McDonald’s first introduced their signature McGriddle breakfast sandwiches back in 2003, and they became an instant hit. Fluffy pancake buns studded with bites of maple candy layered with eggs, cheese, and bacon or sausage – they were sweet, savory, salty, melty perfection.
Nearly 20 years later, McGriddles remains a popular menu item and a severe craving for fast food fans. But with some time and effort, you can recreate these irresistible sandwiches at home with even better ingredients and flavors.
In this guide, learn the secrets to making pancake griddles with built-in maple syrup pockets, sizzling sausage patties or peppered bacon, fluffy folded eggs, and melty cheese. With the proper techniques and patience, you’ll sink your teeth into amazing homemade McGriddles in no time.
Making Maple-Sweetened Pancake Buns
The signature feature of McDonald’s McGriddles that makes them so crave-able are those little pockets of maple syrup speckled throughout the pancake buns. Through some food science magic, the McDonald’s production process suspends tiny maple candies within the pancake batter before it’s cooked on a grill.
It’s surprisingly easy to recreate that at home with just three ingredients: pancake mix, water, and real maple syrup. The key is to boil maple syrup on a candy thermometer until it reaches the hard crack stage, between 280-290°F. This gives you a taffy-like maple candy that can be broken into small pieces.
Ingredients
* 2 cups complete pancake mix
* 1 1⁄2 cups water
* 1⁄2 cup amber maple syrup for maple crystals
Instructions
1. Make the Maple Crystals:
– Pour maple syrup into a small saucepan and cook over the medium heat.
– Heat this until boiling, then lower to a simmer.
– Continue simmering until it reaches 280°F on a candy thermometer – this will take 15-20 minutes.
– Carefully pour maple syrup onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread thinly and evenly. Allow to cool and harden fully.
– Break cooled maple candy into small pea-sized pieces. Set aside in an airtight container.
2. Make the Pancake Batter:
– Mix pancake batter and water in a big bowl until well blended and smooth.
– Gently fold 3-4 tablespoons of the maple candy pieces into the batter, being careful not to crush them.
3. Cook the Pancakes:
– Warm a lightly greased griddle or nonstick pan on medium heat.
– Pour batter by 1⁄4 cupfuls onto the hot skillet. Sprinkle a few more maple candy pieces over the tops.
– Cook for 2-3 minutes until bubbly on top and lightly browned on bottom. Flip and cook the other side.
– Repeat with remaining batter, keeping cooked pancakes warm in a low oven.
The maple candy melts into delicious syrupy pockets as the pancakes cook. Sandwich breakfast meats and eggs between these sweet maple griddlecakes for next-level McGriddles!
Sizzling Sausage and Maple Peppered Bacon
McGriddle would only have salty, savory breakfast meat between those pancakes. McDonald’s uses thin, almost sausage-patty-looking bacon or sausage. Here’s how to recreate both at home for your McGriddle creations:
Maple Peppered Bacon
* 12 slices bacon
* 2 tablespoons maple syrup
* 1⁄2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
2. Brush one side of bacon slices lightly with maple syrup, then sprinkle on pepper.
3. Arrange slices peppered-side up on baking sheet.
4. Bake 15-18 minutes until crispy.
Sausage Patties
* 1 pound ground pork
* 1⁄4 cup maple syrup
* 2 teaspoons brown sugar
* 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
* 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder
* 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
* 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
* Dash of cayenne pepper
1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in the bowl.
2. Form into twelve thin patties, about 3 inches wide.
3. Cook the patties over medium heat in a lightly oiled skillet for 4-5 minutes per side until browned and cooked.
The bit of maple syrup in the sausage adds a sweetness that pairs perfectly with those pancake buns.
Fluffy Folded Eggs with Melty Cheese
To make your McGriddles extra decadent, add a slice of melty American cheese and cook the eggs so that the cheese gets all ooey-gooey. A folded omelet method envelops the cheese in the middle of fluffy eggs with crispy edges.
