I have made literally hundreds of pancakes for my family over the years! Pancakes are easy to make and quick enough to fit into a busy schedule, but special enough to add a lazy day flair to any morning. These simple steps help streamline the process.
- Mix batter gently and only once. Pancake, waffle, and quick bread batters (like corn bread, etc.) should be stirred just until mostly combined. Small lumps are okay. Overmixing activates the gluten and can result in a tougher texture. Re-mixing deflates the bubbles and makes the batter flat.
- Let the batter rest. This step is crucial. Resting allows the buttermilk and baking soda time to react, producing the bubbles that create the matrix of air space in the final product. Again, only mix the batter once, then carefully pour or scoop out with a measuring cup without destroying those bubbles! I use one-fourth cup of batter for each pancake to keep them a manageable size.
- Preheat the cooking surface properly. Whether you are using a pan or griddle, the surface should be pre-heated, but not too hot. I prefer cooking pancakes in butter for flavor, although neutral olive oil or avocado oil also work well. If the butter browns immediately or smokes, the surface is too hot. Wipe it clean, turn the heat down, and try again. I have tried many different cooking surfaces, and I prefer using an electric griddle rather than a frying pan because the temperature is easier to control and I can make more pancakes at once. This is my favorite electric griddle. When we are cooking over a campfire, I use this cast iron pan. It's also excellent for cooking burgers, salmon, chicken, vegetables... pretty much anything.
- Add mix-ins directly to the pancake, not the batter. If you plan to add berries, bananas, chocolate chips, chopped bacon, etc. don’t mix directly into the batter. Instead, pour the batter onto the pan then put the fruit or chocolate on top. I like to butter the pan again before I flip the pancake so that the added ingredients don’t stick. If necessary, wipe away any residue before cooking the next batch.
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For more tips, techniques, and recipes, check out my e-book, My Pancake Revolution.
