Pancakes are cooked in almost all of our homes. I still remember my grandmother cooking pancakes to cheer me up whenever I was upset. This dish is pretty simple to make, delicious, and has evolved and been adopted across cultures and centuries, becoming a beloved comfort food enjoyed in various forms all around the world. If you are also looking for the best Pancake Recipe, Then – you are at right place. Here in this article, we will learn about it in detail.
Pancake is a thin, flat cake made of eggs, flour, milk, or water, and often a leavening agent such as baking powder. It’s often fried on a griddle or frying pan and served as a breakfast or brunch dish, commonly topped with syrup, butter, fruit, or meats.
The name “pancake” comes from the Old English word “pann” meaning “pan”. During the 14th century the word ” pancake” was first recorded in English. This special type of cake has been around for thousands of years, with variations developing in various civilizations around the world. In history, it is mentioned that ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed “,” a type of pancake cooked with wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and curdled milk.
However, this dish became popular throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, and they were frequently cooked with substances such as ale, spices, etc.
Evidence proves that pancakes were consumed way early; they started to resemble the one we know today only in the 15th century when the recipe began to contain eggs as a binding agent. Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, became an important feast in many Christian traditions as a way to consume rich foods such as eggs and butter before the fasting period of Lent.
Various regions developed their variations of cakes over time and each variation reflects the unique flavours and culinary traditions of its respective regions.
- French Crepes: The French pancake is known for its thin texture often filled with thin sweet or savoury ingredients. Sweet crepes are often filled with fruit, Nutella, or whipped cream while savory crepes can be filled with ham, cheese, or even seafood.
- American Pancake: These pancakes are thicker than French crepes and are fluffy as well. The pancakes are typically made with flour, milk, eggs, baking powder, and salt. While serving butter, maple syrup, fruit, and whipped cream are used.
- Japanese Okonomiyaki: This dish is famous in Japan and is made with cabbage, meat, and other toppings, often drizzled with mayo and sauce.
- Swedish Pancakes (Pannkakor): Swedish pancakes are also known as. This pancake is served with lingonberry jam and whipped cream.
- Dutch baby Pancakes
- Indian Dosas
Pancake Recipe | Ingredients required
The ingredients required for making pancake includes:-
1)Flour
This is a crucial ingredient for making pancakes. It gives the batter structure and bulk. You can use all-purpose or whole wheat flour depending on your preferences. As the recipe’s base, flour interlaces with other components, binding them together and forming the pancake’s characteristic texture.
2) Baking powder
Baking powder is a leavening chemical that aids in the rise and fluffiness of pancakes. It combines with the other ingredients to produce carbon dioxide bubbles, which make the pancakes light and fluffy.
3) Eggs
Eggs are essential in the preparation of pancakes using our pancake recipe, acting as a binding agent while also contributing to the texture, structure, and overall flavor of the batter. They also add moisture and help to keep the pancakes together. This binding action helps prevent the pancake from falling apart on the griddle or skillet as it cooks. The proteins in eggs coagulate during cooking, adding to the batter’s hardening tendency as it transforms into a fluffy and slightly firm pancake. This protein coagulation contributes to the pancake’s characteristic and pleasant texture.
4) Milk
Milk provides moisture and liquid to the batter helping to create a smooth consistency. Further, milk makes it easy to mix and give a creamy texture. Regular milk, almond milk, buttermilk, or other milk alternatives can be used to make pancakes.
5)Salt
To enhance the flavor and balance out the sweetness we can use the salt.
6) Sugar
Sugar is used to add sweetness to the pancake but it is optional. Some recipes use sugar while others rely on the toppings like syrup or fruit for sweetness.
7)Butter or oil
Butter is mainly used to prevent sticking and also to create a golden-brown crust when cooking. Oil doesn’t add much flavor while the butter adds flavour to the pancake.
