Spiced Bacon Twists (Printable)

Thick-cut bacon coated in cinnamon-brown sugar, twisted and baked until caramelized and irresistibly crisp.

# What You 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 Hints:

01 -
  • The contrast between caramelized sweetness and smoky pork is so good youll forget theyre almost too easy to make.
  • They look impressive on any table but require nothing more than a twist of your wrist and a hot oven.
  • You can prep them the night before and bake them right before guests arrive so your kitchen smells like a bakery crossed with a diner.
02 -
  • Dont skip the wire rack or the bottoms will steam instead of crisp, and youll end up with chewy bacon instead of candy-coated shards.
  • Rotating the tray halfway through is the difference between evenly caramelized twists and a few burnt ones next to a few pale ones, so set a timer.
03 -
  • Use tongs to handle the bacon after coating so your fingers dont get sticky, and you keep the sugar layer intact.
  • If your oven runs hot, start checking at 20 minutes because the sugar can go from caramelized to burnt fast.
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