Chocolate Chip, Bacon And Orange Kissed Pancakes

In my humble opinion, this dish exemplifies the term heaven on a plate. There’s nothing more comforting than a pile of airy, fluffy pancakes. Add delicious morsels of sweet chocolate chips, crispy crumbles of bacon and a hint of orange zest to balance out the rich porky flavor and you have yourself a recipe for the perfect weekend breakfast. Go ahead, have seconds and thirds…

Chocolate Chip, Bacon and Orange Kissed Pancakes

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
3 to 5 tablespoons buttermilk
1 egg
2 egg whites, optional
2 tablespoons superfine sugar (granulated is fine), optional
6 to 8 rashers bacon, cooked and crumbled
2/3 cup milk chocolate chips
1 large orange, zested
softened butter, for serving
maple syrup, for serving

1. Preheat a griddle over medium to medium-high heat.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and
baking soda. Whisk together and set aside.
3. In a small mixing bowl combine butter, buttermilk and egg, whisk together
and set aside.
4. Optional Step: Place egg whites in a mixing bowl and using a hand mixer,
beat egg whites until frothy. With mixer still running, add sugar and continue
to beat until medium peaks form. Set aside.
5. Stir the flour mixture with the butter mixture until mixed together (don’t
overmix). Fold in the bacon, chocolate chips and orange zest. Fold in the
whipped egg whites (if using), until just combined.
6. Grease the griddle with butter or vegetable oil and drop 1/3 cup scoops onto
the hot surface. Cook until large bubbles form on the surface of the pancake, 3
to 4 minutes. Flip pancakes and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Place onto
a baking sheet and store in a warm oven while cooking remaining pancakes.
7. Serve hot with butter and maple syrup.