This easy Bourbon Bacon recipe features thick cut bacon cooked in the oven with a glaze of sweet brown sugar, rich vanilla, and smoky bourbon. It’s amazing served for brunch, holiday breakfast, as a party appetizer, or to make the ultimate bourbon bacon cheeseburger.
This candied bourbon brown sugar bacon is super simple to make, and the flavor is delightfully sweet and savory. Be prepared to share the recipe, because everyone always asks me for this one!
Do you love the sweet savory taste of candied bacon? Be sure to check out our other mouth-watering flavored bacon recipes for Billionaire Bacon, Million Dollar Bacon, Crack Bacon, Jalapeno Bacon, Maple Candied Bacon and Honey Bacon!
3 Secrets to Success with this Recipe
Use vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract: Vanilla paste has a thicker texture and a more intense vanilla flavor than extract. You’ll really taste the vanilla in this recipe, which pairs beautifully with the smoky bourbon flavor and incomparable taste of bacon.
Use a light hand when applying the glaze: Applying a light coating of glaze will give the bacon a light, candied coating you’ll love. The flavor of the bacon will really shine through without being overpowered by the sweet glaze.
Use cooking times as guidelines: Because bacon is a natural product with variations in thickness and cut, each batch cooks a little differently. Keep an eye on the bacon toward the end of the cooking time to make sure it doesn’t burn.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here’s a picture of exactly what you’ll need to make this bourbon candied bacon (just 4 ingredients plus water):
12 strips thick-sliced bacon – Thicker bacon holds the glaze better than thinner regular slices.
1/2 cup brown sugar – You can use either light or brown sugar.
2 tablespoons bourbon – A small “miniature” bottle is perfect for this recipe, or use your favorite smoky bourbon.
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste – If you don’t have vanilla paste on hand, you can substitute vanilla extract.
1 teaspoon water – Just a touch of water will dissolve the sugar and make the glaze the perfect consistency.
Equipment Needed
Here’s all you need to make this bourbon glazed bacon:
- Large rimmed baking sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Parchment paper
- Pastry brush
- Cooling rack
- Tongs or spatula
Step by Step Instructions
STEP ONE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and top the foil with a sheet of parchment paper.
STEP TWO: Arrange the bacon strips on the prepared baking sheet. (It’s okay if they overlap a bit.) Put the pan in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.
STEP THREE: While bacon is cooking, whisk together the brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla paste and water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat and whisk just until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve.
STEP FOUR: When bacon is partially cooked, remove it from the oven. Blot up all of the grease with paper towels. This will help the glaze adhere to the bacon strips.
STEP FIVE: Using a pastry brush, brush the top of each bacon strip, using about half of the glaze mixture. Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
STEP SIX: Remove from the oven, place on a cooling rack, and cool the pan for 5 minutes. Turn the bacon slices over, and blot with paper towels to remove any excess grease.
Brush the bacon strips generously with the glaze and return to the oven. Bake for 10 more minutes, or until bacon is crispy and golden brown, and glaze is candied. Yum!
STEP SEVEN: Use a spatula to remove each piece of bacon and transfer to a piece of parchment paper to cool. The bacon will firm up as it rests.
STEP EIGHT: When the bacon is completely cooled, gently dab any excess grease with paper towels.
Serve and enjoy! Makes 12 strips.
How to Store Candied Bacon
Leftover brown sugar bourbon bacon may be stored, tightly wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To reheat, spread bacon strips on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and heat in a 350 degree F oven until hot, about 6 to 7 minutes.
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Bourbon Bacon
Equipment
- large rimmed baking sheet
- aluminum foil
- parchment paper
- pastry brush
- Cooling rack
- spatula
Ingredients
- 12 strips thick sliced bacon
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and top the foil with a sheet of parchment paper.
- Arrange the bacon strips on the prepared baking sheet. Put the bacon in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.
- While bacon is cooking, whisk together the brown sugar, bourbon, water, and vanilla in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat and whisk just until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve.
- When bacon is partially cooked and just beginning to brown, remove it from the oven. Blot up all of the grease with paper towels. This will help the glaze adhere to the bacon strips.
- Using a pastry brush, brush each strip of bacon with the glaze. Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, turn the bacon slices over, and blot with paper towels to remove any excess grease. Brush the bacon strips generously with the glaze and return to the oven. Bake for 10 more minutes, or until bacon is crispy and golden brown, and glaze is candied.
- Use a spatula to remove each piece of bacon and transfer to a piece of parchment paper to cool. The bacon will firm up as it rests.
- When the bacon is completely cooled, gently dab any excess grease with paper towels. Makes 12 strips.
Notes
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
Whenever you come back to this recipe, you’ll be able to see your notes!
Nutrition
Got questions? Just ask! I’m happy to help.
If you post your creations on social media, tag #BENSABaconLovers so I can share! Thank you for your support. – Eliza
Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist, and any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline.
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So flavorful and easy to make!