If you’re looking for a breakfast that perfectly balances sweet and savory, look no further than this beloved Bacon Pancakes Recipe. Imagine golden, fluffy pancakes intertwined with crispy, smoky bacon pieces, all wrapped up in one delightful bite. This recipe turns an ordinary morning into a fun, flavorful feast that everyone will rave about, bringing the joy of a classic diner breakfast right to your kitchen table. With its easy-to-follow steps and mouthwatering results, the Bacon Pancakes Recipe is sure to become your new favorite weekend tradition.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients come together simply yet each plays a crucial role in delivering the perfect bacon pancake experience. From the crispy bacon to the tender, fluffy batter, every item is essential for taste, texture, and that beautiful golden color.
- Thin-cut bacon (1 pound): Provides that irresistible smoky crunch woven through every pancake.
- All-purpose flour (4 cups): The sturdy base that gives pancakes their classic fluffy structure.
- Baking powder (4 teaspoons): Helps the batter rise and become light and airy.
- Granulated sugar (¾ cup): Adds just the right hint of sweetness without overpowering the bacon.
- Kosher salt (1 teaspoon): Enhances all the flavors, balancing sweet and savory beautifully.
- Large eggs (6, separated): Egg yolks enrich the batter while whipped egg whites create lift and fluffiness.
- Whole milk (3 cups): Keeps the batter tender and moist.
- Unsalted butter (12 tablespoons melted + 2 tablespoons for cooking): Adds richness and helps achieve that golden crust.
- Pure vanilla extract (¾ teaspoon): Gives a warm, subtle sweetness to complement the bacon.
- Almond extract (¼ teaspoon): Offers a slightly nutty note to deepen the pancake flavor.
How to Make Bacon Pancakes Recipe
Step 1: Prepare and Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 200°F and set up a cooling rack over a baking sheet. This thoughtful step ensures your pancakes stay warm and perfectly textured while you cook the rest.
Step 2: Cook the Bacon
Slice your thin-cut bacon into tiny â…›-inch pieces and fry until crisp. This crispy bacon will provide those perfect pops of smoky flavor inside your fluffy pancakes. Once cooked, drain on paper towels to keep things nice and crisp.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
Mix together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Having these dry ingredients ready ensures quick mixing later when you add the wet ingredients.
Step 4: Whip the Egg Whites
Using a stand mixer, beat the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks — this will be the secret to light, airy pancakes. Set these aside carefully; they’re too precious to mix too roughly later.
Step 5: Mix Wet Ingredients
Now combine the egg yolks, whole milk, melted butter, vanilla, and almond extracts in your mixing bowl. Whisk until everything is fully incorporated and beautifully smooth.
Step 6: Bring the Batter Together
Add your dry mixture to the wet and stir gently just until no dry flour remains. The batter should be lumpy — resist the urge to overmix here or your texture will suffer.
Step 7: Fold in the Egg Whites
Gently fold half the whipped egg whites into the pancake batter first, being careful not to deflate them. Then fold in the remaining whites using a light touch to keep the batter fluffy.
Step 8: Cook Your Pancakes
Heat your griddle and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Pour 2 tablespoons of batter per pancake and sprinkle the prepared bacon pieces on top while the batter is still raw. Wait until bubbles appear on the surface (about 2 minutes), then flip carefully and cook another 1-2 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Step 9: Keep Warm and Repeat
Transfer cooked pancakes to your prepared rack in the oven to keep warm. Add more butter to the griddle when necessary and repeat until all batter is used.
Step 10: Serve and Enjoy
Once your pancakes are all cooked and warm, it’s time to dig in with your favorite toppings and sides.
How to Serve Bacon Pancakes Recipe
Garnishes
Add a pat of salted butter and a dusting of powdered sugar for a classic touch, or sprinkle cinnamon-sugar for a hint of warmth. Drizzle maple syrup or maple butter to amplify that sweet-savory dance that makes this bacon pancake recipe so addictive.
Side Dishes
Fresh fruit like berries or sliced bananas offer a bright, fresh contrast, while a side of jam or jelly provides a fruity sweetness. Pair with crispy breakfast potatoes or scrambled eggs for a complete and satisfying meal.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack your bacon pancakes high in a towering tower, layering each with butter and syrup for visual appeal. Or use mini cookie cutters to make fun shapes that will wow kids and adults alike. For brunch parties, serve them on a platter with assorted toppings presented in bowls for a build-your-own pancake bar experience!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover bacon pancakes can be stacked between layers of parchment paper and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This keeps them fresh and ready for a quick breakfast or snack.
