Maple Candied Bacon

By SallySmo

Ingredients

• 1 pound good-quality, thick-sliced bacon
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
• 1/2 cup pure Grade B maple syrup
• Finely ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).

Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy foil. Place a baking rack over the lined baking sheet and arrange the bacon slices across the rack next to each other, not overlapping.

If using the mustard, whisk it into the maple syrup in a small bowl. Generously spoon the maple syrup over the top of the bacon and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Turn and baste with the remaining syrup. Bake until the bacon has reached the desired crispness, 5 to 10 more minutes.

Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Sprinkle the hot bacon with a scant pinch of pepper. Let rest on the rack for 5 minutes before serving.

-Leite's Culinaria