Ingredients
* three large eggs
* 2 tablespoons butter, divided
* 2 slices American cheese
* Salt and pepper
Instructions
1. Crack the eggs into a small bowl, then whisk vigorously until uniform in color.
2. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, add 1⁄2 tablespoon butter. Once melted, add the egg mixture. Use a spatula to pull the cooked edges into the center as the bottom sets.
3. After about 1 minute, lay a slice of cheese in the center. Allow the omelet to melt slightly, then fold it over the filling.
4. Flip the folded omelet. It takes 2-3 minutes for the bottom to brown and the top to set. Add the remaining butter around the edges and cook for 1-2 minutes.
5. Slide the omelet onto a plate and season with salt and pepper.
Assembling Your McGriddles
Now for the best part: piling everything together between your maple-studded pancakes! Slather the bottom bun with some butter for extra richness and lightly toast in the skillet or oven while your eggs cook.
Then assemble your components:
* Bottom pancake bun
* 2 slices melted cheese (American or pepper jack)
* 2-3 strips maple peppered bacon or one sausage patty
* one folded egg
* Top pancake bun
A slice of tomato, onion, or applewood-smoked cheddar pairs nicely if you want to add fruitiness. Stack it all up for a towering homemade McGriddle creation!
After assembling, brush the top bun lightly with butter and crisp briefly in the skillet for a golden-brown exterior. Then slice your massive sandwich in half and prepare for sweet, savory McGriddle bliss!
Homemade McGriddles FAQs
Q: My maple syrup never hardened for the crystals. What did I do wrong?
A: When it comes to candy-making, not all maple syrups are created equal. Opt for a Grade A Dark Amber syrup with a higher sugar content. Grade B syrups won’t correctly set up for maple crystals.
Q: How do I get my bacon or sausage perfectly thin and evenly shaped?
A: It takes some finesse, but here’s a great trick: place your ground sausage or flattened bacon slices between two pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Then, use a rolling pin to roll them out evenly to your desired thickness. The plastic/paper prevents sticking!
Q: My pancakes were dense and bready rather than light and fluffy. Help!
A: A few fixes for fluffier McGriddle pancakes: don’t overmix the batter, use buttermilk instead of regular milk, and double-check that your baking powder is still valid! Properly leavened batter makes all the difference.
Q: What’s the best way to freeze and reheat homemade McGriddles?
A: Assemble your sandwiches but keep the components separate, placing eggs, cheese, and meats in one freezer bag and a stack of frozen pancakes in another. To reheat: thaw pancakes at room temp while reheating fillings in the microwave, then quickly assemble and toast.
Not Done Yet?
The Very Best Copycat McGriddle Fillings
While homemade bacon, sausage, and eggs take these breakfast sandwiches over the top, convenience sometimes calls. When time is short, use these top-rated store-bought shortcuts:
* **Meat:** Jimmy Dean or Owen’s sausage patties
* **Bacon:** Hormel Black Label fully cooked bacon
* **Egg:** Jimmy Dean reduced-fat folded egg omelets
* **Cheese:** Kraft Deli Deluxe American Cheese Slices
Mix and match with your fresh homemade pancake griddles – all that melty, maple-y craveability with half the effort!
More Breakfasts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
——————————————–
If you love kicking off your day with a combo of sweet and savory, try out some of these indulgent breakfast treats, too:
* Fluffy Belgian Waffles with Fried Chicken & Maple Syrup
* Sweet Potato Pancakes with Brown Butter Pecan Sauce
* Baked Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole
* Caramel Stuffed Pain au Chocolat
* Glazed Jelly Donut Muffins
Of course, my homemade McGriddles will always have my heart. Sink your teeth into one of those syrup-laden pancake pockets and taste McDonald’s classic turned up to 11! From the maple candies melting throughout each pillowy bite to the salty crunch of bacon or sage-studded sausage, melty egg, and cheese – it’s sweet, savory perfection in every home-cooked bite.
Also Read: Chick-fil-as-bold-new-chicken-sandwich, Korean-corn-dogs-taking-over-TikTok
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