I can smell my neighbor’s bacon.
That’s not a euphemism. If it were, you’d have permission to kick me in the shin and be officially grossed out.
I can literally smell my neighbor’s bacon. His kitchen window meets my bedroom window, and I actually feel lucky that I don’t have to pay extra rent for a daily bacon alarm clock.
A good while ago, I found myself standing in a kitchen full of fancy chefs talking about the glory of a proper peanut butter and bacon partnership. I was suspicious. I had to test the partnership with crumbly and crisp Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies. If you like bacon… if you like crisp cookies, you will consider these cookies a grand success. I thought they were so bonkers that I also included the recipe in my cookbook.
I figured that if wonky flavor combinations could be cookied, they could just as easily be pancaked. Also… sliced bananas and maple syrup make everything breakfast. Let’s just cross this line. I’ll call my neighbor, he’ll bring the bacon.
We’ve made pancakes here before. We aren’t being completely revolutionary.
In this incarnation, we’re also mixing all-natural peanut butter and crisp-cooked bacon to the buttermilk batter.
It’s hard to chop crisp bacon when all you want to do is sneak every little chopped piece into your mouth. I speak from experience. May a few extra slices of snacking. This comes from experience.
Letting the pancake batter rest for a few minutes while the griddle heats is ideal. The batter thickens a bit, creating mega fluffy pancakes.
These pancakes have a surprising and incredibly delightful savory quality. The salty bacon pairs with the nutty butter and creates some deliciously (almost mouth-confusing) savory notes. Douse the pancakes in pure maple syrup and we’ve achieved the coveted sweet and salty combination. It’s dreamy delicious! I found myself eating these pancakes fresh from the skillet while standing over the sink. No table, chair, or fork required. The unique combination speaks for itself: crazy good.
It’s the weekend! Let’s go. Let’s go!
Peanut Butter Bacon Pancakes
1 large egg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 slices crisp bacon, cooled and cut into small pieces
butter or oil for cooking pancakes
* I cooked my bacon on a foil lined baking sheet in the oven. You could also pan fry the bacon and reserve some of the bacon grease for frying the pancakes. Whaaaat!? Yea.
In a medium bowl beat together eggs, butter, peanut butter, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well until mostly smooth. Fold in bacon pieces and let batter set for a few minutes.
Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat. Add a teaspoon of oil or butter to the pan, or spray with cooking spray.
Pour 2 Tablespoons of batter onto the griddle. Cook on the first side until bubbles that form start to pop. You can also gently lift up the pancake to make sure the bottom is not overcooking, if it is the pan may be too hot and you will need to adjust the heat. Flip the pancake over with a spatula and cook until golden brown. Repeat until all the batter is gone. Let cooked pancakes rest on a heat proof plate in a 200 degree F oven until ready to serve.
Serve with sliced bananas and pure maple syrup.
BRIAR JENSTAD
Love love love this recipe. I was thinking about bringing it to the family cabin trip this year but I usually mix the batter ahead so that it’s easier once we’re there. Any idea if this batter saves well?
joythebaker
You could make it a day ahead it will just be a little bit thicker
Alison Borgas
Made these and loved them…. soft and fluffy… peanut-buttery… ;)
mary fran | frannycakes
Ok, so these pancakes remind me of waffles I recently oggled at Little Goat – the Chicago diner owned by Top Chef/James Beard winner Stephanie Izard –
She calls them fat elvis waffles and the bacon is in the syrup. IN. THE. SYRUP. (now I had to settle for gluten-free pancakes, but I got the bacon infused syrup and it was magic)
If you love bacon and peanut butter as much as it seems, next time you are in Chicago you need to find those : https://www.littlegoatchicago.com/diner/menu#breakfast
Jill
Joy, love this recipe, I have made this many times already.
carrie
I know what you mean. Chefs get all goo-goo eyed (in their own way) about this combo. One of my fave restaurants near me has a peanut butter bacon burger. I haven’t eaten it, because it just seems too much for me, but it’s wildly popular.
Sam
I had my kids home sick all week with a throat-infection and it threw a serious wrench in my normal grocery shopping routine. I was staring into my emptier than usual fridge with no idea what to make for dinner. I had all the ingredients for this in the house and they tasted great. Thank you!
