Candied Bacon Pigs

Ingredients

• 1 package little smokie sausages , 14 ounce
• 1 pound bacon slices , cut into thirds crosswise
• 1.5 cups brown sugar , divided
• 0.5 cans cola-flavored carbonated beverage , 12 fluid ounce
• 0.5 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

2. 2

   Wrap each little sausage with 1/3 slice of bacon, and secure them with toothpicks.

3. 3

   Place the appetizers on a large baking sheet and sprinkle with 3/4 cup of brown sugar.

4. 4

   Bake in the preheated oven until the sugar is melted and bubbling, about 40 minutes; turn the appetizers after 20 minutes.

5. 5

   Remove the appetizers from the baking sheet with a slotted spoon, and place into a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup of brown sugar and the five-spice powder over the smokies, and drizzle with the cola. If desired, add hot sauce to taste.

6. 6

   Set the cooker to High, and cook 4 hours. Serve warm.