You simply cannot go wrong making a big batch of these Bacon Crackers with Rosemary and Black Pepper for your next gathering! These easy appetizers stack a candied bacon slice on top of a flaky cracker and pump up the flavor with fresh rosemary and coarsely ground pepper. They bake up in the oven for crisp texture and smoky, sweet, and spicy flavored treats.
Bacon crackers are a classic appetizer that is a sure crowd-pleaser. This version adds brown sugar, rosemary, and black pepper for a flavor combination that will keep your guests coming back for more. They take just minutes to prepare and bake in the oven so you can get the last-minute items checked off your list before entertaining!
These Hot Honey Pepperoni Crackers should be on your list of things to try next! They have the same spicy-savory-sweet combination that makes these candied bacon crackers a hit.
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Ingredients
I include ingredient notes here when I think they'll be helpful, including ways to source, any preparation tips, or why I've chosen a particular ingredient. Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and their quantities!
- Club Crackers - Use these buttery, crisp, rectangular crackers that fit each piece of bacon perfectly.
- Bacon - For the photos in this post, we used thick-cut bacon. You can opt for a standard cut bacon, too. A center cut bacon will yield more meat and less fat.
- Rosemary - Use fresh rosemary for the best flavor. You can easily find rosemary in most supermarkets, but it's also easy to grow in your garden.
- Brown Sugar - A generous sprinkle of brown sugar creates a candied texture in the final bacon crackers and balances out the salty and smoky bacon flavors.
- Black Pepper - Grind your black pepper fresh right before adding it to the recipe for the most robust bright spice flavor. A coarse grind will really let the black pepper shine in the mix with the bacon, rosemary, and brown sugar.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Slice your strips of bacon into four pieces each.
Strip the rosemary leaves from the stem and very finely chop the rosemary. No one wants to bite into a large piece of what feels like a pine needle in their appetizer!
Prepare the sugar mixture by combining the brown sugar, chopped rosemary, and black pepper until it is uniform with no lumps.
Arrange the crackers on the pan so that each one sits flat.
Slice your strips of bacon into four pieces each.
Distribute the brown sugar mixture evenly over the bacon pieces, generously piling it on each cracker.
Bake the crackers for about 25 minutes, until the bacon is fully cooked, the crackers are crisp and deeply golden, and the sugar mixture has caramelized. Allow the crackers to cool on the pan and then serve them at room temperature.
Top Tip
Sometimes the end of the bacon slices will curl up when baking with the crackers. If this happens, you can use a toothpick to tack down the edge of the bacon for the last few minutes of baking or as the crackers cool on the sheet pan This way, all of your crackers will have uniform coverage of bacon!
Substitutions and Variations
The substitutions listed below have been tested in this recipe and work well. If you successfully make any other ingredient substitutions, let us know in the comments!
- Swap Crackers - If you have round butter crackers on hand (i.e. Ritz or something similar), feel free to use them instead of the rectangle crackers. Cut your bacon into 6 pieces per strip and use 48 crackers instead of 32. You can also make this recipe with saltines using similar pieces of bacon.
- Add Spice - If you want more spice in your tasty candied bacon crackers, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to each cracker before baking.
- Use Peppered Bacon - Bacon and black pepper are such a great pair that you can buy bacon that is packaged after being coated in coarse black pepper. Use this type if you want to double up on that bright spicy flavor in your bacon crackers.
Equipment
You don't need a lot of fancy kitchen equipment for this recipe! Here are the basic kitchen tools we use to make preparation of these bacon crackers quick and easy:
- Sheet Pans - I use sheet pans in two sizes, a quarter sheet pan (9" x 13") and a half sheet pan (13" x 18"), and they are so versatile in the kitchen. For this recipe, one half sheet pan is perfect for baking all the crackers at once. Buy a good quality set and you'll be using them for years. Mine have a very dark patina, so no judgement if yours look the same.
- Chef's Knife - An 8- or 10-inch chef's knife is an essential tool in any kitchen. I use it for chopping the rosemary and slicing the bacon. Choose a knife with a heavy duty blade but that is comfortable in your hand and you'll have a workhorse tool for years!
- Parchment Paper - Lining pans with parchment paper means your sticky candied bacon won't glue itself to your sheet pan! Your crackers will remain intact and cleanup is extra simple. Parchment paper can come in brown or white color, both will do the job. To keep the parchment paper in place, crumple it in a ball before pressing it flat into your pan.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these tasty candied bacon appetizers with beer, cocktails, or wine whenever you gather with friends or family. They are simple to prepare and perfect for sharing!
Storage
Any leftover bacon crackers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Allow the crackers to come to room temperature before serving.
Make-Ahead Options
These crackers can be made ahead of time and reheat well for serving friends without the last-minute hassle. Allow them to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat the crackers right before serving by placing them on a parchment-lined sheet pan and baking at 250°F for about 10 minutes.
FAQ
Candied bacon is bacon that has been cooked in the oven with a coating of brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup until the bacon is cooked and the sugars caramelize into a sweet glaze. You might see similar preparations called cowboy bacon or billionaire's bacon. This recipe combines candied bacon and rosemary onto a snackable cracker!
To potentially reduce the amount of bacon fat that is absorbed into the crackers, you can lay your crackers out on a wire rack over a lined sheet pan for baking.
Use an American-style (streaky) bacon for this recipe, either regular or thick-cut slices. A center cut variety of bacon will have less fat and more meat. Avoid Canadian- or British-style bacon, as they have a much lower fat content and won't crisp up well on the crackers.
Extra Herbs = Extra Flavor
Added rosemary takes these candied bacon crackers from good enough to deliciously craveable! Check out the recipes below that use rosemary and other herbs to enhance the flavor of desserts, appetizers, and snacks:
More Bacon Recipes
Bacon has that smoky, savory flavor that makes all sorts of recipes better. Here are a few recipes that feature this tasty ingredient:
Try It and Share
I hope you try these Bacon Crackers with Rosemary and Black Pepper and enjoy the recipe as much as we do. I want to see your results! Tag your photo with #planeatpostrepeat and mention me @planeatpostrepeat on Instagram or Facebook. I can give you a virtual high five and thank you for cooking one of my recipes! Comment below with any questions and please leave a review so others can find this recipe more easily.
Recipe
Bacon Crackers with Rosemary and Black Pepper
Equipment
- 1 sheet pan
Ingredients
- 32 club crackers
- 8 slices bacon
- ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 tablespoon fresh rosemary (chopped)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (ground)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Cut each slice of bacon into 4 pieces.
- Chop the rosemary into very fine pieces. Combine the rosemary with the brown sugar and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Lay the crackers out in a single layer on the sheet pan.
- Place one piece of bacon onto each cracker. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over all the crackers.
- Bake the crackers for about 25 minutes, until the bacon is crisped and the sugar creates a shiny glaze.
- Allow the crackers to cool completely on the pan. Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition facts are sometimes provided below and are calculated using an online calculator. With specific brands of ingredients and additions, omissions, or substitutions the nutrition facts may change. We encourage you to use your own nutrition facts calculator to obtain the most accurate nutrition facts for your meal.
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