Daniela
Hi Joy,
Is it possible to substitute regular flour for almond flour? I want to make with almond flour, but I’m afraid they might fall apart.
Thank you!!
joythebaker
I think it’s possible. It’s a 1:1 conversion. Good luck!
Julie Edmonson
Yes, please and thank you. I’m writing this down right now…. this weekend will be gloooooorious. :D
Michelle
Oh my goodness this is heaven!! It’s just like chicken and waffles! I am going to try to make this. I love bacon and I can almost taste it.
Jayne
OMG. I have to try this. I grew up with my mom making me toast topped with peanut butter and bacon for breakfast, but I never thought of turning that into a pancake combo. I might have to make this for my mom for Mother’s Day. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Lauren {Rustic Honey}
My husband would die for these! We always slather our pancakes with peanut butter and serve with a side of bacon but it had never crossed my mind to combine the two! This is awesome! Thanks!
Megan
I think you nailed it… I’m not a huge pancake person, but my boyfriend is, I’m more of a savory/salty breakfast gal… but holly molly these would be perfect! We’d both love them. Can’t wait to try them. Thanks.
Jayni
This is the most amazing thing my eyes have ever seen. I am sitting in my college class literally drooling. Reading Joy the Baker is much more fun than Philosophy! Joy- I can’t hold this in much longer. You brighten up my day simply by reading your blog. I have been reading your blog for the past four years and honestly it has kept me grounded during college. You are such a wonderful person to look up to. You’re independent and you own your self worth! Keep shining your light girl, you inspire so many just by being you!!
Maria
You have my attention! Brilliant idea, the next time I make pancakes I will try this! I imagine any pancake recipe would do?
jackie
they look so fluffy, just the perfect size and consistency!!! y u m !
Julie J
Joy, I made these on Saturday for my husband. They are SO GOOD. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Rachel
These pancakes are insanely delicious! I forgot to put some banana on them but I will do that tomorrow with the leftovers. My favorite pancake recipes have come from you! :)
Chef Long Island
Simply mouth watering recipe, I’m searching the recipe to make an impression on family this weekend and thanks for sharing it. I’m the student of culinary school and learning the new things, I definitely going to make it to enjoy this weekend with my family.
Renee @ Awesome on $20
You’ve lost your mind in the best possible way, and I love it. Hold the bananas for me, and triple my stack. I can’t wait to try these.
elizabeth
Would it be weird if I told you I loved you?
Also, today I bought unsalted butter for the first time in forever. You’re just so influential!
Amy
Mmmmmmm pancakes – now I need to make some in the morning
https://yummei.blogspot.co.uk/
Jennifer
You certainly brought Joy to my breakfast table this morning. These are amazing.
Packing Rainbows
These are so wrong and I don’t wanna be right !! Yummy :)
Sam
wow… you do make some crazy combo’s! will definitely try these out…. My ex lived above an Indian restaurant which drove us all crazy from about 10am onwards with gorgeous smells making us permanently hungry. I think we got mad discounts in the end as we were all always in there! Five boys and three girlfriends made for big orders !
Melanie D.
Hi Joy! I am making these too-good-to-be-true pancakes as I type this. The batter came out much thicker than typical pancake batter made with buttermilk. Then i noticed that the list of ingredients calls for 1 large egg, but in the directions you say “beat eggs…”… should there be more than one egg???
joythebaker
There’s just one egg, should say “beat the egg”. Thanks for catching that.
Sam TH
Ooooh I must make these. I love peanut butter and my husband is a bacon fiend who has gotten me hooked as well. Really brilliant idea. I incorporated bacon hash on my Greek Yogurt Pancakes with Bourbon Maple Syrup + Mandarin Orange & Bacon Hash for my blog a while back and it was a real hit. Your peanut butter addition is really amazing though. Gotta try!
Rebecca Kelsey
Great idea! I’ve bookmarked it for later. I hope you show your neighbor!
Kindness is the best accessory,
Rebecca
Nikki P
Impressed a group of lovely friends with these at brunch today, more importantly knocked the socks off my pancake obsessed boyfriend:). Thanks Joy you the best!
