Glam Up Your Pancakes

Do you crave a delicious stack of light and fluffy flapjacks? Are you looking for a way to change up your usual pancake recipe and try something new? With a few simple ingredients you can take your pancakes from everyday to extraordinary!

Find out how to create pancakes to meet your every craving and suit any mood or cuisine.

History of Pancakes

Pancakes are one of the world’s oldest foods. Many cultures have their own version of this breakfast classic and their popularity has led them to be associated with a wide variety of holidays and rituals around the world. Pancakes of some sort have served as a quick and easy bread option when there is no oven available and were often a diet staple for pioneers and migrant peoples.

Decadent Pancake Add Ins:

To revolutionize your morning stack of pancakes, try folding in ½ cup of one these delicious ingredients:

Bacon - Crisp up this savory treat, pat off any grease, and crumble it before adding it into your favorite pancake recipe.
Pistachios - Chopped pistachios or creamy pistachio butter make a rich and buttery addition to your pancakes.
Dried Figs and Prosciutto - Add ¼ cup of chopped dried figs and ¼ cup of prosciutto shreds for a savory breakfast pancake. Serve with warmed apricot jam.
Goat Cheese - Cut your favorite creamy goat cheese into small chunks and carefully fold into your pancake recipe. Top with a fruit-flavored syrup or warmed jam.
Blueberries - Be sure that you plump and juicy blueberries have been stemmed before you gently fold them into your recipe. Add a pinch of cinnamon to the batter to boost the blueberry flavor.
Candy Bar Chunks - For a truly decadent treat, chop your favorite candy bar into small chunks and gently fold it into your batter.
Dried Apricots - Slice whole dried apricots into small pieces before stirring them into your pancake batter. Be careful to separate your apricot slices before you drop them in, as they tend to stick together.

Pancake Making Tips :

Make your own dry pancake mix and store it in a plastic container. Use your favorite recipe or try this one:

Basic Pancake Dry Mix :

For each batch of pancakes: 1 cup flour, 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt. Sift together and store. When ready to bake pancakes, add 1 cup milk, 2 Tbsp melted butter or vegetable oil, 1 large egg, 1 tsp vanilla. Whisk together and add 1 Tbsp oil to griddle or pan. Drop by ¼ cupfuls into the hot oil. Griddle until golden, turning only once. Makes 8-10 pancakes.

Be sure to check the date on the leavening agents you will use in your pancakes to be sure they are fresh.
Boost the nutritional value of your pancakes by adding sweet potato or pumpkin puree.
For more flavor, use buttermilk or eggnog for the milk called in your pancake recipe.
Use a whisk to mix your pancake batter so that it will be light and fluffy.
Do not overmix you pancake batter. Expect it to be a little lumpy.
Allow your pancake batter to rest a few minutes after mixing so that the leavening agents have a chance to work.
Place cooking oil in the pan or on the griddle. Then, wipe the pan or griddle with a paper towel to soak up excess oil.
If you are making corn pancakes you will need to add a pat of butter to the pan each time you drop batter into it.
Instead of folding in delicious add-ins, drop your pancake batter into the hot pan and then sprinkle on the add-ins. You could even create fun shapes or pictures in the pancakes.
Serve pancakes with plain or flavored butter and plenty of warm syrup or jam.
Make extra pancakes and freeze them in plastic storage bags for a quick and easy weekday breakfast.
Use leftover pancakes to make pancake sandwiches.

Breakfast Sandwich: Place crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and a slice of cheese between two pancakes.

Lunchbox Pancake Sandwich: Mix 2 Tbsp of peanut butter and 1 Tbsp of pancake syrup. Spread on a pancake and add another pancake to make a sandwich. You could also make a peanut butter and jelly or peanut butter and honey sandwich on pancakes.

Pancake Recipes:

Basic Pancakes:

Betty Crocker Pancakes

American Style Flapjacks

Featherlight Yogurt Pancakes

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes