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Mouthwatering Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies blend sweet, smoky and salty tastes into irresistible bite-sized party snacks. Each juicy cocktail sausage comes wrapped in crispy bacon that's coated with a gooey caramelized brown sugar layer, making them vanish from plates almost instantly at any gathering.
I remember taking these to my first football watch party and they didn't even last ten minutes! These days I always cook twice as much because guests literally stand around waiting for them to cool just enough to grab a handful.
Key Ingredients
- Little Smokies: grab premium cocktail sausages for tastier results
- Bacon: standard thickness works way better than thick-cut varieties
- Brown sugar: either light or dark gives amazing results
- Toothpicks: go for wooden ones to hold everything together
Step-by-Step Cooking Guide
- Step 1:
- Slice bacon strips into thirds. They should just be long enough to go around each Little Smokie with a bit of overlap. Too much extra bacon creates soft spots instead of crispy texture.
- Step 2:
- Wrap each Smokie and stick a toothpick through to catch both bacon ends. Put them seam-side down on your lined baking tray.
- Step 3:
- Cover each piece generously with brown sugar. As it melts, it'll form a sweet coating that goes perfectly with the salty bacon taste.
- Step 4:
- Cook at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes, flipping once halfway. Keep an eye on them near the end since the sugar can burn quickly after caramelizing.
- Step 5:
- Let them sit for 5 minutes before moving to your serving dish. This gives the sugar glaze time to firm up a bit.
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My husband's mom showed me a trick to gently press the brown sugar onto each wrapped sausage before they go in the oven. This small extra step makes sure the sugar sticks and turns perfectly caramelized.
Getting The Heat Right
Always keep your oven at exactly 350°F. Any hotter and your sugar will burn, any cooler and you'll end up with floppy bacon instead of crispy goodness.
Prep Them Early
You can wrap and add sugar to these little treats a full day before your event. Just cover them in the fridge, then pop them in the oven when guests arrive.
Crowd-Pleasing Strategies
Cook them in smaller batches for big parties. Everyone loves grabbing them while they're still warm from the oven.
Tasty Twists
Add a tiny bit of cayenne if you want some heat or throw in some black pepper for extra flavor kick.
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These tasty little morsels have become the app I'm known for bringing to parties. They're so easy to make but hit that perfect balance between sweet and savory that makes folks think you spent hours in the kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How can I get the bacon crispy?
- Turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end to crisp it up.
- → Can I prepare this in advance?
- Wrap the smokies in bacon ahead of time and store in the fridge. Add sugar and bake just before serving.
- → Why dry the sausages first?
- Drying them makes it easier for the bacon to stick and ensures a better crisp.
- → Is thin-cut bacon necessary?
- Thin bacon wraps more easily and cooks better, so it’s the way to go.
- → Do I really need toothpicks?
- Yes, they keep the bacon snugly wrapped while it cooks.