Mini Sausage Pancake Skewers with Spicy Syrup

Step 1
Melt butter over medium-low heat in a small saucepan. Stir in maple syrup, red pepper flakes, and salt. Bring to a boil and cook, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove syrup from heat and set aside, stirring occasionally, for at least 30 minutes for flavor to fully develop.

Step 2
Meanwhile, prepare pancakes: whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk buttermilk, egg, sour cream, melted butter, and maple syrup together in a separate bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture. Stir gently until just combined but slightly lumpy; do not overmix. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Step 3
Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Drop teaspoonfuls of batter onto the hot skillet to form 1-inch diameter pancakes. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, flip, and continue cooking until golden brown, about 1 more minute. Transfer cooked pancakes to a plate and repeat with remaining batter.

Step 4
Heat olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Form tablespoonfuls of sausage into 1-inch patties, the same size as the mini pancakes. Cook until patties are cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 5
Thread 3 pancakes and 2 sausage patties onto each skewer, starting and ending with a pancake. Repeat to make remaining skewers. Serve drizzled with spicy syrup.