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Bacon Wrapped Brown Sugar Smokies

Bacon wrapped brown sugar smokies with a candied, caramelized crust baked until the bacon is crisp. Each little smokie gets coated in brown sugar and cayenne, then finished with melted butter and a brief rest to set the glaze.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

little smokies
  • 1 package (14 oz) little smokies
bacon
  • 1 lb thin-cut bacon Cut each slice into thirds for wrapping.
brown sugar coating
  • 1 cup brown sugar Pack firmly for best crust.
  • 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper
butter glaze
  • 2 tbsp butter Melt before drizzling.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep the pan and preheat
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F, then line a baking sheet with foil and parchment for easy cleanup.
Wrap and secure the smokies
  1. Wrap each little smokie in a piece of thin-cut bacon (cut into thirds) and secure it with a toothpick.
Coat with brown sugar and cayenne
  1. Mix the packed brown sugar with cayenne pepper, then roll each bacon-wrapped smokie in the mixture to coat.
Bake with butter and extra sugar
  1. Arrange the coated smokies on the lined pan, drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle with any remaining sugar.
  2. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350F until the bacon is crisp and the sugar is bubbly and caramelized.
Rest and serve
  1. Cool for 5 minutes so the glaze sets, then serve warm.

Notes

For the thickest candied layer, press the brown sugar firmly onto each smokie before placing on the pan. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days and reheat in a 350F oven until hot; freezing is not recommended because the glaze can become grainy after thawing. For a lower-sugar option, use a sugar blend designed for baking (measure by weight) to keep the caramelization texture.