ATasteOfMadness
This sounds like everything I could ever want in a breakfast. What a combination!
Shannon
Next time you’re in NOLA you should hit up Yo Mama’s and enjoy a peanut butter bacon burger! PB&B… who knew!?
Becca - Cookie Jar Treats
I don’t like eating bacon, but oh how I love the smell of bacon. Bacon has a lovely smell that I don’t think should be recreated as a candle because they would be weird. Anyways these pancakes look really yummy! :)
Capacitier
That;s sth new for me! But seem to be intresting :D
Meghann
Oh my goodness. My fiance gets back from deployment next week. As much as I want to make them NOW, I think I’ll save them for our first weekend together.
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy
oooh this recipe could be dangerous:)
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence
Oh my gosh, these pancakes look amazing. They remind me of this: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4066/4688652422_4cb9ec4b77_z.jpg But with peanut butter.
tracy {pale yellow}
Whenever I eat pancakes with a side of bacon I always dip my bacon in the syrup, this makes perfect sense, just put the bacon in the pancakes! Add peanut butter and bananas and everything is right in the world!
Ellie
I don’t have peanut butter in my apartment, but I do have crunchy cookie butter…let’s think about that one…
Kirsty
Joy, what are you trying to do to us!? These sound so crazily brilliant, I can’t wait to try them!
Michelle Ritchie | Delicious Karma
I meant to say…choco chips instead of the bacon…for a sweet version! Although I do love the bacon!!!!
Michelle Ritchie | Delicious Karma
Oh, my, yum! These look awesome!!! Ever try them with chocolate chips? For some reason that cames to mind. Anyway, these look terrific and I can’t wait to make them!
Helen T
These sound like my idea of breakfast heaven on a plate. I cannot wait to make these, my daughter & I are making them on Sunday for sure1
AnneHD
“sliced bananas and maple syrup make everything breakfast” — I second this.
Carrie @ poet in the pantry
Bacon makes everything better. Sounds like a delicious combination!
taylor @ taylormade
holy crap. these need to happen in my house this weekend. GENIUS!
Mr. & Mrs. P
You had us at BACON!!!
Megan K
I love you for this.
Alyssa
This is my life. I have been known to spread some peanut butter on my pancakes and top with syrup, so this may be right up my alley………..the addition of bacon just makes it mind-blowing. Need to make this happen immediately.
Lisa @ Making Lifes Lemons
That is such an interesting combination!
xo Lisa
Making Life’s Lemons
Caits
Saturday morning cannot come fast enough…
Ellis
Oh my! Why have I never thought to use peanut butter in pancakes?
Genius!
https://elrbx.blogspot.co.uk/
Lauren Marie
You’re the greatest! This is awesome haha.
erin @hooleywithaz
there is a peanut butter and bacon juicy lucy at a local pub here in st. paul. and it is to die for. sounds so weird, but oh mah gah, it makes me drool. and now i want to go there for dinner. or make my husband make these pancakes for breakfast tomorrow. he’s the pancake master at our house.
Annie
this recipe reminds me of my favorite breakfast sandwich: PB + fried egg + cheddar + bacon + sriracha on a toasted english muffin!
Kimberly Poovey
Just drop everything and watch this right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrcT7sseLZI
Rachel - De Ma Cuisine
You had me at bacon… And peanut butter… And pancakes…
J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats
Omg these are something aren’t they? Elvis pancakes!
Shelly
Evil Temptress.
dixya@food, pleasure, and health
im dreaming about these pancakes.
El Cajón de las Especias
We love the Blog! For a long time we are faithful followers! A two fans greeting the kitchen!
Nina @ Ambrosia
Oh my goodness. Are these for real? These look too good to be real. You’ve outdone yourself again, Joy!
Urban Wife
1 – I’m making these for breakfast tomorrow morning. If I can wait that long. Otherwise, it’s brinner time tonight and that’s for real.
2 – I’m FINALLY getting my 9-month preggo self out the door and going to my local bookstore today to buy your cookbook. So. flippin. excited.!
Have an awesome weekend!
Katy @ Katy's Kitchen
I used to have peanut butter bacon sandwiches when I was younger, it certainly is a great flavour combination. These look delicious, and I sure wish I had a bacon alarm clock!
