Brown Sugar Bacon Buttermilk Waffles
These Brown Sugar-Bacon Buttermilk Waffles are light and fluffy, and include bits of brown sugar-glazed bacon in the batter. Truly the perfect waffle for any serious breakfast lovers!
You HAVE to make these waffles immediately.
Believe it or not, years ago, this was the very first legit homemade waffle (i.e. not from a Bisquick mix) that I ever made, and boy, was I happy to make the discovery. (For classic waffles, check out my light and crispy buttermilk waffles recipe.)
Picture this: Bacon that is topped with brown sugar and then baked in the oven so that the brown sugar caramelizes into a glaze on top of the bacon. Then a homemade waffle batter made with buttermilk that is thick and lumpy and creates the perfect waffle. Mix the bacon into the batter, scoop it onto the waffle maker, and voilà ! Waffles that combine two of my favorite breakfast foods.
My favorite part of grabbing breakfast out at a diner is that, without fail, the bacon and/or sausage will always end up, at least in part, sitting in syrup that has pooled somewhere on the plate. I absolutely love the taste of breakfast sausage and bacon with maple syrup, and I think that is why I’ve always been totally smitten with these waffles.
The bacon is already in the waffles, and then you douse on the maple syrup – all of those wonderful breakfast flavors in one bite. You seriously cannot go wrong with this recipe. Make them for house guests (or your husband and toddler, AHEM), and you will be a hero.
I know some of you may ask about my waffle maker; I have this Breville model and I absolutely love it! I used to have a round Belgian-style waffle maker, and I think this one is infinitely better. There are a number of settings to ensure that you really cook up that perfect waffle!
Quick tip – you mayyyyyy want to make a little more bacon than the recipe calls for because it’s highly likely that you’re going to sneak a bunch of it while you’re chopping it up. Or is that only me? I can’t keep my hands off the brown sugar-glazed bacon!
This recipe makes a large amount (about 11-12 square waffles or 7 Belgian style) so it’s perfect for feeding a crowd or if you want to stock your freezer for ready-made breakfasts (my preference!). If you’re a bacon lover, you are going to go BANANAS for these waffles! They cook up crisp on the outside and super soft and fluffy on the inside, which is basically waffle perfection.
Head on in to the kitchen and make some of these brown sugar-bacon buttermilk waffles!
Five years ago: Almond-Apple Crisp
Ten years ago: Chocolate Rum Cheesecake
Brown Sugar-Bacon Buttermilk Waffles
Ingredients
For the Bacon
- 10 slices of bacon
- ¼ cup (55 g) light brown sugar
For the Waffles
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (55 g) light brown sugar
- â…” cup (145.33 ml) canola or grapeseed oil
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2½ cups (600 ml) buttermilk
Special Equipment
- Waffler Maker, I have a Breville and love it!
Instructions
- Make the Bacon: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, a silicone baking mat, or spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray and line with foil. Arrange bacon in a single layer on the baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with the 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. Once cool, chop the bacon into bite size bits and set aside.
- Make the Waffles: Preheat your waffle iron.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and brown sugar. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold with a rubber spatula. Once almost fully incorporated, add the bacon and stir. Mix only until most of the dry ingredients are moistened in the batter; like pancakes, it’s good to have a lumpy batter.
- Cook the waffles according to your waffle machine instructions.
- Serve with butter and maple syrup. Leftover waffles can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a ziploc freezer bag and stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. My favorite my to reheat them (whether fresh or frozen) is in a toaster oven.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
This recipe was originally published on August 3, 2009.
Delicious and very easy thank you!!
These waffles are sooo good! I just made the waffle recipe, without the bacon, and they were great, flavorful and fluffy. This may be my go to recipe from now on!
What an awesome idea!!! I’ll be trying these on my next long weekend! Also, I might start putting this bacon in everything.
A very good recipe and the buttermilk has made a great difference in the flavor!
Trying them 4 times however, my waffles tend to come out too much like pancakes in the middle. Do you have any suggestions for that?
Hi James, I’m not sure what you mean? Too thin?
Thanks for the reply Michelle!
I meant that that seemed more “cakey” than a typical waffle and more like a pancake. The exterior of the waffle is soft and the interior is dense and moist. While that is great in a pancake it is just not my preference in a waffle.
Since then I have done some research and found using a little corn starch seems to make the waffle a bit firmer. I also started applying the bacon (and a little cheddar) to the top just before pressing down the waffle grill to ensure a good bacon ratio for each waffle. Just some small changes I found experimenting though. The original rescipe is still fantastic and I love using brown sugar with the buttermilk.
I took a risk on this new recipe for a large team work event and everyone loved them! I cooked the bacon the night before and my house smelled fabulous. I brought the batter to work separately as dry ingredients, wet ingredients, and cooked chopped bacon and mixed them right before we ate them. Everything just worked out perfectly.
Does the bacon have to be uncooked or can you just use the premade bacon strips that you just heat up?
Hi Jeanne, I’ve never used the premade bacon strips, but if you typically use them as you would uncooked bacon in a recipe, then I think you would be fine to substitute them. I just wouldn’t want them to get over-cooked in the oven.
Well, all things considered…
Thanks! I’ll try this as a waffle recipe! P.S. Luv ur blog!
Now that’s what I call a mifufn! What a wonderful recipe, Shanon. These look so moist, flavorful and delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Looks sooooo good!!! BTW, is this a good pancake recipe too?
Hi Esther, I haven’t tried this for pancakes, but I do have a favorite pancake recipe – https://www.browneyedbaker.com/2011/02/11/best-buttermilk-pancakes/. You could always make the bacon from this recipe and crumble it into the pancakes :)
These turned out great!! The only thing I did was swapped out the bacon for blueberries in half waffles and chopped green apples in the other half. Everything I make from your site is always excellent – keep up the good work!
