Pan-Fry
by: creamtea
November30,2014
4.6
5 Ratings
- Prep time 10 minutes
- Cook time 15 minutes
- Makes about 14 medium pancakes
Jump to Recipe
Author Notes
When I wanted a "souffléed" pancake, I turned to Michael Ruhlman for the basics, with an assist from Joy of Cooking. Subbing almond flour for half the usual volume of flour, and cake flour for the rest, creates a tender yet crisp-crusted result -- and it perfectly rounds out the flavor with a slight hint of nuttiness that, till now, you didn't know you missed. I added an extra egg, separated the whites and yolks, and fluffed the former for extra volume and tenderness. You could add grated orange peel if you lean that way, or keep it simple, which allows the beautiful almond toastiness through. —creamtea
Test Kitchen Notes
Delicate, thin, and light, the extra effort to whip the egg whites really makes a difference here. The almond flour flavor is subtle but lends texture -- I'll return to this recipe anytime I want delicious pancakes without the heaviness.
—twosavoie
- Test Kitchen-Approved
What You'll Need
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 4 ouncesalmond flour (commercially ground -- you want to avoid grittiness)
- 4 ouncescake flour
- 2 teaspoonsbaking powder
- 2 tablespoonsorganic sugar
- grated peel of 1 orange (optional)
- 8 ouncesmilk
- 3 tablespoonsunsalted butter, melted and cooled, or the same amount of safflower oil
- 2 teaspoonsvanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoonsalt
- Safflower oil or butter for frying (the safflower oil seems to give a crispier crust, while the butter gives flavor), or use a little of both
- about 3/4 cupspure maple syrup, warmed, as an accompaniment
- about 1/2 cupsblueberries as an accompaniment
- butter as an accompaniment
Directions
- Separate the eggs. If you have time, warm the yolks and whites by half-submerging the bowls they are in in warm water.
- Mix the flours and baking powder. Sift into a bowl to break up lumps. Some almond flour may remain in the sifter; break up the lumps with your fingers, then add to the bowl. Whisk in the sugar. Add in the grated peel, if using.
- If you have the time, use an electric mixer to beat the yolks for 3 minutes until pale and aerated. The pancakes will still be delicious if you decide to skip this step.
- Whisk together the yolks, milk, and butter. Add the vanilla.
- Make a well in the dry ingredients, then add the wet ingredients (except the whites). Whisk to combine.
- Add the salt to the whites. In a clean bowl with clean beaters, beat the whites with the salt until barely-stiff peaks form. They should be moist, not dry.
- Empty the whites into the bowl with the batter and fold in lightly with a wide rubber scraper until thoroughly combined.
- Heat a frypan over low to medium heat and add safflower oil or butter (or a mixture of both) to coat the bottom lightly (drain out excess if using oil). Test by sprinkling a few drops of cold water onto the pan; when the water sizzles on the surface, the pan is hot enough.
- With the tip of a large spoon, drop batter onto surface of oil to form cakes (do not crowd pan). Fry on first side, monitoring the heat level to avoid burning, until tops start to appear dry and bubbles start to burst, leaving air tunnels. Flip to cook the second side briefly. (You can keep them warm for serving by emptying them onto a Pyrex pie plate, covering with foil, and keeping in a 150º F to 200º F oven until ready to serve.)
- Warm the maple syrup and blueberries together in a heavy saucepan until blueberries are tender and cooked through, then pour into a serving pitcher.
- Serve the pancakes hot, accompanied by butter and/or warm maple or maple-blueberry syrup.
Tags:
- Pancake
- Bread
- American
- Almond
- Maple Syrup
- Egg
- Milk/Cream
- Pan-Fry
- Memorial Day
- Father's Day
- Mother's Day
- Christmas
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16 Reviews
Danielle V. February 28, 2021
We’d been making all almond flour pancakes for a few years and had gotten used to the heaviness. So happy I fried these. I used orange and. Almond extract and duck eggs and they were beyond amazing ♥️
Another trick is pan “roasting” blueberries in butter and putting them on top.
Danielle V. February 28, 2021
*tried
creamtea March 1, 2021
thank you for the review! Glad you liked these. Great idea about the blueberries pan-roasted in butter--yum!
Michi January 12, 2020
This is my favorite pancake recipe, ever. My kids love it too. It's too bad that it's a bit labor intensive, when you want to just throw a bowl of pancake batter together, I'm just trying to motivate myself to make it this morning. I used to do prep the dry ingredients the night before. Either way, it's worth it, and underrated and everyone should try it.
creamtea January 16, 2020
Thank you for trying my recipe! I'm so glad you and your family like it!
Best regards,
Lisanne
Adrianne H. July 25, 2019
Fantastic pancakes! Moist, packed with flavor, and great nutrients!
creamtea July 25, 2019
I'm so glad to hear it! Thanks for letting me know, and thank you for trying my recipe!
the M. July 2, 2017
I made these this morning with blueberries we picked yesterday - delicious! I made them gluten free using Shauna Ahern's blend - found on her gluten free girl site - basically her blend is 1/3 starchy flours and 2/3 higher protein flours. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
creamtea July 2, 2017
Mmmmmm! Fresh-picked blueberries! Sounds wonderful. Thanks for trying my recipe!
Carly February 11, 2017
These are some really special pancakes! The vanilla, orange zest, maple syrup, and blueberries play off each other so well. Don't miss some salty butter on top of the cakes to really make your mouth happy. I didn't have commercially blended almond flour - blending my own did leave some grit but we enjoyed the texture. More complicated than my usual Saturday morning recipe, but we will be making these again!
creamtea April 27, 2017
Carly, glad you liked these! Salted butter on top sounds fantastic!
Darlene January 12, 2015
These sound scrumptious!
creamtea January 12, 2015
Thanks Kris! I hope you try them!
Justin C. December 31, 2014
I clicked on the article thinking it would be gluten free. But it uses cake flour?! Why use almond flour at all?
creamtea January 1, 2015
I used almond flour in this recipe as an exercise in texture and flavor, as I mention in my headnotes, not to create a gluten-free product. You could probably sub one of the gluten-free flours for the cake flour. Or you could enter "gluten-free pancakes" in the search box on the site for an option that suits your needs.
mstv January 12, 2015
Almond flour is delicious and is used by lots of people who can eat gluten.
