Banana Lemon Sauce for Pancakes

Ditch the bottle of maple syrup for one morning and try this instead.

Diced bananas get simmered in butter until soft, then hit with fresh-squeezed orange and lemon juice, a generous shake of cinnamon, a drizzle of honey, and a scattering of orange zest. The whole thing comes together in 15 minutes on the stovetop.

Pour it warm over a stack of pancakes, waffles, or French toast. The bananas melt into a chunky, citrus-bright sauce that makes ordinary breakfast feel like a special occasion.

Kitchen Tips

• Use ripe but firm bananas so the chunks hold some shape in the sauce rather than dissolving completely
• Zest the orange before juicing it. Much easier that way
• Adjust the honey to your sweetness preference. The citrus juice adds tartness that balances even a generous drizzle