Pancakes are a popular dish worldwide, with regional varieties ranging from subtle English pancakes to thick American breakfast pancakes. To make pancakes, start with a basic batter of eggs, milk, and flour, and add variations for different styles. Cook in a skillet or griddle with a small amount of oil, and serve with traditional toppings like sugar and lemon juice or butter and maple syrup.
Pancakes are a popular part of local cuisine all over the world. Some regional varieties are very subtle such as English pancakes or French crepes. Other varieties are thicker like American or Canadian breakfast pancakes. When you make pancakes, you will most likely start with eggs, milk and flour. American-style pancakes sometimes use buttermilk and usually use a leavening agent, such as baking powder, for thicker, fluffier pancakes.
To make pancakes you can start with a traditional English pancake recipe and learn variations to change your pancakes to different parts of the world. First, sift together ½ cup (100 g) flour with a pinch of optional salt. Add an egg and beat well. Continue adding ½ cup (300 mL) of milk a little at a time and mixing to make a smooth, creamy batter.
Next, heat a small amount of oil in a skillet or griddle over medium to medium heat. Pan and griddle sizes vary, so you need to use your own judgment for an oil measurement. There should be just enough oil to keep the pancake from sticking. Too much oil makes for greasy pancakes.
Pour enough batter to barely cover the base of a skillet or similar size on a griddle. Cook for a couple of minutes and then flip. Once the pancake is flipped, let it cook for about another minute until well browned. English pancakes are traditionally served with sugar and lemon juice; however, they can be topped with syrup or jam.
French crepes are made by adding one teaspoon (5 mL) of sugar and one tablespoon (15 mL) of melted butter to the English pancake. Cooks the same way as an English pancake, but take extra care to pour the batter as thinly as possible. When the crepe is done cooking, serve it with fruit, chocolate sauce and/or ice cream. Finish serving by dusting with icing sugar.
When you make American or Canadian-style pancakes, also called flapjacks or hotcakes, the ratio of flour, egg, and milk changes causing the pancakes to come out thicker. Start by sifting one cup (200g) of flour with a pinch of salt (optional) and two teaspoons (10ml) of baking powder. Add an egg and beat well. To finish the dough, slowly add one cup (600 mL) of milk to the dough and mix until smooth. To make extra thick and fluffy pancakes, you can substitute buttermilk. Again, pour the batter into a heated, oiled skillet or pour more cakes onto a griddle. Cook a few minutes on each side until golden brown.
When North Americans make pancakes, they’re traditionally served with butter and maple syrup. However, blueberry and raspberry syrups are also popular. To enjoy a different flavor when making pancakes, you can add fresh berries or chocolate chips.
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