Melt butter in a sauté pan. Add bacon and render. Add onion, peppers, and garlic; sweat. Add thyme.
Mix flour and baking powder in a bowl. Mix in eggs and buttermilk to smooth—don’t over mix. Add clams, pepper mix, and parsley. Mix well and chill for 15 minutes.
Drop a spoonful of batter into 350-degree oil. Cook for 5 minutes per side. Remove and cool. Season with salt.