Mancakes

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Chef John's mancakes recipe yields sweet-and-savory cornmeal pancakes made with bacon, cheese, and green onions — for big appetites and breakfasts.

Ingredients

8 ounces bacon, chopped
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 1/3 cups milk
2 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
2 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup warm maple syrup, or to taste
1/8 teaspoon chipotle chile powder, or to taste
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon butter

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients.
2 Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Off heat, stir green onions into bacon; sauté in hot drippings until slightly softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer bacon mixture to a strainer; drain. Reserve drippings.
3 Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a large bowl; whisk in drained bacon mixture, milk, Cheddar cheese, eggs, melted butter, and sugar until batter is smooth. Let batter rest for 10 minutes.
4 Whisk maple syrup and chipotle chile powder together in a small bowl until chile powder is completely dissolved.
5 Heat 1 teaspoon reserved drippings, 1 teaspoon oil, and 1 teaspoon butter on a griddle over medium-high heat. Drop ¼ cupfuls of batter per mancake onto the griddle; cook until bubbles form and edges are dry, 3 to 4 minutes.
6 Flip; cook until browned on other side, 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.
7 Transfer mancakes to a plate; top with maple syrup.