Freezing
To freeze, lay pancakes individually on a baking sheet to flash freeze, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. This method prevents them from sticking together and keeps them freezer-fresh for up to 2 months.
Reheating
Reheat pancakes in a toaster or on a skillet over medium heat until warmed through and crispy again. Avoid microwaving if you want to maintain their delightful texture and that irresistible crisp edge.
FAQs
Can I use thick-cut bacon instead of thin-cut?
Absolutely! Just be sure to cook the thick-cut bacon a bit longer so it crisps up nicely before folding it into your pancakes.
What makes this Bacon Pancakes Recipe different from regular pancakes?
The key difference lies in the mix of crispy bacon pieces right in the batter and the lightness from folding in stiffly beaten egg whites, giving these pancakes both flavor and fluffy texture.
Can I substitute any ingredients?
You can swap whole milk for buttermilk for a tangier flavor or use a dairy-free milk alternative. However, sticking to the original ingredients provides the best texture and taste.
How do I prevent the bacon from getting soggy inside the pancakes?
Cooking the bacon until very crisp and draining it well on paper towels helps maintain its crunch when embedded in the batter.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that includes a binding agent like xanthan gum. The texture will be slightly different but still delicious.
Final Thoughts
This Bacon Pancakes Recipe brings together the best of breakfast favorites into one glorious dish that’s sure to impress everyone at your table. Whether it’s a lazy weekend morning or a special occasion brunch, these pancakes deliver joy with every bite. Give it a try and see how quickly it becomes a staple in your kitchen!
Print
Bacon Pancakes Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Bacon Pancakes recipe combines crispy bacon pieces within fluffy, tender pancakes for a delicious sweet and savory breakfast treat. The batter is enriched with vanilla and almond extracts for subtle nutty flavor, and the whipped egg whites make the pancakes remarkably light. Cooked on a griddle until golden brown and bubbly, these pancakes are kept warm in the oven and perfect served with butter, maple syrup, fresh fruit, or your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Bacon
- 1 pound thin-cut bacon (454 grams)
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (480 grams)
- 4 teaspoons baking powder (16 grams)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (150 grams)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (3 grams)
Wet Ingredients
- 6 large eggs, separated (300 grams)
- 3 cups whole milk (681 grams)
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (170 grams, 1½ sticks)
- ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract (3 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract (1 gram)
For Cooking and Serving
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for cooking (28 grams, ¼ stick)
- Salted butter (for serving)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for serving)
- Cinnamon-sugar (optional, for serving)
- Maple syrup (for serving)
- Jam or jelly (optional, for serving)
- Fresh fruit (optional, for serving)
- Maple butter (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 200°F and place a cooling rack on a baking sheet. This setup will keep your cooked pancakes warm while you finish cooking the rest.
- Cook Bacon: Cut the bacon into thin â…›-inch pieces. Fry the bacon pieces in a skillet until they become crisp or achieve your preferred doneness. Transfer the cooked bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease, then set aside.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and kosher salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
- Whip Egg Whites: Use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Carefully transfer the whipped egg whites to a separate large bowl and keep them ready.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In the same mixing bowl (cleaned), beat together the egg yolks, whole milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined, about 2 minutes.
- Mix Batter: Add the dry flour mixture to the wet egg yolk mixture and stir gently until the flour is just moistened; the batter should still be lumpy.
- Fold in Egg Whites: Gently fold half of the beaten egg whites into the batter, then fold in the remaining half. Do not mix overly; leave some egg white texture in the batter for lightness.
- Heat Griddle and Cook Pancakes: Heat a griddle over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter. Pour 2 tablespoons of batter per pancake onto the griddle, making four pancakes at a time. Immediately sprinkle cooked bacon pieces evenly over the pancakes.
- Cook Until Bubbly and Flip: Cook the pancakes for about 2 minutes until bubbles form on top and the underside is golden brown. Flip the pancakes carefully, then cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fully cooked through.
- Keep Warm: Transfer the cooked pancakes to the prepared cooling rack on the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm.
- Repeat Cooking: Continue cooking the remaining batter in batches, adding more butter to the griddle as needed.
- Serve: Serve the warm bacon pancakes with your choice of toppings such as salted butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar, cinnamon-sugar, jam, fresh fruit, or maple butter.
Notes
- Cut bacon into small pieces to ensure even distribution throughout the pancakes.
- Gently folding in the egg whites is crucial to keep the pancakes fluffy.
- Do not flip the pancakes until bubbles form on top to avoid breaking them apart.
- Keeping pancakes warm in the oven helps maintain texture and temperature before serving.
- Feel free to customize toppings based on your preference including savory or sweet options.
