Pancakes
I added blueberries
A basic pancake recipe should be in everyone’s repertoire and for many years I have used the pancake recipe in a vintage Betty Crocker cookbook, it’s good but I am constantly searching for a recipe that is even better. The pancakes should be tender and fluffy and light. I’ve tried separating the eggs and beating the whites, folding them into the batter and that works well but let me be honest, in the morning I don’t really feel like the extra work. I saw this recipe on Food52 by The Kitchn and the pancakes looked great I was intrigued by the directions, you do separate the egg, but add the white to the batter unbeaten. It didn’t really seem like that would produce a pancake that met my expectations but I had to give it a try.
I’ve mentioned before that I am an Air Bnb host and I had guests from England, they chose pancakes from the menu for breakfast and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try this recipe. The batter took only a few minutes to put together, it calls for full fat buttermilk which is kind of difficult to find. The buttermilk most readily available is reduced fat and the smallest size available is a 32 oz carton, the unused milk is frozen in an ice cube tray and stored in a freezer bag. I always have a jar of homemade creme fraiche in the refrigerator, so to make full fat buttermilk I add creme fraiche. The recipe calls for 2 cups of buttermilk and to make it full fat I used 1 3/4 cups buttermilk and 1/4 cup creme fraiche. You can also make buttermilk by adding lemon juice or vinegar to whole milk.
This is now the only recipe I will use for pancakes. I have removed the bookmark from my Betty Crocker cookbook, these pancakes are wonderfully light, fluffy, tender and tasty. I cut the recipe in half, I didn’t want that many pancakes and accidentally added the whole tsp of baking soda and baking powder (pre-coffee and very early) instead of cutting the amount in half and the results were great so I will continue to double the leavening agents when I make this recipe.
Buttermilk Pancakes
Food52 Genius Recipes – The Kitchn
Makes 18-20
2 1/2 cups flour (Editor’s note: in testing, we used 300 grams unbleached all-purpose flour)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 large eggs, separated
2 cups buttermilk (for extra, extra fluffy pancakes, seek out thick, whole milk buttermilk)
1/2 cup whole milk
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla (Not in the recipe but I added and it does make a difference)
Canola or unrefined peanut oil for frying
Heat the oven to 225° F and prepare a large baking sheet by setting a cooling rack inside. Place both in the oven.
Whisk the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a large bowl. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk the egg yolks, buttermilk, milk, and vanilla. Add the melted, cooled butter and whisk until well combined.
Pour the yolk and milk mixture into the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until barely combined. Add the egg whites and stir just until a thick batter is formed. Set aside for 5 minutes. Note: I added extra milk as the batter was too thick, I only added enough to thin a bit approximately 1/4 cup added a tbs at a time.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, film with 1/2 teaspoon of neutral oil such as canola or peanut oil. After about 30 seconds, when the oil shimmers but is not smoking, lower the heat to medium-low and use a soup spoon to drop in heaping spoonfuls of pancake batter.
The batter will spread into a pancake about 3 inches wide. Cook for about 2 1/2 minutes. (If the pancake scorches or the oil smokes, lower the heat.) When the bubbles that form on the edges of the pancakes look dry and airy, use a thin spatula to gently lift one side and peek underneath. If the pancake is golden brown, flip and cook on the other side for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, or until the bottom of the pancake is golden brown.
Remove from the skillet to the baking sheet in the oven. Wipe any stray crumbs or scraps out of the skillet with a paper towel, add a little more oil, and continue to cook the remaining batter.
I added blueberries after I had spooned onto the griddle.
pancakes and fried egg
apuginthekitchen 
Sounds great. Am pinning!
Thank you so much!!
Pancakes, blueberries and maple syrup = the best breakfast ever. The only thing that could maybe make it even more heavenly for me would be to add some crispy bacon. Drool!
Ha, there was bacon on the side. Thanks so much, it is a wonderful recipe.
