Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top if available. Arrange 12 slices of thick-cut smoked bacon in a single layer on the rack/sheet. Bake 15–20 minutes, rotating halfway, until bacon is crisp but not brittle. Remove bacon and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and cool. Reserve 1 tbs bacon fat on the tray if desired for flavor (optional).

Slice bananas and mix peanut butter

While bacon bakes, peel and slice 3 ripe bananas into 1/4-inch rounds. In a small bowl, stir 1 cup creamy peanut butter with 3 tbs honey and 1/4 tsp salt until smooth and slightly loosened. If you prefer a touch of heat, stir in 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper or 1/2 tsp hot sauce to the peanut butter.

Assemble the sandwiches

Lay out 6 slices of bread as bottoms. Spread about 2–3 tbs of the honey-peanut butter mixture on each bottom slice, spreading close to edges but leaving a small border. Distribute banana slices evenly over the peanut butter (about 1/2 banana per sandwich or as desired). Top bananas with two slices of the cooled bacon each (use more if you like it meatier). Drizzle each with approximately 1/3 tsp maple syrup (optional) or an extra 1/2 tsp honey for added sweetness. Top with the remaining 6 bread slices to close the sandwiches.

Grill the sammies (optional crispy exterior)

Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. If using the spicy honey butter, melt together 2 tbs softened butter, 1 tbs hot honey, 1/4 tsp smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl or microwave briefly and brush on the outside of each sandwich. Alternatively, brush outsides lightly with 1 tbs melted unsalted butter or use about 1 tsp vegetable oil on the griddle. Place sandwiches seam-side down on the hot skillet. Cook 2–3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread is golden brown and peanut butter is warmed through. Flip carefully and cook another 2–3 minutes. If bread is browning too quickly before heating through, reduce heat to medium-low and cover pan briefly (30–60 seconds) to help melt the filling.

Serve

Transfer sandwiches to a cutting board and let rest 1 minute. Cut each sandwich in half on the diagonal. Serve warm, optionally with extra honey or maple syrup on the side for dipping.

Optional Spicy Honey Butter

Combine 2 tbs softened unsalted butter, 1 tbs hot honey (or 1 tbs honey + 1/2 tsp hot sauce), 1/4 tsp smoked paprika and 1/16 tsp salt in a small bowl. Stir until homogenous. Use immediately to brush the outside of each sandwich before grilling. The butter mixture can also be chilled and brought back to room temperature before use.