Bacon-wrapped brown sugar hotdogs, or Dead Men’s Fingers, are the easiest appetizer you will ever make. Just put it in the crock pot and forget them until serving time.
I have been making this appetizer for many years. I don’t even know who I got the recipe from, but it’s very good and very easy to make. There are similar recipes on the Internet, but they use an oven, this recipe uses a Crock Pot or slow cooker. That means you can do a lot of other things to prepare for your celebration while these are cooking. Clean-up is super easy, too.
I usually make these for Halloween or Talk Like a Pirate Day, but as long as you don’t call them Dead Men’s Fingers, you can serve them for any occasion. They go very well with Spinach Balls.
Notes About Dead Men’s Fingers
When I make these, I usually do so while sitting down. I also wear gloves because raw bacon is greasy, and it’s easy for your bare hand to slip.
What Kind of Hotdogs and Bacon to Use
It’s important not to use hotdogs that expand while they are cooking. Believe it or not, if you get the kind that “plump when you cook them,” they will plump so much they will escape the cooker, and you will have dogs running all over your table! I usually get the least expensive.
For the bacon, the same is pretty much true. The thinner the bacon, the better it will wrap around the dogs. It’s best to get plain bacon, not maple-flavored or pepper bacon. I usually go for the cheapo bacon.
As to brown sugar, I recommend getting pure cane sugar for this. You can use either light brown or dark brown sugar.
Wooden toothpicks are recommended because they can withstand the temperature of the melting bacon and sugar. Plastic toothpicks might melt. No one wants melted toothpicks in their mouths!
Could You Use Turkey Hotdogs and Turkey Bacon?
While you could use turkey dogs and bacon for this, I don’t recommend doing so. This is an indulgence, so enjoy it as it is!
How Many Servings
These are very rich, so the recommendation is two to three per person if you have other appetizers. They’re very good, and you don’t want to quit once you start eating them. Remember to take a few out for yourself before you give them to your guests.
Let Them Sit After Cooking
These will be very hot when they are done. It’s best to let them sit for at least half an hour before serving. You don’t want anyone burning their fingers or tongue, do you?
Leftover Bacon-Wrapped Hotdogs
If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, simply remove them from the pot, put them in a covered container, and put them in the refrigerator. They can be reheated in the microwave or even eaten cold.