Candied Bacon Pigs

• 1 (14 ounce) package little smokie sausages
• 1 pound bacon slices, cut into thirds crosswise
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, divided
• 1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can cola-flavored carbonated beverage
• 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Wrap each little sausage with 1/3 slice of bacon, and secure them with toothpicks.
3. Place the appetizers on a large baking sheet and sprinkle with 3/4 cup of brown sugar.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the sugar is melted and bubbling, about 40 minutes; turn the appetizers after 20 minutes.
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. Set the cooker to High, and cook 4 hours. Serve warm.

sausages, bacon, brown sugar, colaflavored carbonated beverage, pepper sauce

Taken from www.allrecipes.com/recipe/219924/candied-bacon-pigs/ (may not work)