It wouldn't be a Southern soiree without a few token appetizers on the party table. These Maple-Bacon Smokies are an inexpensive and oh-so-popular recipe. The best part? You'll only need four ingredients (and a handful of toothpicks!) to pull together these smoky, salty-sweet treats. Plus, it's an easy recipe to double or triple, depending on the amount of guests that you're planning to host. Like a bit of spice with your sausages? A teaspoon of ground black pepper, cayenne, or even garlic powder gives these mini sausages a delightful infusion of flavor. Hold your Maple-Bacon Smokies together by skewering them sideways, so that the toothpick lays parallel to your baking sheet. If you poke a toothpick vertically through your smokies, the bacon is more likely to unroll as it cooks.
Ingredients
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14 ounces smokies (mini smoked hot dogs)
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1 pound bacon
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1 cup brown sugar
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1/4 cup maple syrup
Directions
![Maple Bacon Smokies](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/FTF25ZeoV-op778AEalVCqV5q6s=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/maple-bacon-smokies_0-2000-1b38caf3224b477195a6bf3b7e6e6e98.jpg)
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Preheat oven to 350˚F. Pat smokies dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
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Divide slices of bacon into 4 equal sections. Add bacon pieces to a medium-size bowl; toss with brown sugar. Wrap one sugared bacon piece around each of the smokies, skewering horizontally with a toothpick to secure.
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Place bacon-wrapped smokies on an oven-safe cooling rack, and then place rack on a jellyroll pan lined with parchment paper. Bake smokies for 20-25 minutes until bacon is almost cooked through.
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Pull smokies out of the oven and brush with maple syrup, turning to coat. Return smokies to the oven, and cook an additional 5 minutes until bacon is crisp. Serve warm.