I heard about candied bacon years ago and initially thought, “no way”. But then it was on the menu at a brunch I attended at a food conference in Oregon and obviously I had to try it. As soon as I took my first bite I understood what all the fuss was about. It’s a wonderful salty, sweet, savory bite that will blow your tastebuds out of the water! If you are a bacon lover, be sure to dive into some of my other favorite bacon snacks like Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers, Bacon Green Onion Deviled Eggs, & Bacon Ranch Cheeseball. Candied Bacon, also known as Pig Candy, originally gained popularity in Washington D.C. from what I can tell. It was served to patrons as an alternative bar food snack and from there the bacon spread. It has a generous amount of brown sugar and maple syrup to give it is ‘candied’ taste and appearance. This candied bacon recipe makes a delicious snack or appetizer and can be served warm or cold. If you find you love this candied bacon, you might also want to try chocolate covered bacon next!
What you need
Bacon: Regular or thick-cut with both work great, although thick-cut will be chewier and take longer to crisp up. Brown Sugar: Will sweeten up the bacon and help with caramelization. Pecans: You’ll want to use finely chopped pecans here. Salt: Even though bacon is salty already, the pecans and brown sugar we are adding is not, so a little bit of salt keeps things balanced. Pepper: Some bacon already comes peppered. In this case, you can leave it out or add more if you’d like. Cayenne: If you don’t like spicy, just leave this out. Maple Syrup: Helps add sweetness and moisture to the candied mixture.
How to Make Candied Bacon
How long does candied bacon last?
Your bacon should last up to 3 weeks stored in an airtight container in the fridge. In the freezer it can last up to six months. Just reheat and crisp up the bacon in the oven before serving.
What are some different variations of toppings?
Leave out the nuts if you don’t like them or have a guest with allergies. You could also add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for a slightly different flavor profile. You could also sub honey for the maple syrup or even dip half of the bacon in melted chocolate.
How to serve candied bacon?
Enjoy warm or at room temperature served either as an appetizer or snack. Or add to salads or sandwiches, or even use it on desserts like cakes, cookies, cupcakes, or brownies! Candied bacon is amazing with eggs, omelets, eggs benedict, cinnamon rolls, etc.
Give Candied Bacon a try with these recipes
The BEST Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Homemade Brownies Spinach, Bacon, & Egg Salad Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich Pineapple Upside Down Cake Grilled Cheese Eggs Benedict
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
The Most Amazing Overnight Sourdough Waffles
Homemade French Toast
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