Is there such a thing as light and fluffy whole wheat pancakes? I've been searching for a good recipe for quite some time. The many recipes I've tried, never produced stellar results. I even resorted to buying a prepackaged mix which was a bad idea, as you might have guessed. Just when I was about to give up, I stumbled upon Alton Brown's recipe. To my surprise, fully whole wheat pancakes really do exist.
Alton's recipe is straightforward and simple. No whipping egg whites. No need for five different types of flour. These pancakes were on my plate, topped with a little pat of butter and drizzled with Maine maple syrup in no time flat. I enjoyed them with an extra-hot cup of coffee...bliss.
This recipe is adapted from Alton Brown's Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes. His recipe calls for buttermilk, more sugar, more butter and more salt. The buttermilk is a great idea. But, I don't eat much dairy. If tangy-buttermilk pancakes are your thing, go ahead and use it here. The batter will be thicker with the buttermilk. I swapped it for Silk Unsweetened Coconut Milk Beverage, which keeps them on the lighter side.
His recipe also calls for whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour. Instead, I use King Arthur brand White Whole Wheat Flour which makes them incredibly light and fluffy (secret ingredient). White whole wheat flour is a lighter whole wheat flour with a milder taste. Use it as you would regular whole wheat flour in baked goods, biscuits, muffins and, of course, pancakes. If you're trying to sneak more whole grains into your family meals, try using white whole wheat flour.
A pinch of cinnamon gives them a touch of cozy warmth. Better yet, warm some maple syrup with a pinch of cinnamon for a comforting Fall-inspired breakfast. The cinnamon pairs well with the wheat flour. These pancakes are filling, providing fiber and slow burning carbs to keep you going.
I use my nonstick Scanpan for this recipe. A griddle or a well seasoned cast iron skillet is fine too.
Don't over mix the batter. Over mixing produces tough pancakes. Some smaller lumps in the batter are okay.
If you have leftovers, wrap them well with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for a few days for quick weekday breakfasts.
—Jilly Inspired
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