Candied Bacon Pigs

Little smoked sausages are wrapped in bacon and slow-cooked for hours in brown sugar, cola, and a touch of five-spice powder for a great appetizer that looks after itself.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 4 hr
• Total Time: 4 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 291 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups brown sugar, divided
• ½ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• ½ (12 fluid ounce) can cola-flavored carbonated beverage
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste (Optional)
• 1 (14 ounce) package little smokie sausages
• 1 pound bacon slices, cut into thirds crosswise

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Step 2

Wrap each little sausage with 1/3 slice of bacon, and secure them with toothpicks.

Step 3

Place the appetizers on a large baking sheet and sprinkle with 3/4 cup of brown sugar.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until the sugar is melted and bubbling, about 40 minutes; turn the appetizers after 20 minutes.

Step 5

Remove the appetizers from the baking sheet with a slotted spoon, and place into a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup of brown sugar and the five-spice powder over the smokies, and drizzle with the cola. If desired, add hot sauce to taste.

Step 6

Set the cooker to High, and cook 4 hours. Serve warm.