You absolutely must try Candied Bacon. It’s bacon that is caramelized and crispy and sweet. And it’s my newest obsession. Watch the video showing you how to make Candied Bacon, then scroll to the bottom of this post and print out the full recipe to make at home.
What I’m about to share with you today is so incredible that I’m just going to go ahead and apologize in advance for the massive cravings that might ensue after reading this post. I made this bacon as a snack, you see… an after-school snack. My son had asked me if I could whip up a little something for him to nibble on while tackling his math homework, and I brought him this Candied Bacon.
He looked at me all wide eyed and surprised, took a bite, and then he delivered a very enthusiastic, “THANK YOU!” I understood his enthusiasm. I had already sampled my slice of bacon, and I was definitely wishing I’d made more! This stuff is good. SOOOOO good. Really good. Like, you’ll be craving-it-in-your-sleep good!
How do you make Candied Bacon?
It’s super easy to make candied bacon, actually. You’ll need just three ingredients- bacon, brown sugar and cinnamon. That’s it.
Mix the sugar and cinnamon, then coat the bacon slices generously with it. Since all of the sugar does not end up sticking to the bacon, you’ll end up with about half of it left over that you can just toss. But you do need to make more than needed so you have a proper amount in the bowl to slather it onto the bacon.
You’ll be baking this bacon, so place it on a rack that has been set on a foil- lined, rimmed pan. I like to poke the bacon down through the rack in a few places so it gets that wavy look when it’s done.
And then let the oven do its magic. The bacon gets all caramelized and candied and wonderful. And it only takes about 15 minutes.
What can you use Candied Bacon for?
If you can manage to get the bacon to a plate without eating it all first, you can serve it up for breakfast. But I’m envisioning much more than breakfast for this bacon! I see it in chocolate chip cookies. I see it sprinkled on top of maple cupcakes. I see it in my dinner salad. And I see it crunched into pancakes too. Are you craving it with me now?
If you have a package of bacon sitting in your refrigerator right now, give it a boost and make candied bacon instead. And because you make it in the oven, there is very little clean up involved too!
Lovers of bacon might also enjoy Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots or Bacon Cheeseburger Soup. Hot Bacon Vinaigrette Dressing is a great idea too. Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon is my favorite!
Candied Bacon
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 12 slices center cut bacon (don't use extra thick bacon)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a rack on top (like a cookie cooling rack). Spray the rack with nonstick spray.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Dip bacon slices in the cinnamon-sugar, coating both sides, and place the coated bacon strips on the rack. I like to poke the bacon into the grooves of the rack in a few places so your bacon will come out looking a little wavy.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bacon appears to be caramelized and somewhat crispy. Watch closely after 15 minutes since the sugar can begin to burn when left in too long. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- *Note that nutritional information was figured using just 1/4 cup brown sugar since only about 1/2 of the sugar in the recipe will actually stick to the bacon.
- *If you are preparing this recipe as gluten-free, just be sure to use a brand of bacon that is known to be GF.
I make candied bacon regularly. Instead of cinnamon, I add a pinch or two of cayanne pepper for a kick!
You’re Candied Bacon is a hit. Can’t wait to experiment with spicy ingrediants.
Thanks
Amazing! So delicious and so simple. I used to get this at a local restaurant and now I can make it at home. I halved all the ingredients and flipped the bacon midway cooking and sprinkled the rest of the brown sugar mix on top. It was truly divine!
Can I use this recipe with turkey bacon?
I haven’t tried it with turkey bacon.
What kind of bacon works best?
It’s indicated in the recipe: Center Cut Bacon (not thick cut).
I made candied bacon to accent Bloody Mary drinks. It is amazing! Everyone agreed that it tastes like the most flavorful parts of a glazed ham.
One additional tip, my bacon lost a lot of the sugar as it “sweated” and dripped. I flipped the strips about halfway through cooking, then sprinkled them with more sugar.
How long can you store the candied bacon and how should it be stored?
I would eat it within a day or two. I always store leftover bacon in a covered container or plastic baggie in the fridge.
This is the only candy I need.
This looks SO good!
Who could resist this?
We love pretty much everything about this!
Cravings is absolutely right. Once you make this you will crave it again and again! So delicious!
I’m in love with this recipe! Mmm!
So easy to make and such a treat to eat!
I would LOVE this on a salad!!
If I’m giving this for a gift for my son, how best can I package/store this? info or ideas please. Thank you
Gosh, I’m not really sure! It’s best eaten within a couple of days.
I am a private chef, culinary teacher, and restaurant critic and I used this recipe in my banana maple bacon cupcakes. I also topped the cupcakes with a cream cheese icing that I added in this bacon. It was to DIE for! NOTE: I used freshly ground Saigon Cinnamon, it just makes the taste “pop.”
sounds great- thank you for sharing your success!
