Candied Bacon:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
2. Lay Bacon: Lay the bacon strips on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Prepare Sugar Mixture: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, maple syrup, bourbon, and black pepper.
4. Coat Bacon: Spread the sugar mixture over the bacon slices.
5. Bake: Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy. Monitor closely to prevent burning.
6. Cool: Remove the bacon and transfer it to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Cooling allows the bacon to crisp up.
7. Prepare Bacon Pieces: Once cool, cut a few pieces into strips for topping and chop the rest into crumbs.

Cinnamon Roll Dough:

1. Prepare Tangzhong: In a small saucepan, whisk together flour and water. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until a paste-like slurry forms (4-5 minutes). This technique makes the rolls extra soft.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, milk, and tangzhong to the bowl.
4. Knead: Knead on low speed with the dough hook for 2 minutes until a rough dough ball forms.
5. Add Butter: With the mixer running, add softened butter ½ tablespoon at a time, incorporating fully before adding more.
6. Continue Kneading: Knead for another 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
7. First Rise: Form the dough into a ball, place it in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until doubled.
8. Roll Out Dough: Roll the dough out into a 15×18-inch rectangle.
9. Prepare Filling: Combine butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
10. Spread Filling: Spread the filling over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border at the top.
11. Add Bacon: Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the filling.
12. Cut Strips: Use a pizza cutter to cut 12 strips.
13. Roll and Place: Roll each strip away from you and place them in a parchment-lined 9×13-inch baking pan.
14. Second Rise: Cover and let rise for another hour, or until doubled.
15. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 325°F.
16. Bake: Bake for 24-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
17. Cool: Let the pan cool on a wire rack.

Bourbon Maple Frosting:

1. Combine Butter and Cream Cheese: In a bowl, combine butter and cream cheese until smooth.
2. Add Powdered Sugar: Mix in powdered sugar.
3. Add Maple Syrup and Bourbon: Whisk in maple syrup and bourbon. Adjust bourbon to taste.
4. Frost Rolls: Spread the frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls.
5. Top with Bacon: Sprinkle with reserved bacon strips.