I have my GrandMother’s pancake recipe and yes she had a secret ingredient to make the most delicious pancakes
She would add a few drops of pure vanilla extract to the mix
Try it also when making French Toast adding it into the egg mixture
…I had pancakes for dinner the other night considering I’m not a early morning eater of breakfast
Have a Great Day…🌷
Thank you for reminding me I did add vanilla. It makes a huge difference in the flavor. I also am not a morning eater❤ thank you ❤
Just yum! Love that you added the friend egg. So true that a pancake is not a pancake is not a pancake. Some are far better than others and yours looks exceptional. Curious about your creme fraiche. Would you share your recipe? I’ve used cream (1 cup), yogurt (1 Tbsp) and buttermilk (1/4 cup) but always open to new ideas. Once purchased a 25# bag of buttermilk powder from a bakery going out of business and it was one of the best kitchen investments I’ve made. Divided it up into smaller freezer bags and freezing for storage. I will NEVER run out of buttermilk. If we were neighbors you could come over to borrow whenever you needed it. I would trade for pancakes 😀 Glad to see you’re still here.
friend egg, fried egg – ha
Wow you have buttermilk powder. What a great idea. I have to look for that. I would gladly trade some pancakes for some buttermilk, thank you so much Liz.
Thanks for the recipe, I will use it when I get my four guests from Germany in May. Let’s see how they like an American breakfast.
It’s a terrific recipe Gerlinde. My European guests loved them so much they asked me to make them for them a second morning and I was glad to do that. Full disclosure I didn’t taste them, they are not on my meal plan. I have promised myself that once I am at my goal I will have a pancake. Thank you so much.
We love pancakes and also french toast and I too add a touch of vanilla extract-yummy!!! Have a great day
Hello Cheryl and thank you totally agree, the vanilla makes them special. I also add to my scones. Have a great day.
I love scones too! Oh that sweet tooth! LOL
I know right, the never ending sweet tooth!!
Suzanne, these pancakes look light enough to float away. I can imagine the texture.
(The Harris Teeter store near me sells a full fat buttermilk (don’t remember the brand). It is delicious. Yes, I’m strange that way — I like buttermilk.)
BTW… I finally made your spring turnip soup — OMG!!!!! It’s the best soup I ever made. So velvety and the flavor… mild but lovely. Have a thriving Thursday. Mega hugs!
Oooohhh so happy to hear that you made the soup and liked it. Thank you. I used to get full fat buttermilk from my CSA which stopped delivering to my neighborhood so I got it from a local store that has since gone out of business. It’s not readily avalilable so I do a kitchen hack, LOL. Thank you again seeing you here always makes my day.
We love pancakes in our house. We have them mostly for dinner instead of breakfast. I love them with added oats & blueberries.
Aren’t they the best, my Mom often used to make pancakes for dinner on Fridays when we didn’t eat meat, Catholic. I love adding oat flour or spelt flour as well. Thank you so much Michelle.
Yumm!
Thank you Lina!!
Pancakes are my one true love and I always love seeing what recipes get rave reviews of them. These look delish Suzanne 😉
Thanks so much Jess, this recipe is a keeper!!
Hummmmmmmmmmm – merci Suzanne – bises
I do want to visit youu 🙂
Merci France, hope if you come to NYC you will stay with me.
Beautiful pancakes! I didn’t know you have an AirBnB!
Hi Mimi, yes for almost 2 years now I have been an air bnb host, I have super host status and am booked almost constantly. I offer my guests one complimentary breakfast of their choice.
I will have to give this recipe to my daughter, who is a pancake fiend! And she ALWAYS puts vanilla in hers, good call! I’m sure your guests have been most impressed. 🙂
I love pancakes too and waffles!! The vanilla really does make a difference in the flavor. Thanks so much Kathryn.
This sounds like the perfect recipe. I love when pancakes are fluffy like this. I too like them for brunch or dinner, with bacon. :-) Thanks, Suzanne!
Thanks Mary, I am not much of a breakfast eater and love pancakes for dinner. I do have a sweet tooth and it’s dinner and dessert in one fell swoop. Thank you again.
Delicious! I make similar pancakes and have been using the no-fuss method regarding egg whites for a while, with great success. But I use yeast instead of baking powder … my indulgence, I know. 😉
I think yeast pancakes would be delicious. I have your recipe for waffles saved and one day soon I am going to try making them. Thank you so much.
These look so very delicious, Suzanne 🙂
Thanks so much Irene.
Awesome looking pancakes.I like pancakes they usually end up on my Saturday or Sunday brunch menu since I never really eat breakfast. Not a morning person so only consume coffee before 10 am.
I am the same Dyanna. I can’t eat before 10 or 11 AM, never have liked eating early. Coffee is ok by me as well. Thank you so much.
