During the summer there are classic dishes that make us all feel like the warm, leisurely season has finally arrived: hamburgers, potato salad, berry pies. Around our house, slow summer mornings mean pancakes. And while blueberries and the occasional chocolate chip pancakes are wonderful, there are dozens of exciting pancake variations and mix-ins that beckon.
Mark Bittman just wrote a piece on Whole-Grain Pancakes exploring different grains and flours, and I've kept it up on my browser for days, staring at each fluffy pancake with longing. Bulgar Ricotta Pancakes? Flapjacks laced with cardamom and oats? These are not your grandmother's pancakes, but they're innovative and exciting for their use of mix-ins and spices that we don't typically associate with an adored American breakfast. After reading Bittman's piece, I started talking to family members and asking them about their favorite pancake recipes. Below are their suggestions.
7 Awesome Pancake Mix-Ins
1. Lemon Zest: These Sour Cream Pancakes (pictured above) are a relatively classic recipe, but the grated citrus zest adds a special brightness that make them quite memorable.
2. Oatmeal: Smitten Kitchen's Oatmeal Pancakes rely on oat flour and cooked oats for a hearty and heart-healthy morning flapjack.
3. Nuts & Seeds A little crunch goes a long way, and 101 Cookbooks' Poppy Seed Pancakes are a testament to that. Made with buttermilk, poppy seeds and sunflower seeds, they're fluffy yet toothsome at the same time.
4. Pine Nuts: What caught my attention in Bittman's article more than anything were these
5. Coconut: These Coconut Pancakes by Cookie and Kate utilize not just shredded coconut but coconut water as well!
6. Bacon: I know, I know. Bacon in baked goods is a trend that a few of you are excited to put behind you, while others are holding on for dear life. For all of you folks in the latter category, bacon in pancakes is a pretty big deal. And these Maple Bacon Pancakes from Serious Eats are a fine place to begin.
7. Herbs: Pancakes have a reputation as a sweeter breakfast, drizzled with syrup or jam and served with fruits or honey. But they're quite wonderful savory, too. These filled pancakes from Food 52 boast greens, garlic and herbs and are certainly a departure from more traditional breakfast fare, but in a most intriguing way.
What are your favorite pancake mix-ins? What's your go-to recipe?
Related: Breakfast Recipe: The BEST Pancakes Ever!
(Image: Megan Gordon)
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URL: 10 mix ins
List title:"10 Awesome Pancake Mix-Ins"
Post title and actual list: 7 mix-ins.
Somebody get over-ambitious?
Here's a few more to round out the list
* Wheat germ.
* Greek yogurt
* Blueberries. Yeah, I know it's traditional and boring compared to "bulgar ricotta pancakes", but blueberry pancakes are delicious and credit must be given to the classics.
Blueberry cornmeal pancakes are especially delicious.
Red Currants! (like using cranberries or blueberries)
Oh, yum...God, I love pancakes. I love maple syrup even more.
I think I was Canadian in a former life.
My husband wants plain ol' pancakes but my son and I are big fans of these banana pancakes: http://www.parenting.com/article/whole-wheat-banana-pancakes-berry-sauce?cid=searchresult
Mix in shredded up apples (any variety). The flavor isn't really noticeable, but it makes the moistest, thickest, richest pancakes ever. I don't really like wheat or oat pancakes, but with apples mixed in, I don't even care about syrup.
A great add in is cookie crumbs. Years ago I worked at a fishing resort where the chef got oodles of compliments on the pancakes with this secret ingredient.
I always put in a little bit of lemon juice (makes them fluffy) and a dash of vanilla extract!
I'm sure that I'll catch some flak for this, but my pancake-making ritual goes something like this:
Remove the Aunt Jemima Complete pancake mix from the cabinet.
Investigate the refrigerator and/or fruit bowl for any potential mix ins.
Improvise.
Despite their "just add water!" claims, I've added greek yogurt, sour cream, milk, oil, applesauce, oatmeal and a variety of fruits and nuts with great success. I just like having the base already prepared, it lets me to be more creative (and lazy).
Tart cherry jam. So delicious!
Whole grain pumpkin with mini chocolate chips and flax seed from No Whine with Dinner--my kids eat them out of hand like a muffin and beg to take them in their lunchbox. I freeze stacks and stacks of them to pull out on busy mornings, 30 seconds in the microwave and breakfast is ready.
My second favorite is the oatmeal pancake mix recipe in the King Arthur Baker Companion cookbook, a large jar of it lives in the back of my fridge for mornings that aren't as frantic.