I tried this today and I must say that this is the best bacon I ever tasted. I adjusted it slightly for three strips of bacon and it turned out perfectly. I’ll definitely be making this agin.
I didn’t Know Bacon Had gluten in it .nice to know
Some does and some does not. Best to check with the brand.
Brown sugar & cocoa!!!
This looks so good, I pinned it for later and couldn’t decide what board to put it under…candy or desserts…haha.
I just made this recipe and it tasted so amazing!!! I’m so glad I tried it! I did find that a 1/2 cup brown sugar wasn’t enough to coat all 12 bacon slices, so I made an additional 1/2 cup. I also had to bake mine for about 25 minutes to get a decent level of crispiness (but even then the slices weren’t that crispy). But with all that sugar on the slices I don’t think it’s possible to get it very crispy without burning the bacon/ sugar. Either way, awesome dish that I will definitely make again!!! : )
This is just the recipe I was looking for to make Bacon maple ice cream!
Evil…just pure evil…the way it is looking at me…enticing me…
Oh my goodness!!! I made this to top cupcakes for my Dad’s birthday and I thought I could handle it…I now have a burnt tongue and fingers because I couldn’t wait till it cooled!! Soooo delicious! Perfect balance of salty & sweet! I can’t say YUM enough!
I think this will be the perfect garnish for the bourbon brown sugar cupcakes I plan on making this weekend. I’m pretty sure that I will have to make this when my husband isn’t around or there won’t be any left to put on the cupcakes.
I make something similar to this using cayenne pepper and turkey bacon. I have to make 2 lbs at a time because it goes so fast.
Ooh, this recipe is dangerous, for I have a full pack of bacon in the freezer. *rubs hands gleefully*
I cringe evertime I see a newly added “bacon item” to various menus. Everyone is coming up with some gnarly bacon concoction and yet I found myself drawn to this one! I WILL be making this for my family and will post the reviews after. Thanks for a very delicious looking menu item!!
I just made this. Am trying very very hard to make myself stop after two slices….can’t wait til my son gets home so he can try it! Oh wait, he has detention. Highly probable his sisters will have devoured it by then. Too bad, so sad! Thanks for the recipe!
This stuff is awsome. The version I’ve made is with red pepper rather than cinnamon – but I think I found a new recipe to try!!
Love me some pig candy!
Amazing! Love the tip about poking it through in a few places–it turns out so pretty!
Lori, i’ve never had candied bacon before but LOVE anything salty/sweet. Plus, i think my boyfriend would love me even more if i made anything with bacon for him. Saving this recipe for sure!
You’ve made me want to take a bite out of my computer screen. Seriously. I’ve got a couple pounds of bacon in the fridge that is soon going to turn into candied bacon. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I make this all the time. We call it Pig Candy out here in Texas. I agree try a little cayenne pepper that is good too.
Thank goodness I don’t keep bacon in the house because this could be dangerous!
Yes! I am craving it now! This stuff looks so delicious. Thanks for such a great idea. 🙂
To take it over the top, dip it in melted semi-sweet chocolate with a bit of cayenne pepper mixed in and let the chocolate harden.
I make this a lot..well not a lot because it is too tempting, but maybe once a month. Sometimes I add a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper. YUM
Oh yes yes yes. When I made Jessica’s (How Sweet It Is) candied bacon pb cookies I had to make extra candied bacon than the recipe caeld for because I ate a lot of it before I could even make the cookies.l
Try it sometime with a hot component like cayenne too. I wrap brown sugar/cayenne coated bacon around a pretzel and bake it. One of our most favorite appetizers EVER.
I’m not a bacon fan because of calories! 🙁 But I would so love to make this for my Husband! He would LOVE it!!! I’m thinking of making it this morning than bringing some in to his work. His whole work has a bacon fetish!!
Oh my – this is quite painful to look at when I’m trying to be healthy. Oh well, you only live once, right?
This sounds absolutely wonderful and is simple to do gluten free. Can’t wait to try it on GF pancakes and waffles! Yum!
this restaurant by me does this, but also adds hot red pepper flakes! OMG the bacon, sugar and hot pepper is AH-MA-ZING. They call it “man candy” LOL
Fun- will try that way too!
Oh My Delish! And this looks less messy to prepare than the maple syrup version I’ve done. 🙂
I can’t even imagine how great this would be crumbled into a salad! Forget the candied nuts 🙂
oh this sounds incredible Lori!!
I dip my bacon in flour and bake it, it gives it a delicious crust, I can’t wait to try this!