Simply Life
haha, I love that you can smell the bacon from your neighbor. I bet they appreciated the scent from this meal :)
Anouk
GOSH it looks delicious ! I am a big fan of crazy combination and you just made me hungry !
amy @southern sweets and eats
There’s a place in Chicago that has had bacon pancakes on their menu for decades. They were a revelation for me when I first tried them 20 years ago. I’m totally going to have to add some peanut butter and try it out. Thanks!
misschels
Joy, you always seem to satisfy my peanut butter cravings…which occur 24/7/365. Adding bacon is just the icing on the cake. Cake…wait…pb & bacon cake? Totally happening in my kitchen this weekend. I have your cook book and have made these and omg they are delish! Oh, and that bacon alarm clock you speak of…I run in my neighborhood about 3 miles on Saturday and everytime I round’ a particular corner I smell bacon cooking in someones house. It is enough for me to stop, smell, and think about how I should beat down the door and offer them some cookies for a fair trade :)
Valerie | Pursuit of Sweetness
Bacon, peanut butter, bananas, maple. This girl [me] is a goner.
Also: Eating over the sink…that’s not how every day should start?
Tieghan
Oh yes!! This combo is genius! Thats all I have to say!
bakerkat
Sounds like a great idea to me. Everything looks so good. Wonderful pictures
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
I love bacon and syrup together, so we might as well add my other favorite peanut butter in the mix too!
seriously sassy mama
Holy moly these sounds delicious. The pictures are beautiful.
Blondie Bakes
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Perfect for my honey for our anniversary brunch tomorrow!
ashley - baker by nature
These pancakes are making me blush… total crush,
Quinn Cooper
OMG! I’m making these tomorrow morning. I grew up using peanut butter with my pancakes. My stepmom would always do it and we thought it was weird at first but now it’s just what happens. The addition of bacon seems like a dream. I mean who doesn’t love bacon.
Thanks for this amazing recipe!
xo Quinn
Quinn Cooper Style
Sara D
My family is going to flip for these! :) No, seriously we will LOVE them! They sound delightful! Can’t wait for the new book!
foodnerd4life
You’ve done it again! When I think I can’t love you and your recipes any more you but peanut butter and BACON in pancakes! You’re my hero!
FoodNerd x
Simone
oh joy, you made me drool on my pj’s. would it be too over the top to caramelize the bananas in butter and brown sugar, then skip the syrup? i think i’ll have to try it out, just to be sure. you know, for research and stuff.
Chloe
I’ve been thinking about putting these two together for a while now – you’re a goddess!
Sophie @ The Spotty Teapot
I know all about the Bacon Alarm Clock, but from my housemate, it is pure torture! I would have never paired peanut butter and bacon, but I can imagine they would just be perfect together, mmm.
Sorry, I’m just salivating at the thought of bacon :)
Definitely going to try this one morning :)
x
Jayne
This is like bacon and eggs in pancake form. It can only be no less than amazing. I think they might have a beef jerky kinda flavour wouldn’t it? At least Chinese meat jerky has a sweet sort of glaze with the salty meat. Always a good combo.
Belinda @themoonblushbaker
the only thing that can make this better is more bacon… Maybe the next big thing should be bacon and maple syrup in oatmeal.
Miss Kim @ behgopa
I’ll trade you neighbors any day! I bet your neighbor(s) can’t get enough of the smell from your kitchen either. I’d be following the smell to your doorstep all the time if I were your neighbor hehe.
Ellen
Would it be heresy for us vegetarians to make it without the bacon? I promise to go double on the maple syrup;)
Caz
I need a bacon alarm clock and then maybe I’d be up on time every day. :) Peanut butter and bacon sounds like a genius conbination.
Averie @ Averie Cooks
You make the best looking pancakes! And I don’t even eat bacon! But I sure do eat peanut butter. And PB + buttermilk does make fabulous pancakes!
And your photos are so pretty. Love the styling, the plates, the perfectly browned stacks. Gorgeous, Joy! Pinned!
Angela @ the fairy bread chronicles
oh. good. lord. making. these. asap.
joy your genius brings tears to my eyes.