IHOP had bacon waffles on the menu in the 70s and it was one of my favorite dishes. Thanks for posting your recipe — looks great!
I found these today while looking for a bacon pancake recipe, and now we are having them for dinner( and the house smells fantastic!)! Love your whole site! A tip for draining the bacon is to put it on a non stick cooling rack with paper towels underneath, and use non stick foil on the pan for easy clean up
Great-looking recipe! Back in the day (1960s/1970s), IHOP had bacon waffles on the menu. I used to crave them and had them at least once a month.
WOW, these were fantastic!!!!
Opps, slight mistake! My website is http://www.iheartcakes.wordpress. :)
Waffles with brown sugar, buttermilk AND bacon! Yeah, I pretty much need to make these! ;) I recently got a waffle maker, but haven’t tried it yet. This will make a flying start – probably this weekend!
I absolutely love waffles…and bacon-flavored waffles? Even better! Yum!
Aww man, now I’m craving waffles – these looks amazing!
We make waffles every weekend and these are definitely going into the rotation!
Um, excuse me while I go purchase a Belgian waffle maker. ;-)
This sounds absolutely, over-the-top delicious!
I always dunk my bacon in maple syrup too! So when I only saw this recipe, I knew I;ll be making waffles this weekend.
YUM! WANT! NOW!
I made these this morning for a sleepover! Awesome! I (like Gina) needed to cook the bacon in the oven longer… (mine went for 20 minutes, but it is thick-cut home-smoked by my brother)
I was dubious about using oil instead of butter, but they were great!
Made these for our New Year’s brunch today… holy YUM! Like someone else mentioned, my bacon took a little longer to cook, but it was completely worth it. Got 12 4″ waffles using my square waffle maker. I managed to slip half of them in the freezer for later too, so I’ll get to enjoy them again! Thank you so much for the recipe and the year in review to remind me!
I made them last week, they were really yummy. I’m reheating one now for brunch!
nice twist to an ol fave of mine – thanks for sharing and posting your recipe
I am moving in! LOL!! On my menu for this weekend.
Hi B – I’m thrilled that you liked these waffles! Thanks for your comment!
I made this over the weekend. Wonderful! Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Gina – So glad that you and your family enjoyed these waffles!! Thanks for stopping back to share your results!
My Goodness, I made these yesterday, THE BEST WAFFLES EVER!!! My kids 2,4,5, & 15 ate all of them. They did not even leave 1 for their dad. I will make these again, again, again….I found that the bacon needed a little longer to cook & the mix needed to be mixed a bit longer, but overall YUMMY!! Thanks for this recipe
Ummm, these sound (and look) awesome! Waffles sound so good right now.
I have one of thes waffle makers, i think it’s the same like yours. tried many different recipes. choped apples or other fruit, candied ginger and so on…. never thought about bacon :)
But, you have to try following out: make more waffles than you can eat, put the leftover waffles in a container and heat them up for breakfast, just for 1 or max. 2 minutes in the toaster. They will be so crusty and crunchy! yummmmmm!!!
Thanks for sharing your recipe
I am SOOOO making this. Oh yes indeed.
This is SUCH a natural combination! I can’t wait to try this on a lazy Saturday morning. Thanks for sharing :)
I came through to you from Carrie’s Kitchen Creations. Great blog! And how I wish I had a waffle iron right now…
Oh mannn juicy photography! Looks like something my bf would go gaga over! lol…
thanks as always!
Mouth is watering….
My mama always crumbled bacon in the waffle batter. Man, now I’m having a craving! I wonder if she’d would come over and make me some. (I know I could make my own, but mama made food always tastes better!)
Your description of food alone makes my mouth water…. but bacon in waffles…. oy vey!!
This sounds awesome!! I took the kiddo to ihop for breakfast and they have nothing on you! Do u take reservations ;)?
I want a waffle maker BADLY. My husband thinks it’s a ridiculous thing to own. Maybe this recipe would change his mind!
Bacon in a waffle, that’s awesome.
Wow, you add bacon bits in the batter. That’s genius. Love the idea:) This way, you’ll get bacon in every bites.
soooo good, right!? so crazy good!
Wow would have never thought it. These sound great and I know my boys would love these. It’s going on the to do list.
Okay, I REALLY need to buy a waffle maker. I’ve had one on my list for years, but other gadgets keep butting in line. These look absolutely wonderful!
Mmm, these waffles sound amazing – the best of the both savory and sweet! Bacon really does make everything better, doesn’t it!
WOW now this is something I know the men in my life (my hubby and daddy) would LOVE!!!!!!!! Im totally trying this out for them!!! thanks!!!!
Oh, my husband would LOVE these!! (Ok, I admit it, so would I!!!) This is getting put in my “to try” file!! YUMMM! I haven’t dug out my waffle maker since we moved…I think it needs a housewarming gift of bacon! ;-)
what a wonderful sweet and savory breakfast!
This looks delicious! Waffles are one of my favorite breakfast foods, and I like it even better with bacon!
Oh my! I have a recipe clipped for bacon pancakes, but waffles….even better! They look heavenly…perfect combination of sweet & salty!
These look delicious! I too have never made waffles from scratch before but have wanted to for a while now. I keep seeing bacon paired with sweet things – like bacon muffins and even bacon chocolate!
The person that coined “short and sweet” was misunderstood … what they really said was “salty and sweet.”
once while in northern california a waitress mistakenly gave me a bacon waffle instead of a pecan waffle, she let me keep the mistake and brought me the waffle I ordered…. of course we couldnt let food go to waste so we all ate the bacon waffle too….heaven!