Brown sugar candied bacon skewers are a delightful sweet treat that is ideal for brunch, game-day or enjoy as a garnish for your next bloody Mary bar.
If you’re a bacon lover, you are sure to love these twisted bacon sticks as much as my family did. The brown sugar glaze has just the right amount of sweet and salty.
It’s by no surprise, this tasty appetizer is requested quite often by my kids. If making for kids cut off the sharp ends before serving.
I mean, who doesn’t love anything served on a stick? That’s what makes this entree so enjoyable.
Why You’ll Love Candied Bacon on a Stick
Just 4 ingredients. This recipe couldn’t be easier. All you need is bacon, apple juice and two pantry ingredients.
Fun way to serve bacon. Why serve bacon on a platter, when you can serve it twisted on sticks? It’s makes for a fun presentation that’s also easy to grab.
Versatile. I love bacon candied with brown sugar glaze, but pure maple syrup and even bbq sauce are delicious too. Want to spice things up? Add a little chipotle chili powder or cayenne pepper to turn up the heat.
Sweet and salty brunch or appetizer food. I’m pretty sure everyone loves bacon, and when it’s candied with brown sugar it becomes the ultimate sweet and salty treat that works well for brunch buffets or as an appetizer. This twisted candied bacon is always a Superbowl crowd-pleaser.
Serving bloody Mary’s at your next brunch? Candied bacon on a stick is the perfect garnish.
Ingredients Needed
- Brown Sugar
- Ground Cinnamon
- Apple Juice
- Bacon
Brown Sugar – Light or dark both work in this recipe. Dark brown gives the bacon a deeper molasses flavor. The choice is yours.
Cinnamon – A touch of warm cinnamon spice balances all the sweet. And the aroma–well you can imagine.
Apple Juice – You only need a couple tablespoons to get the glaze going, so any kind will do. If you don’t drink apple juice in your house, many stores sell single serve bottles in the refrigerated section near orange juice.
Bacon – Thick cut bacon is best because bacon tends to shrink when cooking. For flavors I’d recommend apple wood smoked bacon or hickory smoked bacon, since bacon will be coated with a sweet glaze.
How to Make Candied Bacon Skewers with Brown Sugar Glaze
You will need 12 inch bamboo wooden skewers, aluminum foil, a baking sheet, and a wire rack.
- Soak Bamboo Skewers. In a 9×13 in baking dish soak Bamboo skewers in water for 1 hour. This is ideal so skewers do not burn in the oven when baking. You can soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes if pressed for time but skewers will brown slightly.
- Heat the oven and prepare a baking sheet. Heat the oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire rack over the baking sheet and spray rack with non-stick cooking spray.
- Pre-fold bacon and place on skewers. Pre-fold bacon accordion style making a fold every inch. Press the pointed end of the skewer through the middle. Then gently slide bacon down the skewer closest to the tip.
- Make brown sugar glaze. Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and apple juice and heat on the stove on medium low heat or heat in the microwave. Brush candied glaze evenly on each side of bacon and lay onto a prepared wire rack.
- Place in the oven and bake. Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook bacon until crispy and golden brown turning bacon once midway.
Recipe Notes
Thick cut bacon is best, because bacon shrinks when cooking. For flavor get an apple wood smoked or hickory smoked brand since bacon will be brushed with a sweet brown sugar glaze.
Soak Bamboo Skewers, you have to soak bamboo skewers for one hour for best results. However, if you’re pressed for time you may soak skewers for 30 minutes, sticks will brown slightly.
You may also soak bamboo skewers overnight if you plan on making bacon on a stick first thing in the morning for breakfast or brunch.
How to Twist the Bacon onto the Skewers
Bacon looks like ribbon candy when you first put it on a stick and turns into twizzler candy bacon once swizzled. Yummy!
Threading Tips, Fold bacon accordion style making a fold every inch. Then press the pointed end of the skewer through the middle.
Gently slide bacon down as close to the pointed end as possible and spread out the way you like.
Pro Tip, Cut off sharp points of bamboo skewers before serving. So bacon sticks are safe for everyone to eat, especially for little ones.
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Brown Sugar Candied Bacon Skewers
Want a fun twist on bacon? These candied bacon skewers are sure to please any bacon lover! This is a great treat to make for holiday entertaining and easy to make with only 4 ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick cut, bacon
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons apple juice
Instructions
- Heat oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire rack over baking sheet and spray with olive oil non cooking spray.
- Fold thick cut bacon accordian style making a fold every inch. Press pointed end of the skewer through the middle of each bacon ribbon.
- Gently slide bacon down the skewer closest to the tip as possible and spread bacon out the way you want.
- Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and apple juice and melt on the stove on medium low heat or melt glaze in the microwave. Brush glaze evenly on each side of bacon.
- Bake bacon in the oven at 325 degrees and bake for 40 minutes until crispy and golden brown turning once midway. Enjoy!
Notes
- Bacon Tips: Thick cut bacon is best because bacon shrinks when cooking. I'd advise you purchase plain bacon, apple wood smoked bacon, or hickory smoked bacon for this candied bacon recipe.
- Tips for Bamboo Skewers: Soak bamboo skewers the night before, an hour before you plan to make this recipe. Or a minimum of 30 minutes. If you soak bamboo skewers for only 30 minutes skewers will brown slightly.
- Bacon Threading Tips: Fold bacon accordian style making a fold every inch. Then press the pointed end of the skewer through the middle. Gently slide bacon as close to the point as possible and spread out the way you like.
- Pro Tip: Cut off sharp points of bamboo skewers before serving. So bacon sticks are safe for everyone to eat, especially for any little ones.