Learn How To Make Pan Cakes From Scratch! It’s much easier than you might think and doesn’t require much more effort than using a store-bought mix that only asks you to add milk and eggs. The best part? Homemade pancakes taste way better when they’re hot off the griddle.
To make these homemade pancakes, all you need are common ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen: flour, baking powder, milk, and eggs. You can also get creative by adding extra ingredients or making substitutions if you like.
Whether you prefer classic pancakes or want to experiment with new flavours, making your pancakes is a delicious and satisfying experience!
Why Learn to Make Pancakes From Scratch
Making these pancakes is a breeze, and you don’t need any fancy skills or special equipment. You won’t be whipping eggs into soft peaks or using a complicated stand mixer. All you require are the basics: two bowls, a simple whisk or fork, and a regular pan or griddle.
Not only is this pancake recipe easy, but it’s also budget-friendly and simplifies your shopping list. Instead of purchasing both flour and pancake mix (which can sometimes contain unwanted fats), you only need to buy flour.
Pancakes bring a sense of joy to breakfast. They have universal appeal and are sure to please everyone at the table.
Consider this recipe a valuable addition to your cooking repertoire. After making it a few times, you’ll have it memorized and feel confident enough to try more elaborate versions like cornmeal or ricotta pancakes.
And here’s a sneaky way to boost both the flavour and nutrition: you can easily incorporate fresh fruit, such as antioxidant-packed blueberries, into the pancake batter, making it a tasty and healthful choice for your family.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What ingredient do I need on how to make pan cakes from Scratch? Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients you’ll need for these pancakes and some options for substitutions:
- All-purpose flour: This is the main ingredient for the pancake batter. If you like, you can substitute half of the required amount with whole wheat flour for a slightly nuttier flavour and added nutrition.
- Light brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a lovely richness to the pancakes. However, you can use the same amount of white sugar or honey if you prefer.
- Baking powder: Baking powder is essential as it helps the pancake batter rise and create delightful air pockets, making the pancakes lighter and fluffier.
- Salt: A pinch of salt is used to enhance the overall flavour of the pancakes, making them taste even better.
- Milk: You can use any type of milk you have on hand, whether it’s skim, 2%, whole, or even non-dairy milk like almond or soy. The choice is yours.
- Eggs: Eggs play a crucial role in binding the pancake batter together and adding fluffiness. If you want to go vegan or are out of eggs, you can substitute them with options like 1/4 cup of applesauce, a small, mashed banana, or a flaxseed egg.
- Butter: Butter brings richness and moisture to the pancakes. While butter flavour is a classic choice, you can use the same amount of vegetable oil or olive oil as an alternative, which works just as well.
Feel free to customize these ingredients to suit your preferences, dietary needs, or what you have available in your kitchen. Enjoy making your pancakes just the way you like them.
How to Make Pancakes
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to making these pancakes:
- Melt the Butter: Start by melting the butter, but allow it some time to cool down before mixing it with the milk and eggs.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients – that’s the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. This mixture is essentially your homemade pancake mix.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a larger bowl, beat together the wet ingredients – the egg, milk, and melted butter. Whisk until they’re well blended.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Now, add the dry ingredients (your homemade pancake mix) to the wet ingredients. Gently stir them together until everything is moistened. It’s okay if there are a few lumps; overmixing will make the pancakes heavy. So, remember, less is more here.
- Cook the Pancakes: Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and give it a light spray with non-fat cooking spray. Then, using a ⅓ cup measuring cup, pour out 3 to 4 circles of batter onto the skillet.
- Watch for Bubbles: Keep an eye on the pancakes as they cook. Tiny bubbles will start to appear on the surface. When you see these bubbles and the pancakes are puffed on top and golden brown on the bottom, it’s time to flip them over.
- Finish Cooking: Cook the flipped side until it’s risen and fully cooked through. Then, transfer the pancakes to a plate and get ready to enjoy your delicious homemade pancakes.
These simple steps will have you flipping fluffy pancakes in no time.
Tips for Making Pancakes
How To Make Pan Cakes From Scratch. Here are some tips to make your pancake-making process even smoother:
- Check Your Brown Sugar: Make sure to check your brown sugar for any clumps. If you find clumps as you add the sugar to the dry ingredients, use a fork to mash them up right away. This ensures that the sugar blends evenly with the other dry ingredients and doesn’t create lumps in your batter.
- Handle the Melted Butter: Be gentle with the melted butter. When very hot butter is added to a cold mixture of milk and eggs, it can separate into tiny bits. If your butter is still quite hot, mix a small amount of the milk-egg mixture into it to cool it down before adding it to the main bowl. This prevents unwanted separation.
- Avoid Over-Mixing: Just like with muffins and quick bread, you want to lightly mix the wet and dry parts of the pancake batter. Don’t worry about small lumps; they’re perfectly fine and help make your pancakes tender. If your batter is very lumpy, let it sit for about 15 minutes. During this time, the batter will naturally hydrate the drier bits, and it’ll become smoother.
- Test Your Pan’s Heat: While you’ll be cooking your pancakes on medium heat, it’s important to make sure your pan or griddle is adequately hot. You can check this by flicking a few drops of water onto the cooking surface. If the water sizzles and forms beads quickly, your pan is hot enough for pancake action.
These tips should help you create delicious pancakes without any hiccups along the way. Enjoy your pancake-making adventure.
How to Store And Reheat Pancakes
How To Make Pan Cakes From Scratch. Storing and reheating pancakes are easy. Here’s how to do it:
- Enjoy Fresh Pancakes: Pancakes are at their best when they’re freshly made. If you’re making a large batch, you can keep them warm in a low oven while you finish cooking the rest.
- Reheating in the Oven: To reheat pancakes, place them on a sheet pan, cover them with foil, and then pop them into a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven. Check them after about five minutes to see if they’re heated to your liking.
- Reheating in the Microwave: Alternatively, you can reheat pancakes in the microwave. Just cover them with a damp paper towel or a microwave-safe cover and heat them in 30-second intervals until they’re hot.
How Long Do Pancakes Last in the Fridge?
If you store your pancakes properly by tightly wrapping them or placing them in refrigerator bags, they can last in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Can I Freeze Cooked Pancakes?
Yes, you can freeze cooked pancakes. Simply wrap them well or place them in freezer bags, ensuring they are airtight. They’ll stay good in the freezer for about 2 to 3 months.
By following these storage and reheating tips, you can enjoy delicious pancakes even when they’re not fresh off the griddle.
Things to Add to Your Pancakes
This pancake recipe is a versatile gem that you can enjoy any time of the year. To give your pancakes an exciting twist and elevate their flavour, we love mixing in different ingredients while they cook.
Whatever you decide to add, I suggest sprinkling these extra ingredients on top of the pancake batter right after you’ve placed it in the pan (before you flip the pancakes!). This way, you’ll ensure a delightful surprise in every bite.
- Fresh Fruit: We adore adding fresh fruits like bananas, blueberries, and raspberries. Feel free to include your family’s favourites, and remember to chop them into small pieces so they blend seamlessly into the pancake batter without making it too chunky.
- Nuts: Whether it’s walnuts, pecans, almonds, or any other nuts you fancy, you can incorporate them into your pancakes. Just be sure to chop them up finely to ensure they mix well with the batter.
- Chocolate Chips: Regular or mini chocolate chips are a hit with my kids when it comes to pancake mix-ins, so we always have them ready to sprinkle on top of the pancakes while they’re cooking.
By trying out these add-ins, you can transform your pancakes into a delightful culinary adventure that suits your taste buds and makes each bite a memorable one! How To Make Pan Cakes From Scratch.
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