Description
Decadent Sweet and Spicy Glazed Billionaire Bacon is a mouthwatering treat featuring thick-cut bacon strips coated in a flavorful blend of brown sugar, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Glazed with a luscious honey and maple syrup mixture and optionally enhanced with fresh rosemary, this recipe delivers a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors. Crispy, caramelized, and irresistibly delicious, this bacon is an excellent appetizer, snack, or indulgent side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Bacon and Spice Mix
- 12 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Glaze
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the bacon evenly.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil to catch drippings and place a wire rack on top to allow air circulation around the bacon.
- Arrange Bacon: Lay the bacon strips in a single layer on the wire rack, spacing them out to ensure even cooking.
- Mix Spices: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and black pepper, stirring well to create the spice mixture.
- Coat Bacon with Spices: Sprinkle the spice blend generously over both sides of the bacon slices, ensuring an even coating.
- Prepare the Glaze: In a small saucepan, gently warm the honey and maple syrup on low heat until smooth and blended, then remove from heat.
- Glaze the Bacon: Using a pastry brush, coat each bacon strip evenly on both sides with the honey-maple glaze.
- Add Final Pepper Kick: Sprinkle freshly cracked black pepper over the glazed bacon for an added layer of heat and flavor.
- Add Rosemary (Optional): If using, sprinkle the chopped fresh rosemary over the glazed bacon to enhance the aroma and taste.
- Bake the Bacon: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the glaze caramelized, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Cool the Bacon: Remove the bacon from the oven and let it cool on the wire rack for a few minutes to firm up and achieve maximum crispiness.
- Serve: Enjoy the decadent sweet and spicy glazed bacon warm or at room temperature as a delightful snack or appetizer.
Notes
- Watch the bacon closely during the last few minutes of baking to prevent burning due to the sugar content.
- Using a wire rack allows the bacon to cook evenly and the fat to drip away, resulting in crispier bacon.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper quantity to control the level of spiciness according to your preference.
- For best results, use thick-cut bacon, which holds up well to the glaze and baking process.
- Make sure to let the bacon cool slightly before serving to allow the glaze to set and bacon to firm up.
