Hey Mickey You're So Fine...

You're So Fine You Blow My Mind. Hey Mickey!

Remember last month when I made Berry Sour Cream Waffles for Mother's Day? Also remember me promising you that I'd share my Mickey Waffle Maker with you? Well here it is in all it's cuteness with an awesome waffle recipe loaded with caramelized brown sugar bacon, just in time for Father's Day. oh yeah!

I think this would be a great recipe to make for your favorite Dad this Sunday, granted he's not a vegetarian. Now I can't tell you what all fathers like, but I can tell you what my husband, Mr. H, likes- and that's BACON! I don't think he's ever met a slice he didn't become fast friends with. Add a little brown sugar to it and caramelize it in the oven and you've got crispy, sticky goodness on your hands. Fold it into a lightly sweetened waffle batter and you've got a winner. Make it nice and golden in a Mickey Waffle maker and you'll have smiles all around. You may even get a kiss right on your smackeroo!

Now it doesn't have to be made in a Mickey Waffler but you get extra points for cuteness if it is. These can be made in any size or shape waffle maker. Because mine didn't have that typical waffle design they did not get very crispy, instead they were like thick pancakes, which we were okay with. If you don't have a waffle maker you can add a little more buttermilk to it and make pancakes. That's what I did for Easter and they were well received. These waffles were the perfect combination of sweet and savory. Of course if you're a real bacon lover then make extra bacon to serve on the side, you'll be glad you did.

Brown Sugar Bacon Mickey Waffles adapted from Joy The Baker

Printer Friendly Version

For the Bacon:

• 10 slices of bacon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

For the Waffles:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cups canola oil* (see note)
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk

For the bacon: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with non stick cooking spray (Non-stick foil works well here). Arrange bacon in a single layer on the baking sheet.

Sprinkle generously with brown sugar. Place in the upper third of the oven and bake until sugar is caramelized and bacon is brown and crispy, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove from oven. Immediately remove bacon slices using a pair of tongs. Place them on a cutting board (not paper towels, they'll stick!) to cool before chopping. Once cool, chop the bacon into bite size bits and set aside.

For the waffles: Set up your waffle iron on a level, clean surface and turn on to preheat.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and brown sugar. Whisk to blend.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold. Once almost fully incorporated, add the chopped bacon pieces. Stir just until incorporated- do not to over mix the batter or the waffles will become tough. It's ok if a few lumps remain in the batter.

Cook according to your waffle machine instructions.

Serve with butter, syrup and/or fruit.

NOTE: I used the remaining bacon grease in place of the full amount of canola oil. If you choose to do this, add the cooled bacon grease to a measuring cup then add enough canola or vegetable oil to make 2/3 cup.

Would you look at that!