Beer-Glazed Maple Bacon Could Be This Year’s Best Super Bowl Snack
If your mouth isn't watering just hearing the words "beer-glazed maple bacon", then you're doing it wrong.
Ever since my aunt made candied bacon for Thanksgiving (black pepper bacon baked with brown sugar) I have been obsessed with these recipes. And I think I just found the must-have, they-will-talk-about-it-for-years, snack for your Super Bowl party on Thrillist. Remember, Super Bowl 49 is February 1.
Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 30 minutes
What you'll need:
1 pound of thick-cut bacon
3/4 cup of lager
1 cup pure maple syrup
2 table spoons black pepper (or just buy the black pepper bacon)
1 teaspoon salt
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lay the bacon in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. The rim will help keep the grease from spilling all over your oven. Some people place the bacon on parchment paper. This is optional.
Bake the bacon until crispy. About 20 minutes.
Combine the lager, maple syrup, black pepper and salt in a medium saucepan. You can do this while the bacon is cooking. Allow the glaze to simmer over medium heat to reduce it. Stir often until the liquid is reduced by half and looks thicker than syrup. About 20 minutes.
Remove the bacon from the oven.
Brush the glaze on the bacon. Be generous here and brush it on thick.
Bake the bacon for another 8-10 minutes. This will allow the glaze to carmelize and gain that candy-like texture.
Place a wire rack over another rimmed baking sheet lined with a paper towels. This will allow excess grease and glaze to drip off the bacon.
Cool the bacon on the wire rack until the glaze hardens. About 5 minutes.
And then... Stuff. Your. Face!