Crispy Candied Bacon with Maple Syrup and Brown Sugar
Candied Bacon, sometimes called Billionaire Bacon, is one of those classic recipes that instantly makes the whole house smell like magic. It is sticky, crispy, sweet, salty, and spicy all at once. My kids hover nearby every time I make it, waiting to grab a piece while it is still warm. There’s something nostalgic about it. The perfect candied bacon should be thick, deeply caramelized, crisp at the edges, and never overly sticky.
Start with thick cut bacon and slice each strip into halves or quarters so it is easier to serve and snack on. Arrange the pieces in a single layer on a greased wire rack set over a foil lined baking sheet for easy cleanup. Place a sheet of parchment paper over the bacon and set a second baking sheet with parchment on top to weight it down. This keeps the strips from curling as they cooks. Bake at 350F until the bacon is about three quarters cooked and just beginning to crisp. Carefully remove it from the oven, discard the grease, and gently pat the bacon dry before returning it to the pan.
While the bacon cooks, bring real maple syrup to a gentle boil in a small saucepan. Let it simmer just until it deepens slightly in color. In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Drizzle the warm syrup evenly over the partially cooked bacon, then sprinkle the sugar spice mixture generously on top.
Transfer the bacon onto a silicone baking mat and return it to the oven. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 350°F, until the bacon is deeply browned and crisp. The sugar should bubble and then harden into a glossy coating. Let the bacon cool for about 10 minutes so the coating fully sets. Once cooled, it will be crisp, caramelized, and ready to disappear fast.
How to Make Candied Bacon
Crispy, sweet, and spicy, this candied bacon recipe is a flavor-packed treat. Thick-cut bacon coated with maple syrup and a brown sugar spice mix bakes to caramelized perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) thick-cut bacon
- ¼ cup real maple syrup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
