Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top of it. In a shallow bowl, mix together the light brown sugar, ground black pepper, and maple syrup. Dip the bacon strips into the mixture, making sure both sides are covered with the sugar/syrup mix. Line the bacon on the wire rack. Bake 15-20 minutes until the brown sugar is melted and caramelized and the bacon fully cooked through. Remove the tray from the oven and allow the bacon to cool and firm up. Once cooled, cut into small pieces and set aside.