American buttermilk pancakes
- 10 pancakes
- A little work
You can make these pancakes with whole milk, but using tangy buttermilk makes them lighter
- 300g (10oz) self-raising flour
- 60g (2oz) caster sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 250ml (9fl oz) buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 60g (2oz) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for frying and serving
- 3–4 tbsp milk (optional)
- maple syrup (optional), to serve
- fresh berries or diced fruit, to serve
Method
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Step 1
Put the flour, sugar, and baking powder into a large bowl and mix well with a balloon whisk.
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Step 2
In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter.
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Step 3
Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and gradually whisk in the buttermilk mixture to a smooth, thick batter. If the batter is not quite a thick pouring consistency, stir in 3–4 tbsp milk.
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Step 4
In a 15cm (6in) non-stick frying pan, heat a knob (about 1⁄2 tbsp) of butter over a medium heat until the butter begins to sizzle.
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Step 5
Pour in just enough batter to coat the base of the pan. Cook the pancake over a medium heat until the edges are set and small bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake, burst, and leave small “holes”.
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Step 6
Turn the pancake and cook for 1–2 minutes on the other side.
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Step 7
Serve immediately, or keep warm in a low oven while you cook the remaining pancakes.
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Step 8
Serve with a bowl of fresh berries or diced fruit or, for a less healthy alternative, with a dribble of maple syrup
- Blueberry compote: For the ultimate blueberry pancakes, make a thick compote to serve alongside. Cook down 150g (51⁄2oz) of ripe blueberries with 2 tbsp water
- Cinnamon & banana: Add 1 tsp of ground cinnamon to the flour. Once you have poured the batter into the pan, thinly slice half a banana and arrange it on top of the pancake, then cook as directed in the main recipe
- Southern twist: For a Southern-inspired variation, replace 150g (51⁄2oz) of the self-raising flour with fine polenta or cornmeal
Like this? Try these:
The American Cookbook, by Elena Rosemond-Hoerr, published by DK, £16.99, www.dk.com.
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