Sweet, smoky, and salty, these bacon wrapped smokies are the meat candy that vanishes first at every party. Little smokies get wrapped in bacon, rolled in brown sugar, and baked crisp on a cast iron grate.
Cut the bacon into thirds or even fourths if possible.
Add the brown sugar to a small bowl and stir in the cayenne if using.
Lay out several pieces of cut bacon on a cutting board then place a little smokie on a piece of bacon and wrap it around. Secure the bacon with a toothpick.
Coat each wrapped smokie in the brown sugar mixture.
Place each bacon wrapped smokie on a cast iron grated grill pan.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Start with cold bacon. Cold bacon wraps tighter and holds the toothpick. As it warms it softens and pulls apart.
Bake low and steady at 350°F. Hotter ovens scorch the brown sugar before the bacon has a chance to crisp and render.
Use a cast iron grate. Baking on a grate lets the rendered fat drip away so the bacon crisps all the way around instead of sitting in grease.
Catch the drips. Set the grate over a rimmed pan, or line underneath, so the caramelized sugar does not weld to your pan.
Make ahead. Wrap and refrigerate up to 3 days; coat in brown sugar right before baking.