Maple Syrup Glazed Fullblood Wagyu Beef Bacon Lollipops

Directions

1. Tools - Wooden Skewers, Parchment Paper, Aluminum Foil, Baking Trays with Racks, Pastry Brush
2. FIRST STEP Take the Fullblood Wagyu beef bacon out of the freezer, and place it into the refrigerator 24 hours before making this recipe.
3. PREPARING THE FULLBLOOD WAGYU BEEF BACON Preheat your oven to 225°F. While your oven preheats, wrap the Fullblood Wagyu beef bacon, bay leaves, and black peppercorns in parchment paper and then aluminum foil. Make sure the packet of bacon is tightly sealed. Place the packet on a rack in a baking pan. Then, place the baking pan in the preheated oven. Cook the Fullblood Wagyu beef bacon packet for 6 hours at 225°F. After 6 hours, allow the bacon packet to cool off. Once it has cooled, empty the packet contents into a glass baking dish. Then, place the bacon chucks on a rack with a tray underneath. Allow the bacon fat to drip off. Note: you can strain out the peppercorns and bay leaves from the bacon fat, and set aside the rendered bacon fat to be used in future dishes.
4. PREPARING THE GLAZE While the Fullblood Wagyu beef bacon drains, mix the maple syrup, brown sugar, and mustard in a small bowl. You can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra heat (or more than a pinch as desired). This is your maple syrup glaze.
5. PREPARING THE LOLLIPOPS Preheat your oven to 425°F. Once oven is ready, skewer the bacon chunks (one piece of bacon per skewer). Place the skewered bacon chunks on a rack in a baking pan lined with foil. Using a paper towel, dab the bacon dry. Using a pastry brush, brush each bacon “lollipop” with the maple syrup glaze. Place the tray of bacon “lollipops” in the preheated oven, and cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, take the bacon out of the oven, and apply more glaze. Place the bacon back in the oven. Repeat this 5-minute process a few more times until a nice glaze forms on one side of the bacon “lollipops”. Watch carefully, as the glaze can burn.
6. FINAL STEPS After the maple syrup glaze has formed a nice crust on the bacon “lollipops”, remove the bacon from the oven. Place the bacon on a serving platter. Serve immediately while warm, or allow the bacon “lollipops” to cool before serving. This dish makes a great appetizer! Enjoy!