Name: Vanilla Bourbon Bacon Twists
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 LB Bacon (thick cut); ½ C Brown Sugar; 1 TBSP Bourbon (use a good one – you’ll taste it); 1 tsp Vanilla Extract; ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper (optional, for contrast); 1/2 tsp Onion Powder; 1/2 tsp Cinnamon (ground); Pinch Cayenne Pepper (optional, for a little kick)

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Watch Me Make It

If you’ve never had vanilla bourbon bacon before, buckle up. This savory appetizer is also sweet, smoky, sticky, and dangerously snackable. It’s basically what happens when bacon lollipops and a fancy cocktail decide to show up at brunch together. The vanilla bourbon bacon lollipop is born!

A package of center cut bacon, a cup of brown sugar, spices in small containers, a bottle of bourbon, and a bottle of vanilla extract are arranged on a wooden surface.

I made these vanilla bourbon bacon twists for a weekend hangout and didn’t even get a chance to plate them – people were grabbing them off the cooling rack like they were fries – let them cool though. Trust me. It’s the kind of bacon recipe that feels elevated but still rustic enough to bring to a backyard cookout. Whether you’re a casual bacon lover or someone who plans cook times with military precision, this vanilla bourbon bacon recipe hits every single time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

First, this vanilla bourbon bacon recipe uses just a few ingredients and simple tools – no deep frying, no stovetop mess. You get crispy, sticky vanilla bourbon bacon that’s twisted for extra texture and baked to perfection. The glaze is made with brown sugar, real vanilla extract, and good bourbon, so the flavor is legit next-level.

A gloved hand holds a wooden skewer above a plastic container filled with water, where several skewers are soaking on a wooden surface.

Ingredients / Tools You’ll Need

1 lb thick-cut bacon
½ C brown sugar
1 TBSP bourbon
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp ground black pepper (optional)
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Two hands wearing black gloves twist a strip of bacon around a thin skewer on a patterned wooden cutting board.

Tools:

Baking sheet or cookie sheet
Wire rack
Aluminum foil
Piece of parchment paper (optional, for less mess)
Paper towels
Cooling rack
Pastry brush or spoon

Instructions

Preparation

Start by preheating your smoker or oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet or baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place a wire rack on top. This setup lets the fat drip away while the vanilla bourbon bacon gets perfectly crisp.

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A hand wearing a black glove holds a piece of raw bacon, wrapping it around a wooden skewer on a patterned wooden surface.

In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla extract, black pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, and onion powder. Mix until it turns into a thick glaze that smells like something you want to pour over everything. If it’s not thin enough to brush on, add a small amount of bourbon and mix until it’s the right consistency. You’ll want it to sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes so it spreads easily.

A metal whisk is resting in a glass bowl filled with a brown, glossy liquid mixture on a wooden countertop with a patterned surface.

Take each slice of bacon and twist it into a tight spiral. The tighter the twist, the better the crunch and caramelization. Lay each one down on the wire rack in a single layer, leaving space so they cook evenly.

Cooking

Use your brush or spoon to coat each twist with the vanilla bourbon bacon glaze. If you have any glaze left, save it for dipping later or brush it on halfway through baking for extra flavor.

A hand holds a spoon with a thick, brown liquid mixture above a glass bowl containing more of the same mixture, on a wooden surface.

Bake the bacon for 35 to 45 minutes, flipping once about halfway through if they are getting dark on top. Keep an eye on the cooking temps as you get close to the end – brown sugar and bourbon love to caramelize but they can burn if left too long.

Once they’re done, transfer the twists to a cooling rack and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. They’ll firm up as they cool and turn into actual bacon lollipops. Grab a few paper towels to blot off any excess glaze if needed.

Raw bacon strips are twisted around wooden skewers and placed in rows on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet, ready for cooking.

Serving Suggestions

These vanilla bourbon bacon twists are perfect for brunch boards, tailgates, or even just as a pre-dinner snack with a dipping sauce like maple mustard or spicy bourbon BBQ. You can also crumble them over pancakes or mix into baked mac and cheese. One of my favorite ways to serve them? Stick them upright in a glass of bourbon – the perfect compliment. These also pair amazingly as an accompaniment to an Old Fashioned. Bacon and Bourbon is an impossible combo to beat.

Raw bacon twisted on skewers sits on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking tray, ready to be cooked. The setup is placed on a wooden surface.

Recipe Notes & Pro Tips

Always twist before brushing on the glaze to keep things tight and clean. If you’re using a piece of parchment paper instead of a wire rack, expect slightly chewier results – not bad, just different.

Skewers of bacon are lined up on a wire rack inside a grill or smoker. The rack sits over a foil-covered tray, with the bacon cooking and fat dripping below.

Don’t overcrowd your baking sheet – every slice of bacon needs room to breathe. If you’re using multiple pans, rotate halfway through and check the cook times closely. These little things can go from perfectly sticky to charcoal in minutes if you’re not watching your oven temps.

A clear, empty glass tumbler sits next to three skewers of twisted, cooked bacon on parchment paper atop a wooden surface.

Variations

To change it up, try a flavored bourbon like honey or cherry. You could also add crushed pecans to the glaze for a nutty crunch or drizzle with chocolate for dessert-style bacon lollipops. If you’re feeling adventurous, roll these up with jalapeño slices inside before twisting for a spicy, sweet smoky treat.

Three twisted strips of candied vanilla bourbon bacon on wooden skewers rest on parchment paper, with bottles of vanilla extract and McKenna bourbon lying on their sides in the background on a wooden surface.

You can also serve them alongside a small dish of warm maple syrup or a tangy mustard dipping sauce. It’s the kind of snack that adapts to whatever you’re serving – coffee, cocktails, or just cold beer on a hot day. And if you’re gifting these, wrap them in parchment, tie with twine, and toss in a tin – they store great and reheat beautifully.

Final Thoughts

There’s something magic about this vanilla bourbon bacon recipe. It’s simple but unexpected, and it brings out the inner bacon lover in pretty much everyone. These bacon lollipops are crispy, shiny, and ridiculously good – like a meat candy that doesn’t feel like a gimmick.

A glass of whiskey sits on a wooden surface, garnished with a crispy strip of bacon inside the drink.

Pro Tip – the vanilla bourbon bacon goes great in a glass of bourbon!

I always make a double batch because they go fast, whether I’m making them for a party or just because it’s Sunday. It’s hands-down one of my favorite bacon recipes and the easiest way to turn a few pantry ingredients into a total showstopper. So next time you want a fun snack or a new smoky treat, make these – and thank me later.

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