Learn how to make Bacon Roses, the perfect edible bouquet! This easy recipe transforms crispy, savory bacon into a stunning and delicious treat for any occasion.
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Why This Recipe Works:
- Prebaking the bacon means it's fully cooked through.
- Baking the bacon perfectly renders the fat to make these roses extra delicious!
- You only need bacon and fake roses to make a full bouquet!
- This is a perfect savory gift for Valentine’s Day or Father’s Day!
What Goes Into This Recipe
Bacon- 12 slices for a full bouquet and I recommend using thick sliced bacon.
Fake Roses- You will pull off the flower head and leave the stem with leaves and the calyx (the green cup part at the top of the stem).
Optional- Red Cellophane to wrap bouquet, Vase, Chocolate to fill bottom of vase.
I was gifted bacon from Good Ranchers to make this recipe. Their bacon is my favorite and what I’ve used in so many of my recipes- like my maple bacon breakfast pie, bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese, pumpkin spice bacon pancakes, and this delicious brie and bacon grilled cheese.
If you want to try Good Ranchers bacon and all their other delicious meat check out their awesome deals here!
Variations
- Candied Bacon- After rolling the prebaked slices into rosettes, sprinkle with brown sugar or dip in maple syrup, and then bake for a final 10 minutes. This is similar to my brown sugar bacon recipe that I love!
- Spicy Bacon- Sprinkle bacon with black pepper, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes for some extra heat.
- Make it Pretty- Wrap the bouquet in cellophane and place it in a small vase filled with chocolates!
- Fake Flowers- Instead of making a bouquet with fake rose stems, get an empty heart chocolate box and fill it with bacon rosettes! You might need more than 12 though depending on its size.
Why Prebake the Bacon?
The common method to make bacon roses is to roll an uncooked slice of bacon into a rosette, secure it with a toothpick, and then bake until it is beautifully cooked.
The problem with this method is that even if the center of the tightly rolled bacon gets to the correct temperature its texture is rubbery, it is pale in color, and it feels undercooked.
To fix this I used my favorite oven-baked bacon recipe to bake the bacon to a soft but fully baked state then I rolled the slices into rosettes and baked them a little longer to get the deeper color to the bacon.
It makes every single bite of these roses incredibly delicious.
How to Make Bacon Roses?
- Step 1: Place slices of bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place bacon in a COLD oven then preheat oven to 400°F. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the baking tray at the 15-minute mark.
- Step 2: After 20 minutes remove from oven and allow to cool enough to be handled.
- Step 3: Starting at the wide end roll bacon slice.
- Step 4: Roll each bacon slice into a rosette.
- Step 5: Place a toothpick or two through the bacon rosette and place back on the baking sheet.
- Step 6: Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for 10 minutes or until you get the bacon to the color you desire. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
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How to Make Bacon Bouquet?
- Step 7: Remove fake rose heads/petals but leave the stem, leaves, and calyx. Wash in warm soapy water and dry.
- Step 8: Remove toothpick from a bacon rosette and place bacon onto the top of the stem, nestling it down into the calyx. Repeat with all remaining rosettes.
If you need more ideas for easy and delicious Valentine’s Recipes check out my Easy Heart Shaped Cookies, Easy Strawberry Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies, Easy Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, or these fun Valentine’s Cake Pops!
Expert Tip
Roll bacon starting from the widest end for the most rose-like shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting the bacon in a cold oven allows it to come to temperature slowly which then renders the fat perfectly and will melt in your mouth!
If refrigerated after baking, bacon will last 3-4 days.
Store the rosettes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s easiest to assemble a bouquet right before gifting.
More Related Recipes
If you like this recipe make sure to check out other delicious savory recipes like smoked ribeye, brussel sprouts with bacon, filet medallions with blackberry sauce, the best herb crusted rack of lamb, and these delicious crispy smashed potatoes.
If you like this recipe make sure to give it a 5-star review and leave a comment down below!
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Bacon Roses
Equipment
- toothpicks
- 12 Fake Roses
- Optional Items: Small Vase, Chocolates, Cellophane
Ingredients
- 12 slices Bacon thick sliced
Instructions
- Lay bacon flat on a parchment-lined rimmed bacon sheet. Depending on how much bacon you are baking, you might need two baking sheets.12 slices Bacon
- Place bacon in a cold oven. * Then turn oven to 400°F. Bake for 15 minutes. Since the oven will be cold it will "preheat" until it reaches temperature while the bacon is in the oven which usually takes ~10 minutes, then continue baking for 5 minutes (for a total of 15 minutes).
- After 15 minutes check the bacon and rotate the pans if necessary. Bake for another 5 minutes until the bacon is cooked but still soft. Remove from oven and let sit until cool enough to handle, ~10 minutes.
- Tightly roll each strip of bacon into a rosette starting with the wide end of the bacon and rolling toward the narrow end. Secure the rolled bacon with a toothpick or two and stand on end on the baking sheet.
- Lower oven temperature to 375°F and back roses for ~10 minutes or until bacon roses are a darker reddish color. Once it gets to the color you desire, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool.
- While the bacon is cooling, remove the rose tops from the fake roses and wash the remaining stems and calyx (the green cup at the base of the flower) with warm, soapy water. Dry thoroughly. *
- Once the bacon roses are cool enough to handle remove the toothpicks and firmly place each rose on a stem, sliding it down into the green calyx. Wrap the bouquet in cellophane and give it to your Valentine! *
Notes
- Cold Oven: Starting the bacon in a cold oven allows it to come to temperature slowly and renders the fat deliciously. If you forget to preheat the oven before putting the bacon in, it will still be okay. Just bake the bacon for 20 minutes, checking at the 15-minute mark.
- Fake Roses: Removing the roses off of the plastic stems is easy. The calyx came off with the rose on mine and then I was able to separate that from the petals and slide it back on the stem. The calyx was a bit loose but when I placed the bacon on the stems and nestled it into the calyx it held in place. Alternatively, you can affix the calyx with a hot glue gun to hold it in place.
- Assembling: I found it easiest to put chocolates in the bottom of a vase, wrap the stems in pretty cellophane, and stick that into the vase. Then, I added a bacon rose to each stem. This allowed the flower stems to stand up securely while I added the roses.
Tara says
Your directions are confusing and two spots
First you say: Place bacon in a cold oven. * Then preheat oven to 400°F. Bake for 15 minutes.
But then later you say:
If you forget to preheat the oven before putting the bacon in, it will still be okay. Just bake the bacon for 20 minutes, checking at the 15-minute mark.
Are we supposed to put the bacon in before we preheat (cold oven)? Because your second comment makes it sound like we’re supposed to preheat before we put the bacon in (hot oven).
And if we put the bacon in at the time we start preheating, is that when we start timing it? Or do we start timing it once it has reached 400°?
I am a very literal person so your directions probably makes sense to other people, they just seem to be contradicting to me. Thank you!
Lisa Killian says
Oh that's a great point sorry for that confusion! Place the bacon in the oven before preheating- so it will be cold. Then turn the oven on. It will still go through it's preheat cycle but the bacon will already be in the oven and will come to temperature (400F) along with the oven. My note on if you forget to put the bacon in before preheating is just to reassure people if they forget and have to put the bacon in when the oven is already warm it will still turn out ok. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Lisa Killian says
This recipe is so easy and extra tasty! Makes for a great Valentine's day gift!