Pancake Day

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Here in the U.K. (as well as other places, I'm sure), Shrove Tuesday (the last day before the start of Lent) is also celebrated as Pancake Day. We've lived here for the last three years, and although British pancakes are tasty, we really enjoy American-style pancakes with maple syrup most of all. The recipe that I've used for quite a few years now is from The Best Recipe, by the editors of Cook's Illustrated. It is of the never-fail variety, and should you be searching for the Holy Grail of pancake recipes, you need not look any further.

Light and Fluffy Pancakes

Serves 3-4  (Makes about 8 3-inch pancakes)

This batter serves four perfectly for a light weekday breakfast. You may want to double the recipe for weekend pancake making, when appetites are larger. If you happen to be using salted butter or buttermilk, you may want to cut back a bit on the salt. If you don't have any buttermilk, mix three-quarters cup of room-temperature milk with one tablespoon of lemon juice and let it stand for five minutes. Substitute this "clabbered milk" for the three-quarters cup of buttermilk and one-quarter cup of milk in this recipe. Since this milk mixture is not as thick as buttermilk, the batter and resulting pancakes will not be as thick.

1 cup ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
2 teaspoons SUGAR
1/2 teaspoon SALT
1/2 teaspoon BAKING POWDER
1/4 teaspoon BAKING SODA
3/4 cup BUTTERMILK
1/4 cup MILK, plus a tablespoon or so extra if batter is too thick
1 large EGG, separated
2 tablespoons UNSALTED BUTTER, melted
VEGETABLE OIL, for brushing griddle

1. Whisk dry ingredients in medium bowl. Pour buttermilk and milk into 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup. Whisk egg white into milk mixture. Mix yolk with melted butter, then stir into milk mixture. Dump wet ingredients into dry ingredients all at once; whisk until just mixed.

2. Meanwhile, heat griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush griddle generously with oil. When water splashed on surface sizzles, pour batter, about 1/4 cup at a time, onto griddle, making sure not to overcrowd. When pancake bottoms are brown and top surface starts to bubble, 2 or 3 minutes, flip cakes and cook until remaining side has browned, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Re-oil the skillet and repeat for the next batch of pancakes.

VARIATIONS

Blueberry Pancakes
Follow recipe for Light and Fluffy Pancakes, pouring a little less than 1/4 cup batter at a time onto griddle. Starting with 1/2 cup blueberries, drop about seven blueberries on top of each pancake. Proceed as directed in Master Recipe.

Whole Wheat Pancakes
Follow recipe for Light and Fluffy Pancakes, substituting 1/2 cup whole wheat flour for 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour.

Toasted Pecan Pancakes
Heat pan over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup pecans, chopped fairly fine; toast, shaking pan frequently, until nuts are fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Follow recipe for Light and Fluffy Pancakes, stirring pecans into dry ingredients along with wet ingredients.

Featherweight Pancakes
Whisking the egg whites gives pancakes an especially light texture. Don't bother with a hand mixer for beating one egg white. By the time you've assembled the mixer, you could be folding the hand-whipped egg white into the batter. Don't make the mistake of using too small a bowl, either. The egg needs space to aerate, so use a whisk and a large metal bowl.

Follow recipe for Light and Fluffy Pancakes, whisking egg white in large bowl to stiff peaks. Gently fold egg white into completed batter and continue with recipe, spooning rather than pouring batter onto griddle.

Reprinted with kind permission from the The Best Recipe Cookbook, by the editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine. Selected articles, recipes, books, and subscription information are available online at www.cooksillustrated.com.

Comments

[Abby]

Such a yummy looking recipe, but I'm having trouble printing it. Any ideas why? I do a print preview and see only the beginning part of the recipe. The rest isn't there. :(

I can't select text either. Is this intentional?

[Abby]

Scratch that text selection thing. It's working now.

[Moira]

Hi Abby,

I'm glad you figured it out! Please let me know what you think after you've tried them.

Cheers,
Moira

[Cat]

Howdy & thanks for stopping by my site the other day!
Hope you don't mind but I've put a link to your site on mine as I really love it.
Happy Pancake Day!
Cheers-
Cat

[Beau]

Love the John Deere plates. I'll have to have pancake day tomorrow....they look yummy.
cheers,
beau

[Dawn]

Moira,
Thanks for all the pancake info. I need to print it & save it. It reminded me of my Mom because once in a while during the cold New England winters she would have a pancake dinner night. That was always a big treat!!!

[Moira]

Hi Cat,

Of course...I'm thrilled that you've linked to me! Thanks so much!

Hi Beau,

I'm glad you like the plates! The pancakes were really yummy- you should definitely make some as soon as possible. Oh, no...I've become a pancake pusher!

Hello Ms. Dawn,

Pancakes for dinner *is* a wonderful treat, but it still feels a bit naughty whenever we do it!

Happy Pancake Day everyone!

[Elna Smith]

Moira, your pancakes look absolutely delicious! I do like American pancake and I've got to try your recipe. Thanks for the info on variations because I love blueberry pancakes but never tried ot make it on my own. Will let you know the result. Have a great day!

[Moira]

Hi Elna,

Thanks! I hope you try them soon, they really do come out very tasty.I love blueberry pancakes, too!

Cheers,
Moira

[Reid]

Hi Moira,

I love late night pancake eating. In fact, I do it all the time. Maybe I should make some of my own instead of going out to eat them all the time. =)

[Moira]

Aloha Reid,

Late night pancakes are a different story altogether, my friend. I don't think it's the same when you eat them at home- got to have the diner thing going on!