Pancakes and hotcakes

Ingredients

• 240 gplain flour
• 15 ml (3 tsp)baking powder
• 100 gsugar
• 1.25 ml (¼ tsp)sea salt
• 1egg
• 350 mlmilk, any type
• 2.5 ml (½ tsp)vanilla essence
• to tastebutter, for cooking
• to tastesyrup or honey
• to tastefruit

Instructions

1. 1

   Blend the batter

   Blend all the ingredients until you have a smooth batter.

2. 2

   Heat the pan

   Preheat a non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat and add a little butter.

3. 3

   Cook the pancakes

   Pour in some batter and cook for 1–2 minutes, until bubbles form and burst on the surface. Flip and cook for 1 minute on the other side.

4. 4

   Serve with toppings

   Serve with syrup or honey and fruit.

What are pancakes and hotcakes?

Pancakes, also called hotcakes, are flat cakes cooked in a pan and commonly served for breakfast in the United States. This version uses a simple, lightly sweetened batter flavoured with vanilla.

Baking powder helps the pancakes rise as they cook, while the moderate heat gives them time to set and turn golden. Syrup or honey and fruit make an easy finish.

Nutrition and macros by portion

The nutrition label shows one serving as written: 387 calories, 10g protein, 71g carbs, 7g fat.

Most of the carbohydrates come from the flour and sugar, while the milk and egg contribute protein and the egg, milk and cooking butter provide fat. The syrup or honey adds more carbohydrates, so serve with fruit and choose the topping amount to suit your plate.

Choosing the ingredients

Plain flour: use flour without raising agents, as the recipe supplies its own baking powder. This keeps the leavening amount controlled.

Milk and egg: the egg helps bind the batter, while milk loosens it enough to pour. The recipe allows any type of milk.

Getting a smooth batter

Blending: mix all the ingredients until the batter is smooth, as directed. Stop once there are no obvious dry patches rather than blending longer than needed.

Cooking over gentle heat

Pan temperature: medium-low heat gives the centre time to cook before the outside becomes too dark. Add a little butter to the preheated non-stick pan.

Batch size: pour in enough batter for each pancake without filling the pan edge to edge. This leaves room to flip them neatly.

When to flip

Surface cues: cook for 1–2 minutes, watching for bubbles to form and burst across the top. That is the recipe’s cue to turn the pancake.

Second side: cook for 1 minute after flipping. The pancake should be cooked through and lightly golden.

Serving ideas

Toppings: serve the pancakes warm with syrup or honey and fruit. Add the toppings just before eating so the pancakes do not sit under the syrup for long.

On the side: fresh fruit works well alongside the sweet topping and gives the plate a fresh contrast.

Recipe notes & tips

• Measure the baking powder carefully so the pancakes rise without a strong aftertaste.
• Use medium-low heat rather than rushing the cooking over a hot pan.
• Wait for bubbles to form and burst before flipping each pancake.
• Add only a little butter to the pan between batches.
• Serve the pancakes as soon as they are cooked for the best texture.

Variations

• Citrus note: add a little finely grated lemon or orange zest to the batter.
• Spiced batter: mix a pinch of cinnamon into the dry ingredients.
• Berry topping: serve with fresh berries in place of other fruit.
• Honey finish: use honey instead of syrup for the topping.
• Different milk: use your preferred type of milk, as the recipe allows.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Pan too hot: the outside can brown before the centre cooks; keep the heat at medium-low.
• Flipping too soon: wait until bubbles form and burst on the surface.
• Overcooking the second side: follow the 1-minute cooking time after turning.
• Too much butter: use only a little so the pancakes cook rather than fry in excess fat.
• Letting cooked pancakes sit: serve them warm to preserve their soft texture.

How to store

Refrigerate leftover pancakes in a covered container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a frying pan over a low heat or in the microwave until warmed through; keep toppings separate until serving.

Frequently asked questions