That was a problem for my parents when I was going to school but now it is just how it is.
I would never eat my breakfast before school, my Mom solved that by getting Instant Breakfast for me, that I would drink it was like having a glass of chocolate milk. LOL.
And, now I want pancakes !!! I wasn’t aware that full fat buttermilk was hard to come by, and it is amazing how the full fat makes such a difference!
Suzanne, these pancakes sound lovely, I definitely will be making these ! 🙂 Hugs to Percy x
Yes go figure right, no end of low fat or reduced fat buttermilk but my sources have dried up for the full fat stuff. Thank you so much Lynne.
Mmmm I love pancakes for breakfast, your Airbnb guests are so lucky! This is an interesting way of making pancakes, I wonder why the addition of egg whites at the end (without whipping it too) makes such a huge difference!
Thanks Jasline, you know I don’t know why the addition of the egg white separately and unbeaten. The editors at food52 think it could be an accidental omission but it works and the pancakes are great and I don’t want to beat the egg whites in the morning.
Delicious, and a lovely post!
Thank you so much Chef!
We just had pancakes for dinner. The Dutch version. Thin and fluffy and savoury! 🙂
In home-made pancake recipes, I agree that adding vanilla does make a difference.
Do you have your recipe for Dutch Baby pancakes on the blog looking for a good one.❤
Actually that’s one I have not put up! My husband is usually the one who makes the Dutch style pancakes. I never thought there’ll be an interest and now that you mentioned it, I’ll get the recipe from him and put it up. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂
Thank you!!
I love pancakes and crepe with lots berries and maple syrup. I don’t know you’re doing the Air BnB host. Maybe I will visit you sometimes later. 🙂
Hi Mochi, yes I am an air bnb host for almost 2 years now. Would love to have you visit if you come to the US. Thank you so much.
I would love to dig into this Suzanne! Wow looks so yummy! I agree a good pancake recipe is important!
It’s one of those ridiculously simple recipes with so many variations but it can go horribly wrong at times. I love pancakes just about any version. Thanks so much Lynn.
Oh yumm me too
I love what buttermilk does for things! My favorite cake in the world (you’d find as Texas Chocolate Sheetcake) includes buttermilk in both the cake and frosting. I was trying to figure out what to eat for breakfast – I don’t have blueberries OR buttermilk, but you’ve inspired me to improvise. 🙂
Yes I love the Texas chocolate sheet cake. I posted my Mom’s recipe here at one time. It’s such a simple and delicious chocolate dessert. Thank you so much Debra!
YUM! I love pancakes and these look delicious. Your airbnb guests are lucky that you cook breakfast for them.
Your pancakes look awesome! I didn’t know what is it buttermilk, but now I’ll try to cook pancakes by your recipe.
A great recipe and what lucky airbnb guests! 🙂 The pancakes look delicious.
Years ago when my daughter was about 12 she looked up a pancake recipe in my BC cookbook and made them herself! I was so proud…and still make those. But I’m like you, I’m always looking for something even better! I can’t wait to try these. I’ve tried an Alton Brown recipe that separated the whites from the yolks, but didn’t beat the whites and was impressed, but these are next on the list!
Thanks for sharing them! 🙂
What a great recipe! I can totally see that the addition of vanilla can make the difference. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely pancakes, and the blueberries and vanilla really do make a difference! I don’t make them nearly as often as I used to when my children were still at home. 😦
Suzanne, those pancakes are picture perfect! How lucky are the AirBnb guests to get those pancakes!
I have yet to see whole milk buttermilk in the stores. The creme fraiche is a great idea!
Excellent recipe. Looks delish! I’ve followed you as your page is very inspiring. I hope you do the same, as you may find mine the same, I practice naked cooking like jamie oliver, I’m conducting the half-blood princess project.
My fav weekend breakfast. Love the addition of blueberries – so good.
You’re making me want to run to kitchen and try these pancakes Suzanne!! they look so tender and yummy. We’re big pancake fans here– lots of times for Sunday night supper. I’m saving this for our next round of pancakes. Fun to find a new version to try. Hugs from across the country!! take care friend…
Oh lovely! You made me realise I haven’t made pancakes for ages! I hope I have time this weekend tomorrow or Sunday to make some. You make breakfast for your Air Bnb guests? Lucky them!!! xx