Spiced Bacon Twists (Printable)

Thick-cut bacon dredged in spiced brown sugar and twisted, then baked until caramelized and crispy.

# What You Need:

→ Bacon

01 - 12 slices thick-cut bacon

→ Spiced Sugar Mixture

02 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and position a wire rack on top.
02 - In a shallow dish, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper if using.
03 - Dredge each bacon slice in the sugar mixture, ensuring both sides are evenly coated.
04 - Twist each bacon slice several times to create a spiral shape, then arrange on the wire rack with adequate spacing between pieces.
05 - Sprinkle any remaining spiced sugar mixture over the bacon twists.
06 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until bacon is crisp and caramelized, rotating the tray halfway through baking for even results.
07 - Allow twists to cool for 5 minutes before serving to permit the caramelized coating to set properly.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes ten minutes to prep and makes everyone at the table stop mid conversation to ask what youre serving.
  • The sweet heat balance is so good youll forget these are technically just bacon with sugar on them.
  • They hold up beautifully on a buffet and never last long enough to get soggy.
02 -
  • If you skip the wire rack and bake directly on the sheet, the bottoms get soggy and the twists unravel into flat strips.
  • The sugar will smoke a little if it drips onto the pan, so keep the foil or parchment underneath to catch it.
03 -
  • Let the bacon come to room temperature for ten minutes before twisting so it bends without tearing.
  • If the twists start to unravel during baking, it means the bacon was too cold or the strips were too thin.
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