Southern Living
It wouldn't be a Southern soiree without a few token appetizers on the party table. We applaud those hostesses who take the time to craft small pastries of quiche, asparagus, and goat cheese – but as we gather around to celebrate the season together, it tends to be the same few dishes that fly off the appetizer table. Southerners love sausage balls, cheese straws, and cocktail meatballs – and anything wrapped in bacon. These Maple-Bacon Smokies are an inexpensive and oh-so-popular recipe, especially during the holidays. 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.
How to Make It
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Pat smokies dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
Step 2
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.
Step 3
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.
Step 4
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.
