Maple Cayenne Bacon Recipes

MAPLE-CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy foil. Place a baking rack over the lined sheet tray and arrange the bacon slices across the rack next to each other, not overlapping.
• In a small bowl, whisk the maple syrup and mustard. Generously spoon over the top of the bacon, and bake 12 to 15 minutes. Turn the bacon over and baste with syrup mixture. Bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the bacon has reached desired crispiness.
• Carefully remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle hot bacon with a scant pinch of finely ground black pepper. Let the bacon rest on the rack for 5 minutes.

MAPLE CANADIAN BACON

Steps:

• Mix the tender quick, sugar, pepper, pepper flakes, and hickory seasoning in a bowl.
• Coat the pork heavily on all sides with the dry rub. Vacuum seal the bags, wrap them in several layers of plastic bags, or use plastic curing trays. Cure in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days. You'll know the cure is done when you slice a piece of pork and it's no longer pink.
• Rinse the pork under cold water and pat dry. Return it to the fridge for 12 to 24 hours, so it can develop a sticky skin (called a "pellicle"). This will help the smoke penetrate the meat.
• Preheat the grill to 150 degrees F (66 degrees C). Light a wedgie with maple pellets.
• Smoked the pork for 6 hours until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
• Let it cool before slicing, thick or thin.

MAPLE-PEPPER BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange the bacon on a wire rack set on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the fat starts rendering, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and blot the bacon with paper towels on both sides.
• Combine the brown sugar, maple syrup and cayenne in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, stirring, until smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Brush the bacon with half the syrup mixture and sprinkle with half the ground peppercorns. Bake until the bacon browns around the edges, about 15 minutes. Flip and blot the other side with paper towels, then brush with the remaining syrup mixture (reheat in the microwave, if necessary); sprinkle with the remaining peppercorns. Continue baking until the bacon browns and the sugar melts, 15 to 20 more minutes. Let cool slightly.

MAPLE-CAYENNE BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix cayenne and maple syrup in a mixing bowl. Place bacon in a single layer on parchment and brush bacon with syrup. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked but not crisp.

MAPLE AND BLACK-PEPPER BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
• Arrange bacon slices in 1 layer (not overlapping) on racks of 2 large broiler pans (if you only have one, use a large rectangular metal rack set inside a large baking pan for the second). Bake until fat is rendered but bacon isn't crisp, about 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Arrange all of bacon in 1 layer on rack of 1 broiler pan. Brush top with syrup and sprinkle with pepper. Bake until bacon is crisp and deep golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, glazed side up, on paper towels.

MAPLE CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Wrap a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and top with a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, add the maple syrup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Kosher salt, and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
• Add the bacon to the bowl and toss gently with your hands. Make sure that all of the slices are evenly coated.
• Place the bacon in a single layer onto the wire rack.
• Bake in the center of the oven for about 20 minutes. The bacon will be a bit brown, but will most likely need to bake for another 10-15 minutes. It should look slightly dark (not burnt) and crispy. If you take it out too soon, the texture will be chewy. Be patient!
• Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes on the rack. Don't let them sit too long or else they will stick.
• Once cool enough to handle, you can break the bacon into chards (you'll have about 32 pieces). Alternatively, you can leave them whole.
• Serve at room temperature.

CAYENNE-CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Line a broiler pan with aluminum foil, and position broiler rack on top of pan.
• Lightly coat the rack with the vegetable oil.
• Combine the brown sugar and cayenne in a shallow dish, and mix well.
• Press one side of each slice of bacon firmly into the spiced sugar to coat.
• Arrange the slices of bacon on top of the broiler rack in a single layer, sugared-side up.
• If there is any sugar remaining in the dish, sprinkle it evenly on top of the bacon.
• Bake until the bacon is crisp and the sugar is bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drain on paper towels and serve warm or at room temperature.
• (Can be made several hours in advance.).

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH MAPLE AND CAYENNE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss brussels sprouts with olive oil; season with salt. Roast until brussels sprouts are browned in spots and tender when pierced with a knife, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine syrup and cayenne pepper. Drizzle brussels sprouts with maple syrup mixture, stir to coat, and roast 1 minute.