Easy-Kine Cooking: Turn bacon to candy for holiday magic

Let’s just say that all dietary rules are temporarily suspended for Christmas. On this special celebration day, you can enjoy whatever foods you really want with your loved ones. Why not have the most decadent treat for your Christmas breakfast and serve crispy candied bacon?

It’s easy to prepare while your coffee is brewing, and will be ready in under 40 minutes. Thick slices of bacon are gussied up with a topping made from sugar, maple syrup, nuts and pepper. After baking, the crispy, sweet bacon is better than the best candy, with its memorable smokiness.

In this recipe, brown sugar and pecans combine to make a praline topping. You can substitute any other nut, such as walnuts, macadamia nuts, filbert or pine nuts. Black pepper adds another dimension, but for those who want more of a kick, substitute ground cayenne pepper. Traditional fall spices of cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin spice could be switched for the pepper. The only requirement is to buy thickly sliced bacon, since regular slices don’t hold up to the candied topping.

These sweet treats will go perfectly with whatever else you have planned for the morning meal – scrambled eggs, French toast, blueberry pancakes or a casserole. Enjoy a well-deserved indulgence!

Crispy Candied Bacon

• 12 ounces thick-sliced bacon (about 9 slices)
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar (substitute dark brown)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (substitute walnuts, macadamia nuts)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (substitute cayenne, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, li hing powder)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking tray with foil for easy cleaning. Place cooling rack on tray and arrange bacon slices in one layer. Bake 10 minutes.

In a bowl, mix sugar, nuts, maple syrup and pepper. Remove tray from oven and flip bacon using tongs or a spatula. Spoon sugar mixture evenly over each slice. Return to oven and bake until bacon is crispy and topping has melted, about 25 minutes. Continue cooking, and check every few minutes until bacon is cooked to your liking.

Be careful transferring tray out of oven as the rendered bacon fat is very hot. The bacon will continue to crisp while cooling. Cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Makes about 9 candied slices.

Approximate nutritional information, per slice: 140 calories, 7 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 15 g sugar, 3 g protein

”Easy Kine” features simple dishes that start with commercially prepared ingredients. Lynette Lo Tom is excited to hear your tried-and-true suggestions. Contact her at 275-3004, email lynette@brightlightcookery.com or via instagram at brightlightcookery. Nutritional analysis by Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S.