Spiced Bacon Twists Snack (Printable)

Sweet and savory bacon twists with cinnamon sugar, baked until crisp and caramelized for a flavorful snack.

# Components:

→ Bacon

01 - 12 slices thick-cut bacon

→ Spiced Sugar Mixture

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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or foil; place a wire rack on top.
02 - Combine the light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and optional cayenne pepper in a shallow dish, mixing thoroughly.
03 - Dredge each bacon slice in the spiced sugar mixture, ensuring even coating on both sides.
04 - Twist each coated bacon slice several times to create spirals and arrange them spaced apart on the wire rack.
05 - Evenly sprinkle any remaining spiced sugar mixture over the bacon twists.
06 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through, until the bacon is crisp and caramelized.
07 - Allow the twists to cool for 5 minutes so the caramelized coating can set before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're sweet, salty, and just a tiny bit spicy all at once—basically the flavor combination that makes you keep eating them.
  • Takes barely any time and impresses people way more than the effort deserves.
  • Works equally well at a fancy brunch or hunched over the counter on a Tuesday night.
02 -
  • Don't skip the wire rack or your bacon will sit in rendered fat and become soft instead of crispy—learned that the hard way.
  • Watch the oven during the last few minutes because the difference between caramelized and burnt is literally two minutes.
  • The coating will look wet and sugary before baking but that's exactly right—the heat transforms it into something completely different.
03 -
  • If your bacon is really thick-cut, add a couple extra minutes to the baking time so it cooks through completely rather than staying rubbery.
  • The sugar will caramelize faster on some parts of the tray than others, which is exactly why that halfway rotation is non-negotiable for even results.
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