Corn Fritters with Maple Bacon

About This Recipe

Corn fritters get a distinctly Canadian treatment here with crumbled bacon folded into the batter and a proper maple syrup drizzle to finish, leaning into the classic Canadian pairing of smoky, salty and sweet. The bacon is cooked first until crisp, and its rendered fat is used to fry the fritters, adding a smoky depth the batter alone wouldn't have. Fresh or frozen corn kernels give the fritters bite and sweetness, and a light batter with just enough flour and egg holds everything together without becoming a dense pancake. Fried in a shallow layer of the reserved bacon fat, the fritters develop crisp, golden edges while staying tender inside. Drizzled with warm maple syrup right before serving, these fritters bring together sweet and savory in a single bite, the kind of brunch dish found at Canadian diners and home kitchens alike on a lazy weekend morning.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 6 slicesbacon(diced)
• 2 cupscorn kernels(fresh or frozen)
• 1 cupall-purpose flour
• 1 tspbaking powder
• 2eggs
• 0.5 cupwhole milk
• 1 tspfine sea salt
• 0.25 tspblack pepper
• 0.33 cuppure maple syrup(warmed, for serving)

Instructions

1. 1

   Cook the bacon

   Cook diced bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 6-7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, reserving the fat in the pan.

2. 2

   Make the batter

   In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Whisk in eggs and milk until smooth, then fold in corn and cooked bacon.

3. 3

   Heat the pan

   Heat the reserved bacon fat in the skillet over medium heat, adding a bit of oil if needed for enough coverage.

4. 4

   Fry

   Drop heaping spoonfuls of batter into the pan, flattening slightly. Fry 3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.

   Frying in the reserved bacon fat rather than plain oil is what gives these fritters their distinctive smoky depth.

5. 5

   Drain

   Drain briefly on paper towels.

6. 6

   Serve

   Serve warm, drizzled generously with warmed maple syrup.

Variations

• •

  Add shredded cheddar to the batter for a cheesier version.

• •

  Use chopped scallions in place of or alongside the bacon for a different flavor profile.

• •

  Make them dessert-style by adding a pinch of cinnamon to the batter.

Storage

Refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat in a dry skillet over medium heat to re-crisp; microwaving makes them soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions