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Spicy Candied Bacon

If you're like me, you think bacon is the caviar of the pig. So salty, smokey. A meat that invokes feelings of desire like no other can. Is it possible to make bacon even better? I'll take bacon anyway I can, but this Spicy Candied Bacon has made me even more of an addict.
Keyword bacon, candiedbacon, sweetandspicybacon
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 maybe? Lol.
Cost $10

Equipment

  • half sheet pan
  • pan racks
  • aluminum foil
  • small bowl
  • pastry brush

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb thick cut smoked bacon
  • 1 tbsp 100% maple syrup not the fake stuff
  • 1 tbsp Sriracha

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Line half sheet pan with aluminum foil.
  • Place racks inside sheet pan on top of foil.
  • Lay bacon strips on top of racks, without any overlap or slices touching.
  • Place pan on middle rack in oven and bake for 16 minutes. Time might vary slightly due to uneven oven cooking, inaccurate temperature, and/or the exact thickness of the bacon. The goal here is to cook the bacon until it is almost crispy. After the first 12 minutes, check every one minute [without opening the oven door].
  • While bacon is cooking, mix the maple syrup and sriracha in a small bowl. The 1:1 ratio is fairly mild. If you like more spice use more sriracha; less spicy use more maple syrup. Set aside.
  • When bacon is almost crisp, carefully remove and place on heat safe surface.
  • Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the top of each slice of bacon with the mixture.
  • Return the pan to the oven.
  • Bake an additional 3 to 5 minutes, watching very closely. It only takes a matter of seconds for the bacon to go from perfect to burned. When the bacon is a deep golden brown, it's probably time to remove pan from oven.
  • Spread bacon in a single layer on top of paper towels to cool and remove any excess grease. The bacon will become slightly more crispy as it cools.
  • Try not to devour it before trying in other forms (e.g., BLT sandie, an upgraded breakfast side, in a dip, more!). I dare you!

Notes

Tip: When I stated timing is EVERYTHING, I meant it. It is absolutely necessary to "baby sit" the bacon during the final minutes of cooking. Enjoy!