This post was sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are my own. #OneOfAKindFan
This appetizer takes a simple combination—bread, cream cheese and bacon—and turns it into a crowd-pleasing finger food. The bread is spread with a herbed cream cheese, wrapped around bacon, and baked until golden and crisp. For game day, these are indulgent and easy to serve.
Although “bacon roll ups” appear in many recipe collections, this version sets itself apart with a sticky, sweet Dr Pepper glaze. The glaze adds a unique, caramelized sweetness that complements the salty bacon and savory cream cheese filling.
As a football fan, I love easy, flavorful recipes to serve during weekend games. These roll ups are perfect for college Saturdays and pro Sundays—portable, shareable, and satisfying.
The glaze is simple: you reduce a can of Dr Pepper with brown sugar and finish it with fresh orange juice for brightness. Dark rye bread, with the crusts removed and sliced in half, is spread with cream cheese blended with fresh tarragon, then wrapped around half-slices of bacon and secured with toothpicks before baking.
The contrast of salty bacon and sweet, slightly tangy Dr Pepper glaze is irresistible—these disappear fast at any gathering. I picked up my Dr Pepper locally and found it easy to use for reducing into a thick, glossy glaze.
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Bacon Roll Ups with Dr Pepper Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz. can Dr Pepper
- 1/4 c. dark brown sugar
- juice of 1/2 orange
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1 T. fresh tarragon minced
- 8 slices dark rye bread crust removed and sliced in half
- 8 slices bacon sliced in half
Start Cooking
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
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In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and minced tarragon until smooth.
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On a flat surface, lay out one half-slice of bacon. Place a half slice of bread on top, spread about a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture over the bread, then roll the bread around the bacon and secure with a toothpick.
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Repeat with the remaining bread, bacon and cream cheese to make 16 roll ups.
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Arrange the roll ups on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
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Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the bread is golden.
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While the roll ups bake, combine the Dr Pepper and brown sugar in a shallow saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 20 minutes, or until reduced by roughly half and syrupy. Remove from heat and stir in the orange juice.
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Brush the warm glaze over the baked roll ups and serve immediately.
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