Candied Bacon Crackers

Smoky, buttery, and sweet, these candied bacon crackers have a slight kick of heat from the fresh ground pepper, a just-right sweetness from maple syrup, and of course all the savory meaty goodness you could want from bacon. The combination of sweet and savory will remind you of bacon-wrapped dates—but with an added buttery crunch from the crackers.

Best served warm, these crackers will fly off the platter. So, it's a good thing they're quick and easy to assemble.

Learn how to make candied bacon crackers, and replace all your other go-to appetizers for holidays, tailgates, parties, and more.

Tips for the Best Candied Bacon Crackers

While this recipe may be easy, there are a few tips our Test Kitchen pros wanted to pass along:

• Don't speed up the bake: Baking at a lower temperature allows the fat to render a bit more evenly so that the bacon will crisp and the crackers will brown, not burn.
• Stick with maple syrup: Other versions of this recipe use brown sugar on the bacon, but brown sugar didn’t always caramelize onto the bacon the way we wanted in our recipe testing. Using maple sugar ensures you don’t get pesky or unsightly grains of sugar.
• Cut larger slices of bacon: Cutting the bacon one size bigger than the cracker allows you to tuck the edges under. This way, it fits to size of the cracker as it shrinks.
• Plan for broken crackers: While this recipe doesn't call for an entire sleeve of Club crackers, 32 crackers is the perfect amount so you don't overcrowd your baking sheet. Plus, some crackers inevitably break in the sleeve.

Ingredients for Candied Bacon Crackers

Four ingredients, all of which are pantry and fridge staples, are all you need for this appetizer:

• Buttery crackers: We like the flavor of Club crackers, warm and buttery. But you could also use Ritz or saltines.
• Bacon: Cut strips of bacon into pieces slightly larger than the crackers.
• Maple syrup: This adds a subtle sweetness to the bacon during baking.
• Ground pepper: The contrast of freshly-ground black pepper balances the salt and smoke of the bacon.
  

How To Make Candied Bacon Crackers

Need a last-minute appetizer? This is a great one because it doesn't require a great deal of effort. The full recipe, with step-by-step photos, is further below, but here's a brief recap.

• Step 1. Ready the baking sheets by putting a wire rack inside an aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheet.
• Step 2. Layer bacon pieces over the crackers, and gently tuck the bacon around the edges of the crackers.
• Step 3. Brush the maple syrup over each piece of bacon.
• Step 4. Bake in an oven preheated to 300°F. After 40 to 45 minutes, pull the baking sheet from the oven, and brush crackers with the remaining maple syrup. Let the crackers cool slightly.
• Step 5. Transfer crackers to the serving platter, and sprinkle with freshly-ground black pepper if desired.

Variations

Make these bacon crackers more personal to your tastes. Add ingredients like hot sauce, jalapeños, and crushed red pepper on top of the bacon. Serve with a creamy dip or dollop each one with a herb-infused sour cream dollop.

How To Store Candied Bacon Crackers

Bacon crackers are best served fresh and warm from the oven, but if you have leftovers, put them in a ziplock bag. Store them in the fridge up to 2 days. You'll want to crisp them back up before serving again. You can use an air fryer, or arrange them on a baking sheet, and reheat in the oven at 300°F until warmed through.

More Easy Appetizers

Need a great appetizer for a party? Consider one of these options:

• Classic Deviled Eggs
• Cheddar Cheese Straws
• Ham Delights
• Sausage Balls
• Nuts and Bolts