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I know I know I know, I’ve been holding out you folks on the Man Candy recipes. It’s funny how a single basic ingredient, bacon, can literally go viral globally. Ever since introducing the Man Candy series I have lost count on how many millions of hits these recipes have had. These Man Candy recipes have been featured on countless websites, tv shows, blogs, food shows. You’ve tweeted, pinned, stumbled upon, googled and fell in love. Bacon lovers united, held hands (well okay just a single hand as the other was needed to stuff this amazing Man Candy Bacon in your mouth! LOL) and praised me for these things. Men wept in joy, dogs offered up their favorite bones in exchange for a piece and a statue was erected in my honor. Okay so fine, that stuff may not be true but men did weep. LOL
Just look at how damn sexy she is…
So I had been doing a ton of cooking with bourbon lately. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE bourbon with pork and chicken. It mellows and sweetens so beautifully. Now this recipe came about while I was making breakfast for Mr. Fantabulous. See while the man says he doesn’t like bacon (big fat fib there by the way!), he “requires” bacon with this breakfast every Saturday and Sunday morning. As I was cooking his bacon I was cleaning off my counter top. As I was wiping it all down, I picked up the bottle of bourbon (as I made bourbon glazed chicken the night before) and ‘heard’ the bacon sizzle. And just like clockwork, the eye brow got raised (I went into thinking mode), the wheels starting churning and away I went.
This recipe just seemed to create itself. It was as if the ingredients had a pow-wow and said “Okay troops, gather round.. it’s time to party on the bacon boat!” This baked up so amazing that literally I had to make 2 batches that day because we inhaled the first batch. Now to be fair the ‘we’ wasn’t just Mr. Fantabulous and I. We had company pop over and literally as soon as they walked in the door the first comment was “OHHHHHHHHH you have BACON!!!” LOL Yes, bacon is that magical!
Now I’ve made this recipe a ton of times and want an awesome trick with this recipe specifically? Coat one side of the bacon and wrap it around boneless chicken strips and bake! OMG! No seriously, O M G!!! I basted it a couple more times while the chicken baked. The flavor this infused into it was probably some of the best chicken I had ever had! Bacon and bourbon?! Dude, for real! This stuff is legit!
… you’re welcome <curtsey> LOL
Bourbon Brown Sugar Maple Bacon Man Candy IV
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Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon (I prefer thick cut)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 ounces Bourbon
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire cooling rack on top.
- Spray the rack with cooking spray. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add the brown sugar, bourbon, and maple syrup. Cook, stirring often until the mixture is reduced and because a thick syrup/glaze. ~about 15-30 minutes. Watch the heat so it doesn’t burn. If it starts to reduce too quickly, you should reduce the heat. Keep it warm once it’s reduced.
- Place the pieces of bacon on top of the rack trying not to overlap. Spoon or brush the syrup on top of the bacon. Place in oven and cook for 13 minutes. Remove from the oven and flip the bacon. Spoon or brush the mixture on top of the bacon. Return to the oven and cook for 13 minutes.
- If the bacon is not crispy enough (remember it’ll crisp up as it cools), flip the bacon over, spoon any remaining spice mixture and bake for a few more minutes. OR you can broil for 1 minute each side but watch as this will burn.
- Remove from the oven, allow to cool 1 minute on the rack and then using cooking tongs, and remove the bacon from the rack and plate.
I tied te recipe as is for the 1st batch. My syrup mixture quickly became candy and very difficult to spread.
Batch 2, I omitted cooking band just spread on. Worked like a charm.
DANGER MAKE PLENTY AS IT IS ADDICTING AND YOU RUN OUTR QUICKLY
A whole 1 and a half pounds gone in the blink of an eye 🤗
That’s when you know you nailed it! Great job!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
I made the recipe in my thermomix. Turned out perfect. I used the bacon as shards around a bacon bourbon crunch cake. It was perfect.
Thanks
★★★★★
Oh YUM that cake sounds amazing! I’m so happy you loved it; thank you!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Not sure what happened. The bacon was not crispy. I have made candied bacon before but wanted to add the bourbon flavor. Cooked the syrup for almost 30 minutes. Cooked even a little longer and turned 3 times. Even tried my brulee torch on one to see if that would caramelized. Any advice is appreciaed, even advice on how I can make it crisp up the day after, thanks
★★
Hi Marta,
That’s odd as that’s never happened to me. By chance have you checked that the temp in your oven is reading correctly? I’ve had that happen before where something just doesn’t cook/bake right and even though my temp reads 350, it’s really only 300. Just a thought.
To crisp it up, pop it under the broiler (middle rack) for a few – that should crisp it up but watch so the sugars don’t burn.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
I’m gonna chop this up and put on top of a bourbon caramel cheesecake! I hope it turns out like I am hoping!
I failed with the reduction… twice because I was determined as this sounds delicious (and only had on stove for <10 min stirring constantly). Sprinkled my sad, dry, crumbled reduction on top of my bacon anyway.
Try the recipe again, but do not cook the syrup concoction first. Works great!
Hello…if I were to make this in advance, how would you recommend I store it and how long would it last? Have upcoming party with a bunch to do at the last minute! Thanks!
★★★★★
Hi Barb!
Store it in the fridge in a covered container. When you’re ready to serve just pop it in the oven just to warm up (though I’ll be honest it’s AWESOME cold!… but then again it’s bacon and bacon is purely awesome!)
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Wow. Saved. Gonna make this very soon.
Thank you Renee! I LOVE this bacon!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★