Recipe: Fluffy American-Style Pancakes

Every February/March we celebrate Pancake Day! It’s a delicious time of year where it’s acceptable (obligatory even) to stuff yourself with enough food to send you into a contented nap/food coma.

American Pancake Ingredients

• 4 cups sifted flour
• 4 tablespoons baking powder
• 4 cups milk, warm
• ¾ cup butter, melted
• 3 egg yolks
• 4 egg whites

The Method

Step 1: Mix together the flour (sieving it into the bowl) and baking powder in a bowl.

Step 2: In a different bowl, combine the butter, milk and egg yolks.

Step 3: In a third bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form – it’s advisable to use a a hand or stand mixer at this point to get the right consistency. Using a normal whisk will take quite some time and will leave you with a very tired wrist.

Step 4: Combine the bowl of flour and the butter/milk mixture. Stir well until fully combined and smooth. Then slowly fold in the egg whites.

Step 5: Pour a large scoop of your pancake batter into a nonstick pan on a low heat and put the lid on top, leaving to cook for 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 6: Serve your American-style pancakes with maple syrup and a selection of berries.

Step 7: Put your feet up and enjoy that nap ????

History of Pancake Day

Have you every wondered where Pancake Day came from? This delicious day is actually called Shrove Tuesday which is a traditional day of feasting before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the 40 days leading up to Easter which was a time of fasting.

Shrove Tuesday presented a last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before the fast, so pancakes were the perfect solution. Pancakes themselves can be dated as far back as 1439 in recipe books.