Bacon-Wrapped Cocktail Sausages (Print version)

Mini cocktail sausages wrapped in crispy bacon with a sweet, caramelized brown sugar glaze. Perfect for parties.

# Required ingredients:

→ Meats

01 - 24 mini cocktail sausages (12 oz)
02 - 12 slices bacon (8 oz), cut in half

→ Glaze

03 - 1/2 cup brown sugar
04 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
05 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey, optional

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - Cut each bacon slice in half crosswise to create 24 pieces.
03 - Wrap each cocktail sausage with a half-slice of bacon, securing with a toothpick.
04 - Place bacon-wrapped smokies seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
05 - In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cayenne pepper if using.
06 - Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the smokies. Drizzle with maple syrup or honey for extra caramelization if desired.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until bacon is crisp and glaze is bubbling. For extra crispiness, broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end, watching closely.
08 - Cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with toothpicks for easy handling.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Only three main ingredients but tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen.
  • The brown sugar caramelizes into a glaze that makes people fight over the last piece.
  • You can prep them hours ahead and just slide the tray into the oven when guests arrive.
02 -
  • Do not skip the toothpick or the bacon will unravel and cook unevenly, leaving you with floppy strips and naked smokies.
  • If your bacon is not crisping, your oven might be running cool or the bacon is too thick, next time switch to regular-cut and check your oven temperature with a thermometer.
  • The glaze will look wet and loose when you pull them out, but it firms up as it cools into a sticky coating.
03 -
  • Use a wire rack set inside the baking sheet if you want even crispier bacon, it lets air circulate and the fat drips away.
  • If the sugar starts to burn before the bacon crisps, tent the tray loosely with foil and lower the oven temperature to 375°F.
  • Double the batch and freeze half before baking, then you can pull them out and bake from frozen whenever you need a quick appetizer.
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