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Mouthwatering Caramelized Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Smokies deliver an unforgettable blend of sticky-sweet and savory goodness in every bite-sized morsel. These crowd-pleasers wrap juicy cocktail wieners in crispy, sugar-glazed bacon strips, creating a snack that guests will devour before they've even cooled down.
I'll never forget bringing these to my first football watch party - they were gone in seconds! These days I always cook twice as many because everyone hangs around the serving dish waiting to snatch them up.
Key Components
- Little Smokies: go for premium mini sausages to maximize taste
- Bacon: standard thickness crisps up better than thick slices
- Brown sugar: either light or dark varieties give amazing results
- Toothpicks: wooden ones hold everything together perfectly
Step-By-Step Preparation
- Step 1:
- Slice bacon pieces into thirds. They need to be just long enough to circle each Little Smokie with a bit of overlap. Too much extra bacon means chewy sections instead of crispy results.
- Step 2:
- Push a toothpick through each wrapped sausage, making sure it grabs both bacon edges. Put them on your baking sheet with seams facing down.
- Step 3:
- Cover each wrapped bite generously with brown sugar. As it heats, the sugar turns into a delicious glaze that perfectly matches the bacon's saltiness.
- Step 4:
- Cook at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping once halfway. Keep an eye on them toward the end - sugar can turn from perfectly gooey to burnt really fast.
- Step 5:
- Cool for 5 minutes before moving to your serving dish. This lets the sugar firm up a bit.
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My husband's mom showed me how to gently press the sugar onto each piece before they go in the oven. This tiny trick makes sure the sugar sticks well and turns into that amazing caramel coating.
Getting The Heat Right
Always keep your oven steady at 350°F - any hotter and your sugar will burn, any cooler and you'll end up with floppy bacon.
Prep Them Early
You can wrap and coat these little guys a full day ahead. Just cover them in the fridge, then pop them in the oven right before company arrives.
Crowd-Pleasing Tactics
Cook smaller batches throughout your party. Nothing beats the smell and taste of freshly made ones coming out every half hour.
Tasty Twists
Add a tiny sprinkle of cayenne for some kick or a bit of cracked black pepper for extra zing.
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These tasty little morsels have become my go-to party snack. They've got that perfect mix of sweet and savory flavors, and they always wow my guests despite being incredibly easy to throw together.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What makes the bacon crispy?
- To get the bacon extra crispy, broil it for the last couple of minutes in the oven.
- → Can I prep them in advance?
- Yes, wrap the smokies in bacon, store in the fridge, then bake with sugar when ready to cook.
- → Why dry the sausages first?
- Drying them lets the bacon stick properly and brown more evenly in the oven.
- → Can thick bacon work instead?
- It’s best to go with thin bacon since it’s easier to wrap and cooks quickly.
- → Are toothpicks necessary?
- Toothpicks are great for holding the bacon in place while baking, so they don’t come undone.