Vanilla Candied Bacon is a mouthwatering, crispy, and it has the perfect amount of sweetness. The vanilla makes the savory bacon flavor pop.
Candied Bacon costs about $5.27 to make and serves eight, which is only $0.66 per serving. For more appetizer recipes, you do not want to miss out on these Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites or these Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs.
Candied Bacon
We have a finger-licking good recipe for you today that we lovingly refer to as man candy in our family! Some call it Pig Candy, Bacon Candy, or even Pork Candy. Whatever you call it, this crispy, sticky, sweet, caramelized bacon is irresistible.
This Candied Bacon recipe takes only three ingredients and only a few minutes to prepare. An appetizer that is the perfect party snack, holiday appetizer, or weekend treat that is so addicting you may have a hard time sharing.
As if bacon couldn’t get any more irresistible, try baking it to crispy perfection with brown sugar and vanilla. This Vanilla Candied Bacon recipe will kick your breakfast game up a few notches!
Sprinkle the brown sugar and vanilla on the thick-cut bacon strips, throw it in the oven, and you are on your way to enjoying the best Candied Bacon ever! Scroll down to see just how easy this recipe is!
Does candied bacon need to be refrigerated?
Bacon is a perishable food item. It should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
How much will this Candied Bacon recipe cost to make:
RECIPE COST: $5.27
PRICE PER SERVING: $0.66
- 1 pound bacon – $4.98
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar – $0.12
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – $0.17
To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
How to Make Vanilla Candied Bacon Recipe:
STEP ONE: First, preheat oven to 375° F. Then line two baking sheets with foil and place a wire rack in each. Next, place the bacon on the wire racks. Then mix the brown sugar and vanilla in a bowl.
STEP TWO: After combining the brown sugar and vanilla, sprinkle the mixture over each piece of bacon. Finally, bake for 18-25 minutes rotating halfway through baking. Cool before serving.
Cook’s Tools:
- baking sheets
- wire racks
- small bowl
The Flavor and Recipe Variations
Instead of vanilla extract, you can use orange, almond, or bourbon extracts.
You can also sprinkle ground pepper over the bacon for a nice flavor contrast before it goes into the oven.
How long is it good for:
Serve: As with most meat recipes, you shouldn’t leave this candied bacon out for longer than 2 hours.
Store: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Reheat by placing the bacon in a frying pan over medium heat until heated through.
Freeze: Because of the caramelized sugar, we do not recommend freezing the candied bacon.
How to get the kids involved with this recipe:
Ages 2-3: Let them help sprinkle on the brown sugar and vanilla mixture. They can also help put the bacon strips on the baking sheets.
Ages 4-5: Have your child measure and mix the ingredients for the brown sugar mixture. They can also help prep the baking sheets and lay out the bacon strips.
Ages 6-8: This is a great recipe to let your child try independently while you standby to assist as needed.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
More $5 Recipes:
- 1 Hour French Bread
- Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
- Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
- Corn Muffins
- Dry Roasted Chickpeas
- English Muffin Pizzas
- Grilled Potatoes in Foil
- Homemade Lemonade
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
- Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake
- Oven Roasted Potatoes
- Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
- Panda Express Chow Mein
- Quick Monkey Bread from Scratch
- Red Velvet Buttermilk Waffles
Candied Bacon
Recipe Cost 5.27 Serving Cost 0.66Equipment
- baking sheets
- wire racks
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon not thick-cut, about one pound
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Line two baking sheets with foil, and place an oven-safe wire rack in each.
- Place the bacon on the wire racks.
- In a small bowl combine brown sugar and vanilla.
- Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of the brown sugar mixture over each bacon strip.
- Bake for 18-25 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking. You can tell that the bacon is done with the melted sugar on top is a nice deep golden brown color.
- Cool the bacon for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Allison says
SO delicious! I love the combo of sweet and salty!
Jess Jankowski says
Isn’t it the best?!
Lisalia says
I feel as if this recipe has been the missing link in my life! Vanilla Candied Bacon is SO SO good. We loved it on our salad and the family snacked on the rest. WOWZA! Delicious.
Jess Jankowski says
Oh, using it as a topping on your salad is so tasty! Glad you enjoyed it!
Jeffrey Jankowski says
So good! I don’t want to eat bacon any other way!
Jess Jankowski says
Word!