Twin Peaks restaurants are known for their indulgent menu items like burgers, shakes, and of course – Billionaire Bacon. This slow-roasted, candied bacon is coated in a blend of brown sugar, black pepper, and spices then baked until crispy. Recreating this addictive bacon at home is easy with just a few ingredients and steps.
In this complete guide, we’ll share tips on making Billionaire Bacon along with ingredient information, step-by-step instructions, serving suggestions, storage advice, and more. Let’s get cooking!
Overview of Twin Peaks Billionaire Bacon
Before diving into the recipe let’s look at what makes this bacon so irresistible
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Sweet and salty – The brown sugar coating gives the bacon a lovely sweetness to balance the salty savory flavor.
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Spiced and peppery – A blend of cayenne, red pepper flakes, and black pepper provides subtle heat.
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Crisp and caramelized – Slow roasting yields bacon that’s perfectly crispy with caramelized brown sugar bits.
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Smoky and umami – You get nice smoky notes from the bacon along with rich umami flavor.
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Finger food friendly – The candied bacon is easy to pick up and pop into your mouth for snacking.
Ingredients Needed
Recreating the Twin Peaks bacon requires just a few simple ingredients:
- Thick-cut bacon slices
- Light or dark brown sugar
- Coarsely ground black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Thick-cut bacon works best to stand up to roasting. Use applewood smoked bacon for extra flavor.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
Follow these easy steps for Billionaire Bacon success:
1. Prepare baking sheets
- Line sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
2. Make seasoning mixture
- Combine brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
3. Coat bacon slices
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Dry bacon slices thoroughly with paper towels.
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Generously coat both sides of bacon with seasoning mixture, pressing to adhere.
4. Arrange bacon on sheets
- Place bacon slices in a single layer without overlapping.
5. Roast bacon
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Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
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Flip bacon and bake 20-25 minutes more until browned and crispy.
6. Cool and serve
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Allow bacon to cool slightly before eating.
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Store cooled bacon in an airtight container for snacking.
Cooking Tips
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Use thick-cut bacon at least 1/4 inch thick for best results.
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Watch closely near end of baking to prevent burning.
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Let bacon cool before handling so sugar sets up nicely.
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Blot bacon after roasting to remove excess grease.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy Billionaire Bacon in fun ways like:
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On a breakfast sandwich with eggs and cheese
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Chopped up in salads or pasta dishes
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Crumble over baked potatoes or nachos
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Pair with fruit, jam, and cheeses on a charcuterie board
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Bake into waffles or pancakes for sweet and salty bites
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Use as a garnish for bloody mary cocktails
Storage Tips
Store leftover bacon:
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In an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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Let come to room temperature before serving for crispiest texture.
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Reheat briefly in oven or microwave if desired.
Do not freeze, as this causes the brown sugar to weep.
FAQs
Q: Can I use regular bacon instead of thick-cut?
A: Thick-cut works best. Thinner bacon may overcook and burn before the sugar caramelizes.
Q: Is maple syrup necessary in the coating?
A: Maple syrup is optional. The brown sugar provides plenty of sweetness on its own.
Q: Can I use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar?
A: Yes, but the dark brown sugar will give the bacon a stronger molasses flavor.
Final Thoughts
Recreating the signature Billionaire Bacon from Twin Peaks is simple with the right ingredients and technique. Allowing the brown sugar topping to caramelize on the bacon while roasting results in irresistible sweet, spicy, and smoky flavor. Enjoy this candied bacon as a fun brunch side or snack anytime.