Maple Candied Bacon (Millionaire's Bacon)

Bacon is delicious on its own, but Maple Candied Bacon (aka Millionaire's Bacon) is extra special. With a maple and brown sugar coating, it's a match made in heaven, especially if you love sweet and salty flavor combinations. 

Why You'll Love This Recipe

In the many restaurants where Tom has worked over the years, this Maple Candied Bacon is always a staple. Whether it is crumbled up to add some crunch to a salad, a salty element in ice cream, or eaten all on its own, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Plus, it is one of the easiest recipes but it still impresses!

Making Maple Candied Bacon is a great way to dress up a Saturday breakfast or special occasion like an Easter, Holiday, or Mother's Day brunch. We also like using it to make Candied Bacon Deviled Eggs.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions 

Maple syrup - We prefer to use pure maple syrup instead of run-of-the-mill pancake syrup. A good-quality honey would be an option to substitute if needed.

Brown sugar - We used dark brown sugar, but light would also work. When making glazes brown sugar is superior to white sugar due to its deeper flavor. We used it to glaze our Pineapple Ham Loaf.

Spices of choice - For our spice blend, we used black pepper, ground cloves, and cinnamon, but you can customize this to your tastes. Like some sweet heat? Add a dash of cayenne pepper. 

Bacon - Center cut was our choice, but a nice thick-cut bacon would work wonderfully.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Steps 1-2: Preheat your oven. Mix the maple syrup, brown sugar, and spices in a small bowl. 

Steps 3-4: Arrange the slices in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Brush each slice with the mixture using a pastry brush, flip the bacon over, and repeat on the other side.

Bake for 15 minutes, flip the bacon, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool on a baking rack.

Expert Tips & Variations

Try adding a dash of Dijon mustard to the maple-brown sugar mixture for a sharp, tangy pop of flavor. 

Baking time will depend on the thickness of your bacon strips. Ours was fairly thin, so if you use thick cut, you may need to extend your baking time.

For easy clean-up, wait for the excess grease to congeal and throw away the parchment paper or wipe down the silicone mat.

Avoid allowing the strips to cool on paper towels as the candy coating will adhere to the paper.

Leftovers Storage

To store leftovers in the fridge, allow the bacon candy to cool completely and place an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. If you need to stack the slices in the container, use a piece of parchment paper to separate the layers so the bacon doesn't stick together.

To freeze, wrap each piece of the Maple Candied Bacon in plastic wrap and place the pieces in a freezer-safe bag or container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the bacon in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Reheating Leftovers

To reheat leftovers, place the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet and gently reheat at a low temperature in the oven (about 300 degrees F).

Keep an eye on the bacon and remove it as soon as it is warmed through. It should only take 5-10 minutes depending on the thickness of the bacon.