Desserts for Dudes: Bacon-Banana Pancakes with Buttery Bourbon Maple Syrup

You can bring home the bacon, 
Fry it up in a pan,
And then add it to some pancake batter,
Just because you can...

{If you are younger than 30, please ignore the above. Thirty and up? I expect you to be strutting through the house holding a frying pan and spritzing perfume right now.}

OK...so these are not "dessert," but we're using the term loosely here.

MAKE THESE for your hubby or dad this Father's Day.  
I'M NOT KIDDING.

Bananas, bacon, bourbon, maple syrup?  Total dude pancakes.
(In case you're wondering, I may have eaten four after taking the pictures. With extra syrup.)

(Also, I felt I was channeling Jessica while baking with bourbon...the girl is onto something.)

 ***update: Jessica totally posted bacon pancakes with bourbon syrup today, too! Did I tell you I was channeling her, or what!?!?***

Bacon-Banana Pancakes with Buttery Bourbon Maple Syrup

yield: 12 pancakes

for the pancakes:

8 slices bacon

1 egg

1 cup mashed, ripe banana

2 TBSP packed light brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 TBSP bacon grease

for the syrup:

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1 TBSP bourbon

1 TBSP salted butter

Fry the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon grease for the pancakes. Once cool enough to handle, break the bacon into pieces.

In a large bowl, whisk the egg for one minute.  Add in all of the remaining pancake ingredients, whisking until just combined. Allow the batter to sit for several minutes to help the flour to absorb into the liquid without over-whisking.

Heat a non-stick griddle to 350 degrees, or heat a skillet on the stove and coat with butter. Ladle 1/4-cup size scoops of batter onto the griddle. Place a few pieces of bacon onto the top of each poured pancake.

Let the pancakes cook for a few minutes on each side, until done.

Meanwhile, heat the maple syrup, bourbon, and butter in a saucepan over low heat.

Serve the pancakes with butter and the warm bourbon syrup.

Do it!  For your dude...'cause you're a woooooman, Enjoli! ;)

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