Sunday, June 12, 2011

Buttermilk Pancakes


Ahhh... summer vacation!!  Eagerly awaited by all in our family and arriving none too soon.  For weeks I've dreamed of sleeping until I simply awoke on my own without the help of an alarm clock, throwing our schedules out the window and enjoying leisurely breakfasts with the kids.

Liv's dreams are nearly the same, but but her idea of the ideal leisurely breakfast is not quite the same as mine.  While pancakes rate high on both of our lists, our concept of the perfect pancake varies.  Mine would be filled with whole grains including wheat germ, flax meal and rolled oats combined with a touch of brown sugar, then topped with nice layer of nuts and bananas - like these.  Liv however prefers her pancakes more along the simple line... simple white flour along with a decent amount of sugar combined with the nice tang of buttermilk.  Hers would be topped with fresh strawberries and then doused with maple syrup.


In the past I've taken the basic buttermilk pancake recipe and added a touch of wheat germ  or flax meal and then reduced the sugar in the recipe to make the pancake a bit healthier, however the first day of summer vacation is a special day deserving of a special treat.  With Liv's adorable smile and those long eyelashes batting my direction how could I resist her?  "Besides," she asked, "How often does one receive a 101.6% final score in math?"

Knowing right where to turn for the ideal recipe I pulled out a copy I had saved for just such an occasion.  In early June, Christiane, The Mom Chef - Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time, posted Buttermilk Pancakes from the Best of Fine Cooking - Breakfast, 2011.  Reading that these pancakes were Dudette approved was the only stamp of approval we needed and Liv and I got to pulling ingredients from the pantry.

Basic flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda are mixed with buttermilk and eggs for pancakes that puff up to some of the lightest and fluffiest pancakes we've had in a while - just like the Mom Chef said!  Topped with fresh strawberries and maple syrup we had a treat fit for the first day of summer vacation.  I think we just might make them tomorrow too...



Buttermilk Pancakes
Printer friendly recipe here

2 Tbs. unsalted butter; more for serving 
9 oz. (2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour 
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2-1/2 tsp. baking powder 
1/2 tsp. baking soda 
1/2 tsp. kosher salt 
2 cups buttermilk 
2 large eggs 
Vegetable oil for the griddle 
Pure maple syrup for serving 

Melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave or in a small saucepan on the stove and set aside to cool briefly.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk and eggs. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Whisk gently until the dry ingredients are almost incorporated; stop before the batter is evenly moistened. Add the cooled melted butter and mix just until the batter is evenly moistened (there will be lumps). Let the batter rest while you heat the griddle.

Heat a griddle or a large skillet over medium heat (or set an electric griddle to 375°F) until drops of water briefly dance on the surface before evaporating. Lightly oil the griddle. Working in batches, pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto the griddle for each pancake, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Let cook undisturbed until bubbles rise to the surface and the edges look dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Check the underside of each pancake to make sure it’s nicely browned; then flip. Cook until the second side is nicely browned, about 1 minute more. Transfer the pancakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve fresh strawberries and maple syrup.

33 comments:

  1. Gorgeous pictures of gorgeous pancakes! I think I have Liv's taste in pancakes too :) But I often try to go your route, because it's healthier :) I love buttermilk pancakes, and this recipe sounds and looks like a keeper! Have a wonderful week, Kim!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorgeous pancakes...never tried with buttermilk but i'll sure do next time!

    Kisses,
    rita

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kim, woo-hoo for being on holiday and catching up, relaxing and making the most incredible pancakes. I'm not taking sides ;-) I love your version and Liv's version with the buttermilk. Look at these photos! They are stunning. Happy pancake hols to you all. xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. LOL, I can understand Liv's dream pancakes. And these certainly do look dreamy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful pancakes! enjoy the start of summer vacation! The poor kids over here still have a couple more weeks to go because of our terrible winter! Congrats to Liv on her amazing math score! I was never good in math so I am entirely impressed!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. These pancakes look delicious! Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those pancakes look so yummy! I just want to grab the whole plate out of the computer, and stuff my face :)
    And pairing it with fruit, for a little bit of healthyness, is perfect!
    Your blog is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Speaking of breakfast, I had banana chocolate chip waffles today! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Those just might be the prettiest pancakes I've ever seen! ♥- K

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so glad you posted this, it's as if you read my mind! I can't wait to try making my own buttermilk pancakes, they look just luscious;-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. These look beautiful! :) And I LOVE your colorful whisk!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ahh, how I wish it were Sunday morning and I could make these (although I doubt mine would look as good as yours). Wonderful pics!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would have to say that either way ladies I would be in heaven! I love both those style pancakes. Buttermilk pancakes remind me of my grandmother when I used to go visit her on her farm...these take me back. They are so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I want to go to your house for breakfast! I'm with Liv, I like my pancakes simple, these look perfect. Actually, the last time I ate pancakes was a year ago on our honeymoon, it must be time again!

    ReplyDelete
  15. That stack is the prettiest stack of pancakes I have ever seen... gorgeous!

    101.6%?! in Math?!? WOW! BRAVO!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I know what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow! These look soooo good.....

    ReplyDelete
  17. You have no idea how good pancakes are sounding right about now. Way to go Liv on the math test. I have to side with Liv on this one, I prefer my pancakes this way. Hope you guys enjoy the break.
    -Gina-

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful pancakes! I don't remember last time seeing such gorgeous pancakes...wait, maybe I have never made one! Looks delicious. Wish tomorrow is weekend so I can dream of having pancakes.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oooh I have extra buttermilk in the fridge! I know what I'm making. Thanks for the idea and recipe :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Is there any better way to kickoff summer vacay than treating your kids to pancakes? These look amazing & I love that you kept them just good old buttermilk instead of adding things to make them healthy ~ as a special treat to celebrate. :-) Summer vacation is the best!

    ReplyDelete
  21. The rest of my family votes for Liv's version...and even though I'd probably go for your healthier ones, I don't think I could resist a plate of these fluffy delights :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. These Look amazing! Super fluffy and perfect! Too bad we just got done with breakfast - tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Whoa! Those are gorgeous pancakes. I love plain old, normal buttermilk pancakes.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Kelly - the pancakes photos are fabulous.
    Kudos to Liv for her math score.
    Happy summer to the whole family!
    LL

    ReplyDelete
  25. absolutely gorgeous! I want !!!!!
    nothing better than buttermilk pancakes, fresh fruit and maple syrup. I could eat these for dinner let alone breaky :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. We might make these tomorrow too! So delicious! I'm a sucker for buttermilk pancakes though. And I'm with Liv, the naughtier the better. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is my last week of school and I'm already dreaming of waking up next Monday and have the time to make myself pancakes. I'm with Liv...I love simple ones with just some fresh fruits and maple syrup. Now I know what my first vacation breakfast will be made of!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh, these pancakes look delish! We usually only have pancakes on the weekend, but I can see these on a plate for my husband on Father's Day!
    Yum!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Pancakes are such great breakfast comfort food. YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  30. This makes me wish I had summer vacation and someone cooking me breakfast! I love buttermilk pancakes.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love Pancakes and those look AMAZING!
    love your pictures..yummy

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh my goodness!!! I'm with Liv!! Pass me a plate and a fork please!!!!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make our hearts sing!