Spiced Bacon Twists (Print)

Thick-cut bacon strips twisted and coated with spiced brown sugar, then baked until irresistibly crispy and caramelized.

# What you'll 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, for a touch of heat)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and set 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, coating both sides evenly.
04 - Twist each bacon slice several times to form a spiral, then lay them on the wire rack, spacing them apart.
05 - Sprinkle any leftover spiced sugar mixture over the twists.
06 - Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until bacon is crisp and caramelized, rotating the tray halfway through baking for even cooking.
07 - Let cool for 5 minutes to allow the caramelized coating to set before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cinnamon-sugar crust caramelizes into a sweet shell that shatters with every bite, balancing the salty richness of the bacon.
  • Twisting the strips makes them look fancy, but it's so simple that even kids can help without making a mess.
  • They smell so good baking that people wander into the kitchen before you call them.
02 -
  • Don't skip the wire rack or the bacon will steam in its own fat and turn chewy instead of crisp.
  • If your bacon is on the thinner side, reduce the baking time by 5 minutes and watch closely so the sugar doesn't burn.
03 -
  • Use a light hand with the cayenne the first time, you can always add more heat next batch, but you can't take it away.
  • If the sugar starts smoking in the oven, lower the temperature to 325°F and add a few minutes to the baking time.
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