Recipes in Rotation: Fluffy Pancakes – My Word with Douglas E. Welch

Recipes in Rotation is a series that allows me to highlight recipes that have made their way into “the book.” This book is the binder that contains recipes we make on a regular basis — at least monthly and in some cases, every two weeks. I keep them in this special binder for quick and easy access without sorting through a bunch of other recipes to speed things up when I need to get dinner on the table.

Today’s recipe is a Fluffy Pancakes

I have never been much of a pancake fan before, but lately I have been having cravings for them. I like my pancakes light and fluffy, so I went looking for a recipe with just those qualities. After looking at quite a few recipes, I developed my own recipe which combined a little of each. The secret of fluffy is to have enough leavening to make the pancakes pop. The “double-acting” baking powder used here develops fluffiness when mixed the the wet ingredients and agin when the pancakes are cooked.

This photo is an example of a fresh batch just off the cast iron griddle that always sits atop our stove — perfect for just such a meal. If you have a hankering for pancakes, this recipe works very well. It only makes about 6 average-sized pancakes, but the recipes is easily doubled or tripled if you want to make a larger batch. I do add a bit more milk than the recipe calls for, just to make them a little bit lighter.

Fluffy Pancakes

(See this recipe on Bakespace.com)

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon sugar
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp slat
1 egg
1 cup milk
Splash orange juice
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup butter, melted

Instructions

Heat griddle or pan to medium

Melt butter in microwave but do not brown. Set aside to cool a bit.
In small bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Combine egg, milk, orange juice, vanilla and cooled butter in small bowl.Quickly whisk together with fork.
Stir wet ingredients into dry — mixing just enough to moisten. Do not over beat or they will be less fluffy.

When griddle or pan is hot. (Drops of water on pan skitter about energetically)
Spoon 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle or pan for each pancake
Cook on each side until golden and fluffy.

Serves 4

More pancake recipes:

Previously in Recipes in Rotation: