Bacon candy originated in 1940s diners when cooks accidentally dropped sugar into bacon grease—customers demanded more.
Candied Bacon Twists
Get ready to take your snacking game to a whole new level with these irresistible Candied Bacon Twists! Combining crispy bacon, a touch of brown sugar, and a hint of cayenne, these sweet-and-savory bites are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Perfect for parties or just a fun night in, they’ll disappear faster than you can say "yum!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
The Story
This sticky-sweet bacon carnival originated in 1970s Texas county fairs when barbecue pitmasters discovered carnival workers candying everything from apples to pecans—they figured if sugar could turn nuts into crack cocaine, why not bacon, and thus America's greatest contribution to heart disease was born, spreading from Dallas rodeos to Brooklyn hipster brunches faster than you could say 'artisanal'.
Regional Twist
In Louisiana's Acadiana parishes, they swap the brown sugar for dark muscovado and add cayenne to the spice mix, creating bacon twists that'll make your tongue dance the two-step.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 1 lb (454 g) bacon
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- spice mix (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Mix the brown sugar and spice mix in a bowl.
- 2
Toss the bacon in the sugar mixture until well coated.
- 3
Soak wooden skewers in water to prevent burning.
- 4
Skewer one end of the bacon and twist it around the skewer.
- 5
Skewer the other end onto a wire rack.
- 6
Place the rack in the Masterbuilt smoker to cook.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Soak wooden skewers for minimum 30 minutes in cold water because dry wood ignites at 451°F while wet wood chars at 600°F+, preventing skewer combustion during smoking.equipment30 minutes minimum
- ✓Use thick-cut bacon (1/8 to 1/4 inch) because thin bacon renders fat too quickly and becomes brittle before sugar caramelizes at 320°F.ingredient1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness
- ✓Maintain smoker temperature at 225-250°F because sugar begins to burn at 320°F, giving you a 70-95°F safety margin for proper caramelization without bitter char.technique225-250°F
- ✓Pat bacon completely dry before coating because surface moisture prevents sugar adhesion and creates steam that inhibits Maillard browning reactions.technique
- ✓Cook for 45-60 minutes until internal bacon temperature reaches 145°F because this ensures food safety while allowing sufficient time for sugar to caramelize into a glossy shell.timing45-60 minutes, 145°F internal
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Bacon candy originated in 1940s diners when cooks accidentally dropped sugar into bacon grease—customers demanded more.
Candied Bacon Twists
Get ready to take your snacking game to a whole new level with these irresistible Candied Bacon Twists! Combining crispy bacon, a touch of brown sugar, and a hint of cayenne, these sweet-and-savory bites are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Perfect for parties or just a fun night in, they’ll disappear faster than you can say "yum!
The Story
This sticky-sweet bacon carnival originated in 1970s Texas county fairs when barbecue pitmasters discovered carnival workers candying everything from apples to pecans—they figured if sugar could turn nuts into crack cocaine, why not bacon, and thus America's greatest contribution to heart disease was born, spreading from Dallas rodeos to Brooklyn hipster brunches faster than you could say 'artisanal'.
Regional Twist
In Louisiana's Acadiana parishes, they swap the brown sugar for dark muscovado and add cayenne to the spice mix, creating bacon twists that'll make your tongue dance the two-step.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 1 lb (454 g) bacon
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- spice mix (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Mix the brown sugar and spice mix in a bowl.
- 2
Toss the bacon in the sugar mixture until well coated.
- 3
Soak wooden skewers in water to prevent burning.
- 4
Skewer one end of the bacon and twist it around the skewer.
- 5
Skewer the other end onto a wire rack.
- 6
Place the rack in the Masterbuilt smoker to cook.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Soak wooden skewers for minimum 30 minutes in cold water because dry wood ignites at 451°F while wet wood chars at 600°F+, preventing skewer combustion during smoking.equipment30 minutes minimum
- ✓Use thick-cut bacon (1/8 to 1/4 inch) because thin bacon renders fat too quickly and becomes brittle before sugar caramelizes at 320°F.ingredient1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness
- ✓Maintain smoker temperature at 225-250°F because sugar begins to burn at 320°F, giving you a 70-95°F safety margin for proper caramelization without bitter char.technique225-250°F
- ✓Pat bacon completely dry before coating because surface moisture prevents sugar adhesion and creates steam that inhibits Maillard browning reactions.technique
- ✓Cook for 45-60 minutes until internal bacon temperature reaches 145°F because this ensures food safety while allowing sufficient time for sugar to caramelize into a glossy shell.timing45-60 minutes, 145°F internal