One of the first recipes I ever attempted all by myself was a version of this recipe. At the time, I was so nervous about “messing it up” but the reality is that this is kinda fool-proof. My favorite way to make bacon is to bake it. There are so many pros to this method. First up, it doesn’t shrivel up; I love that it bakes up flat. And it cooks very evenly. Another bonus, when it renders all of its fat, the fat falls to the bottom of the baking pan. It’s not the neatest way but if I actually think about it, when cooking bacon there is no clean-free option.

Before I bake the bacon, I like to brush the slices with a bit of maple syrup and sprinkle liberal amount of brown sugar on top, along with some black pepper. It makes for a nice candied flavor that’s crispy and chewy in texture. It’s divine. After this, you can eat it simply on its own, or you can chop it up and toss it with popcorn or put it in a salad or add to to some rice krispie treats. Really the possibilities are endless!

Candied Bacon

Candied bacon makes for a sweet flavor that’s crispy and chewy in texture. Eat it on its own or chop into bits to sprinkle on popcorn or salad. (Recipe Credit: Adrianna Adarme of Fresh Tastes)

Ingredients

• 1 (10-ounce) package of bacon, of choice
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
• Freshly ground black pepper 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet. Lay the bacon side-by-side. 
2. Using a pastry brush, brush the maple syrup on to each slice of bacon. Sprinkle each slice with the brown sugar and then liberally add the freshly ground pepper.  Place it in the oven to bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.
3. Drain on a bed of paper towels and then serve. 

Adrianna Adarme is a food blogger and author living in Los Angeles, California. She writes the blog A Cozy Kitchen, where she shares comforting, everyday recipes from her kitchen. She recently authored her first cookbook, PANCAKES: 72 Sweet and Savory Recipes for the Perfect Stack. She’s a lover of breakfast, pie (and sometimes even pie for breakfast), corgis and cute things. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.