Cheesy Candied Bacon Twists are my idea of party food perfection. Crispy bacon gets tossed in a sweet-and-salty buttery brown sugar sauce with toasted pecans, then layered with whipped cream cheese on puff pastry before being twisted into a pretty spiral, topped with Gruyere, and then baked until golden and flaky. They are rich and savory, and guaranteed to disappear fast from your appetizer table.
Sweet and Salty Bacon is the Jam!
The holidays — and any celebratory time, really — are when decadent appetizers shine because we give ourselves permission to enjoy good company and crave-worthy food. As someone who tries to stick to the veggies, fruits, legumes, and nuts end of the food pyramid for the most part, bacon — much less candied bacon — is a once-in-a-while treat. So, when its time arrives, it has to be maxed-out good, right?
Appetizers are my second favorite food group, and, in my book, there’s nothing so festive as a big appetizer and snack spread to make special occasions extra joyful. I love dips and salsas and cheesy spreads. Salty snacks. And three-bite finger foods. Like this one.
Puff pastry might sound scary, but the pre-made, frozen version is really easy to work with: Just thaw, spread out the sheet, and go! Puff pastry has that unique flaky-meets-crispy quality that is particularly well-suited to wrap around delicious fillings. And unlike filo dough, it’s not finicky at all. It’s even more cooperative than pizza dough, as it doesn’t fight being rolled and stretched.
So, sweet-and-salty bacon and pecans, plus a schmear of cream cheese, wrapped in puff pastry, is a recipe for scrumptiousness.
Reasons to Love Cheesy Candied Bacon Twists:
- They taste way more gourmet than the effort required; puff pastry is so easy to work with!
- The sweet and savory bacon flavor combo is absolutely addictive.
- They’re perfect for holiday entertaining when you want something special.
- The candied toasted pecans add an unexpected crunch.
- They’re fun to make and even more fun to eat!
Fans of bacon appetizers, unite! You might also enjoy my Bacon Crackers, my Cranberry Bacon Pecan Cheese Log, and my Creamy Goat Cheese Bacon and Dates Dip. They all feature those irresistible savory-salty flavors that bacon brings to the table.
Key Ingredients
Bacon — Bacon is the star, of course, and I personally love the sweet-and-salty combo of candied bacon. Super easy, too,
Pecans — Toasted candy pecans are another holiday favorite flavor, and they pair with bacon so well in appetizers. Pistachios could be interesting, too.
Cheeses — The cream cheese in this recipe has two purposes: it helps hold the filling in place while creating the twists, and adds a lovely creaminess that perfectly complements the crunchy-flaky texture of the twists. I used a container of whipped cream cheese for ready-made spreadability. And finally, I gild the lily with a sprinkling of aged cheese on top. Just because lol.
Seasonings — Because it’s the holidays, appetizers should be over-the-top delish, so I’ve added two umami ingredients to punch up the flavors: Worcestershire sauce and mustard. You don’t specifically taste either one, but they heighten the savoriness of the glaze.
Puff pastry — In the U.S., puff pastry should be widely available in the frozen dessert aisle. Most brands pack two sheets per box. In a pinch, you could use crescent roll dough, although the result will be breadier and less bacony.
How to Make Cheesy Candied Bacon Twists
Ready to make the recipe? Skip to the recipe card now to see the full ingredient list, quantities, prep/cooking times, and printable, detailed instructions. Or, keep scrolling for a visual walk-through and summary of making the appetizer.
Prep notes
Here’s a quick guide for preparing the ingredients, if you need it (excluding items that can be measured directly from a container, such as dried herbs and liquids).
- Cut the bacon into smaller pieces so that they’ll fit neatly in your skillet.
- Chop the pecans into small pieces.
- Shred the cheese finely.
- Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk thoroughly with a teaspoon of water or milk.
Cook the bacon
Crisp the bacon in a large skillet and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool.
Make the sweet and savory glaze
Melt the butter in the rendered bacon fat, and stir in the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.
Coat the pecans and bacon
Add the chopped pecans to the glaze, coating well, letting the pecans toast for a minute or two. Stir in the bacon and make sure all the bits are covered in the glaze.
Fill the puff pastry
Lay the first sheet of puff pastry flat on a large surface and lightly roll out with a rolling pin to repair any cracks and creases and to square up the corners and edges of the pastry so it will neatly fold in half. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese edge-to-edge, and then spoon half of the candied bacon mixture down half of the sheet on the long side. Fold the pastry over and press to secure the filling.
Form the twists
Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to slice the pastry into 12 equal strips (about an inch wide). Twist each strip into a spiral: Hold the ends of the strip and twist your right hand away from you at the same time you twist your left hand towards you. Position each twist on a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the second pastry sheet if making the full recipe.
Top and bake
Brush the twists with the egg wash and sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top. Bake, and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. The twists will firm up once they’ve cooled a bit.
Storing
As with most puff pastry recipes, these twists are at their best when served immediately. Although the baked twists can be refrigerated and reheated, they lose something in that process.
I hope you’ll give these Cheesy Candied Bacon Twists a try for your next party or gathering. If you make them, I’d love to hear how they turned out! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, or tag me on Instagram (@soupaddict) so I can see your beautiful twisty bacon creations. And if you need more finger food ideas, browse my collection of Appetizers.
Cheesy Candied Bacon and Pecan Twists
Ingredients
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry (about 17 oz)
- 4 slices uncooked bacon
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 7 ounces whipped cream cheese
- 1 egg , whisked with a little water or milk
- 1 cup shredded aged cheddar , such as Gruyere or gouda
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Take the puff pastry out of the freezer, remove from the box, and separate the sheets. Don’t unfold them. Let thaw on the counter for 30 minutes, or until the dough is no longer hard.
- Cook the pan in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter to the skillet with the bacon fat, stirring until melted.
- Pour in the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Crumble or chop the bacon and return to the skillet, along with the pecans. Stir well to thoroughly coat, letting the pecans toast for a minute or two. Remove from heat and let cool.
- When the puff pastry is sufficiently thawed, place one sheet on a large cutting board and unfold it carefully (discarding any papers separating the layers).
- Gently roll out the puff pastry a bit, so that one side is slightly longer than the other. Don’t roll too thin.
- Spread the entire surface of the pastry with a thin layer of cream cheese.
- Spoon half of the candied bacon mix down one half of the pastry sheet on the long side.
- Carefully fold the uncovered half over the bacon half and press lightly.
- Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut 12 strips across the short side.
- Pick up one strip by both ends and twist in opposite directions* to create a swirl pattern. Repeat with all of the strips.
- Place the twists on the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry, arranging them on the baking sheet with the others.**
- Brush with the whisked egg, and sprinkle cheese over the top.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.
Video
Notes
** If necessary, you can divide the twists onto two baking sheets. Swap the pans on the racks, top to bottom, halfway through so that everything bakes evenly.