as a topping for salads, burgers and more.
The serving ideas really are almost endless. Luckily it is easy to make, so you can put it on all the things!
Table of Contents
Making Maple Brown Sugar Bacon
Candied bacon is actually really pretty easy to make. Just stir together some maple syrup, brown sugar and ground black pepper.
Arrange strips of bacon over a wire cooling rack. They can be touching, but shouldn’t overlap.
Place that wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Then brush both sides of the bacon with the maple and brown sugar mixture.
Bake the bacon until is is crispy and delicious. It takes a little while to get the bacon fully cooked, but it is worth the wait.
It may be tempting to turn up the heat to get the bacon crispy faster, but for the best results you want to leave the temperature low and let the bacon cook slowly.
That gives the fat a chance to render out a bit and the glaze gets all sticky and delicious. As the bacon cools, it will be coated in the perfect mix of sweet, salty and a little bit spicy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular bacon instead of thick sliced bacon?
Yes, you can use regular bacon just start checking the bacon for doneness 5 minutes early.
How long does candied bacon last?
Maple candied bacon is best enjoyed right away. However, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Can I make candied bacon on the stove?
It would be hard to get the bacon and glaze fully cooked without burning the sugars and making a mess on the stove. This recipe really is best made in the oven.
More Great Bacon Recipes
If you are in the mood for breakfast, try making bacon and eggs in a basket on the sheet pan. It’s an easy way to make multiple eggs in a hole at a time and we added bacon for even more goodness.
For another maple and bacon recipe, try making homemade maple baked beans in the instant pot. It’s a great way to start with dry beans and end up with a delicious sweet and savory side dish.
Maybe you are ready for dessert, in which case maple bacon ice cream is the way to go. It is fabulous on its own, but it is even more fun served over waffles!
Maple Brown Sugar Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick sliced bacon
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper to make cleanup easier.
- Place a wire cooling rack over the sheet pan and arrange bacon slices over the rack. They can be touching, but try to avoid overlapping.¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- In a small bowl, stir together maple syrup, brown sugar and pepper. Brush the mixture over both sides of the bacon.1 pound thick sliced bacon, ½ cup maple syrup, ½ cup packed brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Place the pan in the oven and bake. Start checking the bacon at about 20 minutes and then every 2-5 minutes after that. It is done when it is browned and shiny.
- Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes before serving.