Cody Casey
Candied bacon is a delicious combination of salty and sweet flavours, with a crispy texture. It is easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients. The bacon is coated in a mixture of sugar and maple syrup, then baked in the oven or fried in a pan until crispy. The sugar caramelises and creates a crackly crust on the bacon, resulting in a unique and mouth-watering treat. This introduction will provide a step-by-step guide on how to candy bacon in a pan, ensuring a perfect balance of flavours and textures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Bacon, sugar (light brown sugar, turbinado, Demerara, or maple syrup), pepper, mustard, honey, spices, or other seasonings |
| Oven temperature | 350 degrees F |
| Baking time | 20-40 minutes |
| Cooling time | 10 minutes on a wire rack, then transfer to a plate to cool completely |
| Storage | Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days |
| Pan preparation | Line the pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper |
| Pan temperature | Moderate heat |
| Cooking time in pan | 5-10 minutes per batch |
| Pan cleaning | Add a few inches of water and boil to dissolve hardened sugar |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the oven and prepare the pan
To make candied bacon, you'll need to preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is warming up, line a baking sheet or pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. You can also use a wire cooling rack placed inside a shallow baking pan or jelly roll pan (which must be rimmed to hold the bacon fat). If you use a rack, spray it with non-stick spray.
Next, prepare the bacon by arranging the slices in a single layer on the prepared pan or rack. You can use classic strip bacon, but avoid thick-cut bacon.
Now it's time to make the sugar coating. In a small bowl, mix together light brown sugar and maple syrup. You can also add other ingredients like pepper, mustard, or honey to taste. Plain granulated sugar doesn't caramelize as well, and dark brown sugar has too much molasses, so light brown sugar is the best option.
Once your oven is preheated and your bacon is prepared, you're ready to move on to the next step: baking the bacon.
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Mix sugar and maple syrup
To make candied bacon, you'll need to mix sugar and maple syrup. This mixture will be brushed onto the bacon and baked until crispy.
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is warming up, prepare your bacon slices on a baking sheet or pan lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Now, it's time to mix your sugar and maple syrup. Combine light brown sugar and maple syrup in a small bowl. You can adjust the consistency of the mixture by adding more maple syrup or microwaving it for a few seconds if it's too thick. The ideal consistency should be easy to brush onto the bacon strips.
Once your sugar and maple syrup are well combined, use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer of the mixture to each bacon strip. You want to coat both sides of the bacon evenly.
Finally, bake the bacon in the oven for 25 to 40 minutes, keeping a close eye on it to avoid overcooking. The bacon is done when it is crispy and has a deep brown color from the caramelized sugar and syrup mixture.
You can also experiment with different types of sugar and add-ins. For a crunchier texture, try using coarse sugar like turbinado. Alternatively, you can add spices, seasonings, or even honey to the sugar and maple syrup mixture to create unique flavors.
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Coat the bacon
Candied bacon is a wonderful combination of salty, sweet, and crispy flavours. The sugar glaze on the bacon gives it a crackly crust.
To coat the bacon, you will need a small bowl, a pastry brush, and a heavy skillet or frying pan. You can use a baking sheet or pan lined with aluminum foil, parchment paper, or a wire rack.
For the sugar coating, light brown sugar is recommended as it caramelizes well. You can also add maple syrup to the sugar to make a sticky mixture. Mix the sugar and maple syrup in a bowl, adjusting the thickness as needed. If the mixture is too thick, add more maple syrup or microwave the sauce for a few seconds. You can also add other flavourings, such as honey, spices, or herbs.
Once you have the sugar mixture ready, use a pastry brush to coat each piece of bacon on both sides. Place the bacon in a single layer on the prepared pan or directly onto a wire rack. If you are cooking the bacon in a skillet, cook the bacon in batches over moderate heat for 5-6 minutes, until lightly browned but still flexible. Then, sprinkle the sugar over the bacon and cook over low heat, turning occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved and coats the bacon. This should take 8-10 minutes.
If you are baking the bacon, bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-40 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the sugar is caramelized. Keep in mind that thicker bacon will take longer to bake than thinner strips.
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Bake the bacon
Candied bacon is a wonderful combination of salty, sweet, and crispy flavours. The sugar-glazed bacon is easy to make and only requires two essential ingredients: bacon and sugar.
Firstly, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is warming up, prepare your bacon. It is recommended to use classic strip bacon, not thick-cut. Line a baking sheet or pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on top.
For the sugar, light brown sugar is recommended as it caramelises well. You can also add other flavours such as maple syrup, honey, or spices like black pepper or dried rosemary. Mix your chosen ingredients in a small bowl and adjust the consistency if needed. If the mixture is too thick, you can add more maple syrup or microwave the sauce for a few seconds.
Use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer of the sauce to each bacon strip. You can also rub the sugar onto the bacon with your hands. Place the bacon in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Keep an eye on the bacon, especially after 15 minutes, as the sugar can burn. Rotate the pan once during baking to ensure even cooking. The bacon is done when the sugar has melted and the bacon is a deep brown colour.
Remove the bacon from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for a few minutes. The bacon will continue to crisp up as it cools, and the sugar will harden. Be careful not to eat it right away, as the molten sugar can burn your mouth. Candied bacon can be served as an appetiser, cut into smaller pieces, or used to garnish cocktails or salads.
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Let the bacon cool
Once you've cooked your candied bacon, it's important to let it cool before serving or storing. Here are some tips to ensure your bacon cools properly and safely:
Cooling Method:
Remove the bacon from the oven or pan and place it on a wire rack to cool. This allows air to circulate around the bacon, preventing it from getting soggy. Let the bacon cool on the rack for at least 10 minutes. During this time, the bacon will continue to crisp up as the melted sugar hardens.
Paper Towels:
Avoid placing the candied bacon on paper towels, napkins, or any type of absorbent paper. The sticky sugar will cause the bacon to stick to the paper, making it difficult to separate. Instead, transfer the bacon to a plate or a baking sheet lined with brown paper bags to cool.
Cooling Time:
After the initial cooling period on the wire rack, transfer the bacon to a plate or serving dish to cool completely. The total cooling time will depend on the amount of bacon you've cooked and the thickness of the slices. Thicker bacon may take longer to cool down.
Storage:
Once the bacon has cooled completely, you can store it in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay crisp for a day. If you want to keep it longer, store it in the fridge for up to a few days. However, the bacon will lose some of its crispness over time.
Reheating:
If you're not serving the bacon immediately, you can reheat it later. Reheat the candied bacon in a skillet over low heat to retain its crispness and avoid burning the sugar.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need bacon, brown sugar, and additional flavourings of your choice (e.g. maple syrup, honey, black pepper, cayenne, rosemary).
Thick-cut bacon is recommended for a chewier texture. However, classic strip bacon can also be used for a crispier result.
It is recommended to bake candied bacon in the oven. Cooking it in a skillet or on the stovetop will create a mess and the sugar won't stick to the bacon.
Bake the bacon for 20-25 minutes, checking regularly to ensure it doesn't burn. The bacon is done when the brown sugar has melted and the bacon is a deep brown colour.
