Candied Bacon- a Sweet and Spicy Treat
Candy Bacon
My family calls this delicious treat "Christmas bacon" but of course it can, and should, be eaten throughout the year! It is an easy, tasty accompaniment to any breakfast or brunch menu. It can also be cut up and added to a green salad for an interesting flavor.
The sugar/spice mixture can be made ahead, and stored indefinitely in an air tight container. This makes an inexpensive, original hostess gift especially if you are an overnight guest. Just put in in an attractive jar, or cellophane bag with the directions.
The beauty of cooking bacon in the oven is there is no splattering, and the fat drips off and accumulates on the tin foil. When the fat solidifies, just crumple up the foil and throw it away! I bought a cooling rack from the dollar store, and designate it my bacon cooking rack, but you can also use your broiler set that came with your oven (if you know where it is!).
Even when not using the spice blend, I always bake my bacon in the oven, as I find it ends up the crispiest, and you know the fat is mostly removed. Play with the spices, and adjust for your family's taste. Enjoy!
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, preferrably freshly ground
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 pound sliced bacon
- Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet or bottom of broiler pan with tin foil for easy cleanup. Place a cooling rack on top, or top pan of broiler set.
- In a bowl, add brown sugar, and spices. Mix with your fingers until combined, breaking up any clumps of sugar. This mixture can be stored in an airtight container for later use. Why not double the recipe so you have extra on hand.
- Pour about half of the sugar/spice mixture in a medium bowl. Take one piece of bacon at a time and rub spice mixture all over pressing in in the bowl. Twist the bacon several times and place on the cooking rack.
- Continue until the amount of bacon you want is covered. Add more of the sugar mixture as needed. Make sure the bacon is in a single layer. Add another tray if needed, but you should be able to squeeze them all on one.
- Bake in center of oven for 30 minutes, until bacon starts to crisp. Carefully remove tray, holding flat, so as not to spill bacon fat. Enjoy!
- Baked Egg Hashbrown Casserole
If you want breakfast ideas for entertaining, check out this recipe. It is a whole meal in one casserole. Delicious! - Apple Pancake Breakfast
This simple apple pancake goes well with candied bacon. - Pineapple Upside Down French Toast- A Make Ahead Brunch Recipe
Pictured with the bacon is this easy pineapple upside down french toast. Makes for an easy brunch! - BLT Salad
Are you a bacon lover? Maybe you would like a dinner idea to incorporate your favorite meat!