We can always customize the pancake by adding the reliable ingredients of our choice. Some of the elements we can add are chocolate chips, blueberries, bananas, or even spices like cinnamon or vanilla to add up the flavor. Some other ingredients used for customization include nuts, lemon zest, coconut, pumpkin puree, yogurt, Ricotta cheese, chopped apples, maple syrup, etc.
Thus, these were the ingredients required for our pancake recipe. lets get into the actual process.
Pancakes Recipe
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ spoon of baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup plain yogurt or buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons melted butter or oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
- First of all, in a mixing bowl, we have to whisk all the dry ingredients which include flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- To whisk the wet ingredients we have to use a separate bowl. Ingredients like milk, yogurt or buttermilk, egg, melted butter or oil, and vanilla.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients in a bowl for mixing. Stir gently until almost mixed. It’s fine if the batter is a little lumpy; overmixing can result in tough pancakes.
- Melt butter in a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. It can be lightly oiled with butter or cooking spray.
- For each pancake, pour 1/4 cup batter into the skillet. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface, then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side.
- The process is repeated for the remaining batter, adjusting the heat if needed to prevent burning.
- Warm pancakes can be topped with maple syrup, fresh fruits, whipped cream, or chocolate chips and you can serve it warm.
Now the delicious pancake is ready. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and methods to make your distinct pancake varieties. Remember to change the amounts of these customized components to your liking and the desired texture of your pancakes. By following these pancake recipe steps, you will make delicious pancake.
Also Read: How to Make Rava Upma | South Indian Upma Recipe
Pancake calories
As we know the calorie count and nutritional values can vary based on the specific ingredients used and the cooking method. If ghee, cream, and sugar are used; the calorie count can increase drastically. Therefore we must be conscious while measuring the quantity of ingredients that contain large calories. As we know pancake recipe, lets get idea on its calories content from the table below:-
Ingredient | Calories |
All-purpose flour | 455 kcal per cup |
Whole milk | 149 kcal per cup |
Eggs | 72 kcal per large egg |
Butter | 102 kcal per tablespoon |
Sugar | 49 kcal per tablespoon |
Baking soda | 2 kcal per teaspoon |
Salt | Negligible calories |
Vegetable oil | 120 kcal per tablespoon |
Benefits of Eating Pancake
There are lots of benefits to having pancakes. Some of them are:-
1)Customizable
You may customize the flavor of pancakes by including different components such as fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, or spices.
2)Quick and easy
The recipe is pretty simple to make and can be prepared in less time. Pancakes require basic ingredients like flour, eggs, and milk which are easily available.
3)Energy source
Pancakes provide a quick source of carbohydrates, offering energy to start your day. Sugar, nuts, flour, etc provide us with energy.
4)Nutritional variability
You can boost their nutritional worth by adding whole wheat flour or protein-rich foods.
5)Comfort food
Pancakes’ warm and fluffy texture can create a sense of comfort and happiness.
6)Family friendly
Pancakes are a popular breakfast option for people of all ages, making them an excellent choice for family meals.
7)Creative expression
Pancakes can be shaped into fun designs that are visually appealing and engaging for children.
8)Affordability
Pancakes can be made by using general ingredients like flour, sugar, and milk which are not that expensive.
9) Flavour variation
10) Portability
While pancakes can be part of a well-balanced diet, it’s crucial to keep portion sizes and ingredients in mind to maintain a healthy eating pattern.
Final Verdict
Pancakes are a flexible and popular breakfast meal that many people like. Some advantages of pancakes include their high carbohydrate content, ease of preparation, and ability to customize them with numerous toppings and flavors. For added nutritional benefit, they can also be cooked with healthier components such as whole grains and served with fruits. However, because of their high sugar and calorie content, they must be consumed in moderation. The pancake can be consumed by every age group and can be customized according to our will.
So when are you gonna try the pancake recipe? You can create variations in the dish. We hope you will try lots of different methods of making pancakes.
But always be conscious about your health and choose ingredients. Making a dish like a pancake makes the family members more engaging with each other and ultimately enhances the family relationship. This is whole information on How To Make Pancake: Pancake Recipe.