Maple Pepper Candied Bacon BLT Sliders with Giardiniera Aioli

Name: Maple Pepper Candied Bacon BLT Sliders with Giardiniera Aioli
Ingredients: 1/4 cup maple sugar; 1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper; 1 teaspoon freshly cracked pink peppercorns; 1 pound thick-cut bacon; Nonstick cooking spray, for the rack; 1 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup hot giardiniera, chopped fine; 3 tablespoons ketchup; 2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard; 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 2 Maui or Vidalia onions, sliced; Balsamic vinegar, for deglazing; Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper; One 12-ounce package sweet slider rolls, such as King's Hawaiian, split, buttered with salted butter and lightly griddled until golden; 1 Roma tomato, sliced medium-thick; 4 crispy leaves romaine lettuce, shredded