Simple Maple Candied Bacon Recipe

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This maple candied bacon recipe is a delicious treat that’s always a crowd pleaser. With a candied maple brown sugar glaze and black pepper that creates a slightly spicy and sweet treat, candied bacon is fantastic for brunch or a creative appetizer.

My husband loves bacon, but before we started dating he thought the only way to make it was on the stovetop. The first time I made it for him with my lazy girl hack of using the oven, he was floored.

If you’ve never made bacon in the oven, you’ve been missing out on this easy technique that involves less mess (and less chance of getting burnt by popping grease).

While your bacon cooks, you brush it with the yummy glaze. As it cools, the glaze creates a sweet coating with just a hint of spice on the outside of the bacon. The combination of salty, spicy and sweet is perfect!

This maple candied bacon recipe (also known as Million Dollar Bacon or Millionaire Bacon) is perfect for adding to a Bloody Mary during brunch or bringing as an appetizer or tasty treat to a party or potluck. You can also crumble this candied maple brown sugar bacon to use as toppings on cupcakes, pizza or other yummy foods. It’s also perfect for a special occasion breakfast!

The best part? The recipe is crazy easy to make and ready in less than 30 minutes!

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Ingredients Needed for Maple Candied Bacon

This recipe was designed to be easy, so it only needs a few simple ingredients:

• Thick cut bacon
• Maple syrup
• Brown sugar
• Black pepper

You’ll also need the following kitchen tools:

• Basting brush or pastry brush
• Cookie sheet or large baking sheet (I like a large rimmed baking sheet like this)
• Parchment paper
• Aluminum foil

This recipe is so yummy on its own, or added to your next breakfast. I love make a big stack of pancakes with a homemade pancake mix. It also makes a great appetizer if you’re making steaks on a Blackstone griddle

Get the full recipe and measurements on the printable recipe card. Just scroll to the bottom of the post!

How to Make Candied Maple Brown Sugar Bacon

Start by lining a large baking sheet first with foil and then with a layer of parchment paper. The aluminum foil helps make cleaning up after you make the bacon really easy. The parchment paper step is important so that the candied bacon doesn’t get stuck to the pan.

If you don’t have a piece of parchment paper, you will likely need to spray the baking pan well with cooking spray so that the cooked maple glaze doesn’t stick to the pan and make it really tough to remove the bacon.

Arrange the bacon slices on the parchment-lined baking sheet. If you need to overlap them that’s ok as bacon shrinks while it cooks. You can also cut the bacon strips in half if you prefer!

In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, brown sugar and black pepper to make the glaze. Mix until well combined.

Brush the brown sugar mixture over the bacon on one side.

Bake for 18-20 minutes in the oven until the bacon is brown and crispy. Allow to cool and serve.

Be aware that your exact cooking time may vary depending on how thick the bacon you are using is, as well as your oven. Keep an eye on the bacon in the oven so it doesn’t overcook.

Tips to Make the Best Candy Bacon

For best results, you’ll want to use thick-cut bacon. It allows the glaze to form a yummy layer and gives the maple-candied bacon more oomph.

However, you can absolutely use regular bacon or a thinner cut! Keep a close eye on it while cooking so that it doesn’t overcook or burn, as the thickness of your bacon will make a difference.

A good maple syrup makes a big difference in flavor. Don’t skimp and go low-fat with this recipe! If you’d like, you can also brush sides of the bacon, or add more of the maple syrup mixture to the bacon while it cooks.

While the black pepper adds a little spiciness, if you want something with more kick try adding cayenne pepper to your Millionaire’s Bacon.

Maple bacon makes a great snack and is a fun addition to any breakfast or brunch. Bacon candy makes the perfect combination with french toast, pancakes or even a savory Air Fryer Breakfast Frittata.

This maple-candied bacon is best enjoyed fresh right after you make it, but it can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

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