Candied bacon is such a delicious treat! It is semi-sweet and super savory, this bacon is going to be a hit at your next brunch or breakfast, or as a tasty snack!

Since you love bacon, check out this Shrimp Brochette recipe and these Loaded Jalapeno Poppers while you are here!

candied bacon laid out on a cutting board with a bowl of brown sugar next to it that is used as a photo prop

This candied bacon has been a family favorite for so long! Bacon is already delicious on its own, but with a few simple ingredients you can turn it into a real treat!

Ingredients you need to make candy bacon:
How do you make candied bacon?
What is the best bacon to use?
Making bacon in the air fryer:
How to make bacon in the oven:

Ingredients you need to make candy bacon:

The best part about this recipe is how simple it is to make, and how few ingredients you need. Here is your shopping list:

Bacon: thick cut bacon is best for this recipe
Brown sugar: light brown sugar
Maple syrup: this is slightly different than pancake syrup, but in a pinch, you can definitely use pancake syrup
Cayenne pepper: this is optional, but highly recommended! It does not make it spicy, just gives it a nice kick.

tamara johnson taking a bite of the candid bacon with a blindfold on to see if she can taste the difference between regular bacon and candied bacon — Tasting it to see if I can tell the difference between regular or candied bacon!

How do you make candied bacon?

You want to lay your bacon flat on a baking sheet. Then you are going to sprinkle both sides with the brown sugar to evenly coat each piece.

Next you will drizzle or brush on the maple syrup to each side. Dust the cayenne pepper onto each slice of bacon.

Bake it in the oven for about ten minutes, take it out and flip each piece, then bake an additional seven minutes.

What is the best bacon to use?

For this recipe you will want to use thick cut bacon. If it is not thick cut, it will not hold up when the brown sugar and maple syrup are added. You want your candy bacon to be nice and crispy.

Also, get regular bacon, or hickory smoked bacon instead of maple. This will be delicious once the candy ingredients are added.

Making bacon in the air fryer:

You can definitely make this in the air fryer. Add an air fryer lining if you have one, or use a piece of foil.

Place your bacon in a single layer and put it on the bake setting at 350 degrees. Cook it for about seven minutes, flip it over and cook for another five minutes.

Remove it from the air fryer and place on a cooling rack to drain any excess oil.

candied bacon on a piece of parchment paper with a spoon and a bowl of brown sugar next to it that are used as a prop

How to make bacon in the oven:

Making bacon in the oven is the best way to cook it! You don't have to worry about bacon drippings splattering all over the place, and the bacon stays flat instead of curling up.

Simply line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Lay the bacon out in one single layer, careful not to overlap them.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Bake the bacon for ten minutes, remove it from the oven and flip it over. Then bake an additional seven minutes.

Remove the bacon from the oven and place them in a single layer on a cooling rack to drain any extra oil.

📖 Recipe

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