Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Basics: Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes



I have a confession: I am a former Aunt Jemima Complete pancake mix addict. I swore by it. Lived for it.  So convenient, so easy, and so so tasty.

That is, until one fateful weekend morning when I discovered my faithful Aunt Jemima was all gone. What to do?!? The kids were clamoring for pancakes. I had to do something. I set aside my fears and my doubts, and I rose to the occasion.  I made pancake batter from scratch.

 I couldn't believe it....not only was it simple (like 2 extra minutes than my trusted mix), they were just as light and fluffy.....and they tasted better.

Since that fateful morning, I have never re-purchased a box of pancake mix. If you, like former me, only use boxed mix, give this a try. It won't disappoint. And you will have one less processed box of food in your life.

This is my standard pancake recipe. I will often add thinly sliced bananas, blueberries, sliced strawberries, or chocolate chips to the poured batter for a little extra morning pizzaz.

Buttermilk Pancakes
Makes 8 Servings
115 cals / 3g fat / 17g carbs / 3g protein

3/4 cup plus 2 TB milk
1 TB vinegar (or just 3/4 cup plus 2 TB buttermilk if you have it)
1 cup flour
3 TB sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
2 TB butter, melted (optional)
2 tsp vanilla

1. Combine milk and vinegar in a small bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

2. Add egg, melted butter, and vanilla to the soured milk (or buttermilk), and mix well. Add milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until combined (some lumps might remain).

3. Heat a pan or griddle over medium heat, and spray with cooking spray or lightly oil or butter. Pour 1/4 cup batter into circles (sprinkle with fruit or add-ins now if you want) and allow to cook until edges bubble, then flip pancakes and cook until other side is browned.




10 comments:

  1. I'm always surprised by how easy it is to make some things from scratch, after years of depending on box mixes. I definitely agree with you on pancakes! And even cake isn't that tricky - maybe it takes a little more time to add more than 3 ingredients, but homemade is so much better!

    I've never tried vinegar for buttermilk, I always use milk and lemon juice. I guess they're both acids, so it makes sense.

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    1. I know! It is crazy to think of all the pre-mixed and processed foods I thought I couldn't live without. Marketing, I tell ya. It is not much harder at all!

      I have heard lemon juice is actually a little better flavor-wise because it doesn't leave the bitterness that vinegar does, but I don't always have lemons on hand and I always have vinegar. You could start working through your vinegar stash. ;)

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  2. No box mixes here, so thank you for posting this recipe Ashli! Tomorrow is a holiday over here, I am sooooo going to make these pancakes for breakfast :-)

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    1. Like no box mixes even available? Austria is so cool. :)

      Enjoy your holiday, and I hope you enjoy your pancake breakfast too.

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    2. Oh, and I remember people thought I was weird back when I was in the States a few years ago because I drank buttermilk all the time. I still do, almost every day. Love this stuff. So it looks strange to me to see you substituting it in every recipe that calls for buttermilk. Is it difficult to find at the grocery store?

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    3. You drink it?? I don't think I could get on board with that. It is easy/cheap to get, but I pretty much only use it for baked goods, so I never really have it on hand.

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    4. Yes, I drink it!! :-) that's why I always have it at home.
      Buttermilk is what's left when butter is made out of milk. So, it has almost no fat, and it tastes really good.

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  3. Let me think.... There are a couple of box mixes available for some cakes, but have never tried it and don't know anyone who uses these. No other box mixes over here, for nothing. Yep, I also think this is cool ;-)

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  4. Yum, I want pancakes now! These look delish!
    Growing up, my mom was a foodie before they were cool, so she never had box anythings (Ironic since my dad works in the food processing industry.) I use a very similar recipe. Sometimes, I add plain yogurt to the milk/vinegar mixture, because it is awesomely thick. Melted butter is a necessary yes!
    Note to self: Saturday is a pancake day, even if I have them at 2 PM rather than 10 AM...

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    1. I have heard if these yogurt pancakes, I need to give them a try.

      That is awesome/crazy about your parents....especially since it seems like we grew up in the hey-day of processed foods and boxed mixes.

      And I totally agree, any time is pancake time....we have them for dinner often!

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