Starting out as a religious holiday to honor the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, has turned into a national week long celebration (February 14 to 20 this year. To help you deliciously celebrate National Pancake Week, we’re sharing our best pancake-making tips along with three pancake recipes you can enjoy any time of day.
How to make perfect pancakes
1. Do Not Over Mix
The more you mix, the tougher your pancakes will be. This is because the gluten in the wheat flour will become overdeveloped and make the pancakes less tender. Mix until the batter is just
combined, leaving a few lumps and bumps.
2. Not too Thick…Not too Thin
Getting the perfect batter consistency is an art and a science. You want your batter to be neither too thick nor too thin. Thin batter makes thin, flat pancakes (which is okay if you prefer
crepe-like pancakes) while thick batter makes tough, doughy pancakes. Aim for a consistency in which batter coats the back of a spoon without running off. To thin batter that is too stiff, stir in
milk or water, a tablespoon at a time. To thicken batter, stir in flour a tablespoon at a time. Mixing as little as possible to avoid making your pancakes tough.
3. Hot, Hot, Hot but not too hot
To ensure your griddle is at the right temperature, pour a few drops of water on the griddle; if it sizzles, you grill is ready. You can even make a small test pancake first to determine if the
griddle temperature is right. The bottom of the pancake should brown at the same time as the air bubbles are being released on the top. If one happens without the other, the griddle is either too
hot or not hot enough.
4. Perfect Pouring
To get well-rounded pancakes, use a ladle with a measured amount of batter. Typically a 1/4-cup to 1/2-cup of batter will give you decent-sized pancakes. Using a ladle to spoon the batter onto the
griddle will help you get a nice round shape without the mess you’d get if you pour batter directly from a bowl.
5. Don’t PeEk
Yes, it’s hard to resist, but don’t flip your pancakes multiple times or keep peaking underneath to see if they are done. After you pour batter onto the griddle, you can tell if they
are finished when the air bubbles begin to pop up on the surface and the edges begin to set. Flip them, gently, one time; the second side will take 1 to 2 more minutes.
6. Serve simply or extravagantly
Be sure to serve the pancakes hot. If you are making a lot, place cooked pancakes on an oven-proof plate and place in a warm (not hot) oven. Toppings of course can vary from simple butter
and maple syrup to a more elaborate presentation with chocolate chips, fresh fruit, whipped cream and nuts.
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