Our Bourbon Candied Bacon Bites Food

HONEY-BOURBON GLAZED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the honey and bourbon in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• Lay the bacon on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. Brush with some of the honey-bourbon syrup. Continue roasting until deeply caramelized and crispy, another 10 to 15 minutes--the bacon will really crisp as it cools. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon pepper and serve.

CANDIED BACON BITES

Steps:

• Put the bacon in a container so it lays flat. Pour over the cola to cover. Refrigerate and let soak 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, place a cooling rack over top and spray with cooking spray.
• Drain the bacon from the cola, place on the cooling rack and pat dry. Combine the brown sugar, paprika and black pepper in a bowl and toss to combine and loosen up the brown sugar. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture on both sides of the bacon, pressing and patting so it adheres. Place the slices on the cooling rack; they can be close to one another but shouldn't touch.
• Bake until the bacon is deeply caramelized but still pliable (it will crisp as it cools), about 20 minutes. Flip the bacon occasionally as it cools to crisp on both sides. Let cool completely.

SWEET AND SPICY BACON BITES

Steps:

• Place the bacon in an even layer in a large skillet. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often with a rubber spatula, until the bacon is light golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the maple syrup, black pepper and cayenne in a small bowl.
• Pour off some of the rendered bacon fat, leaving just a small amount. Return the skillet to the heat and pour the maple syrup mixture over the bacon. Braise gently until the syrup thickens and glazes the bacon and the bacon is deep golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

BOURBON CANDIED BACON BITES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large rimmed baking sheets with foil or parchment paper. Then set a wire baking rack on each sheet.
• 2. Mix the brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Cut the bacon into squares and toss it in the bourbon mixture. Mix well to coat.
• 3. Place the bacon squares on the wire racks. Brush additional bourbon mixture over the bacon, saving the rest for later. Bake for 40-60 minutes, until the bacon is brick-red and crisp. Brush the bacon with the remaining bourbon glaze halfway through baking. (Cooking time depends on the thickness of your bacon.)
• 4. The bacon will still be a little flexible while it's hot, but should quickly cool into dry pieces that are crisp on both sides. You can take a piece out of the oven and cool it to test for doneness. Cool the bacon to room temperature, then serve or package for gifts! (Crisp dry Pig Candy can sit out at room temperature for up to 3 days. But feel free to keep it in the refrigerator, just to be safe.)