When you take thick-cut bacon and let it slowly caramelize in a smoker, something magical happens. The sugars tighten, the fat renders just enough, and the smoke works its way into every little ridge. These Maple Ember Bacon Bites are an addictive mix of sweet, sticky, smoky, and spicy—perfect for game day, backyard hangs, or topping a bourbon cocktail.
The low-and-slow approach lets the maple and seasoning fuse directly into the meat, so each piece finishes with a lacquered shine and just the right crunch. They’re snackable straight from the tray or cooled down to a candy-like texture on a wire rack.
Whether you’re running a pellet smoker, offset, or kamado cooker, this is an easy win with big flavor and very little effort. Just season, smoke, caramelize, devour.
Ingredients
- 1 lb thick-cut bacon, sliced into thirds
- 0.5 cup maple syrup
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat smoker to 250°F using a mild wood (apple, cherry, or pecan).
- Arrange bacon pieces on a wire rack set over a foil-lined sheet pan.
- In a bowl, mix brown sugar, paprika, pepper, cayenne, and garlic powder.
- Brush each bacon strip lightly with maple syrup.
- Sprinkle the seasoning blend evenly over the syrup-coated bacon.
- Place the tray in the smoker and cook 45–60 minutes, or until the bacon begins to darken and caramelize.
- Increase heat to 300°F for the last 10–15 minutes to tighten the glaze.
- Remove from smoker and let cool on a clean wire rack until the coating sets.
- Serve warm or fully cooled for a candy-like crunch.