Bacon-Wrapped Smokies Appetizer (Print Version)

Cocktail sausages wrapped in crispy bacon with sweet caramelized brown sugar glaze. Perfect party appetizer.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 - Arrange the bacon-wrapped smokies seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
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.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They're impossibly simple but look like you spent hours fussing over appetizers.
  • The sweet-salty-smoky combination is genuinely addictive and works for any crowd.
  • You can prep them ahead and bake right before guests arrive, so you're not stuck in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip lining the pan because that caramelized sugar will cement itself to bare metal and you'll be scrubbing for days.
  • If your bacon isn't crisping up enough, it's usually because the oven wasn't hot enough or the pieces were overlapping too much on the sheet.
  • Let them cool for at least three minutes before serving or the molten sugar will absolutely burn someone's mouth.
03 -
  • Use thick-cut bacon only if you increase the baking time by about 10 minutes, otherwise it won't crisp properly.
  • For a smokier flavor, try adding a tiny dash of liquid smoke to the maple syrup before drizzling.
  • If you're doubling the batch, use two sheet pans and rotate them halfway through baking so everything crisps evenly.
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