Question about pancakes

[KS Toronado]

One local cafe has the best pancakes in town, and I've always wondered if it's the mix they use
or if they substitute the water for a certain milk?

Been a long time since I've made them and would like my next batch to rival the best in town.

Any good/great recipes would be appreciated. Thanks

[Mr.Bill]

1. Use club soda instead of plain water.

It fluffs up the pancakes.

[jpak]

2. I use buttermilk

Yum

[yellowdogintexas]

3. buttermilk is the key to pancakes and biscuits.

Also makes a good cake.

[chowmama]

4. What do you like about them?

Are they light and fluffy? Nutty? Sweeter vs a bit tangy? Additions like cornmeal?

[intrepidity]

5. I've heard about adding beaten egg whites

to make them fluffy?

[Warpy]

8. Tried that one, it didn't work any better than buttermilk

Powdered buttermilk is available, keeps well in the fridge, and works just fine if you don't keep buttermilk around for salad dressings.

[Tetrachloride]

6. Goat milk ?

[trof]

16. Yak milk

[elleng]

7. Add yogurt!

Noticed it @ a wedding buffet years ago, pancake chef had been doing it for years, do Dad added it to his recipe.

[niyad]

9. Club soda, and let the batter rest at least half an hour to an hour. I usually

prepare the batter the night before, so it is ready to go when I am.

[hippywife]

10. I use this recipe:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/21014/good-old-fashioned-pancakes/

but...I replace part of the milk with plain Greek yogurt and add about a teaspoon of vanilla. If after mixing it all together you leave it set for about 5 minutes, you'll come back to find the yogurt and baking soda have reacted together to make the batter bubbly. This makes for really fluffy pancakes with a great flavor.

I also usually use veg oil in place of the butter, just because it's easier, but mostly because I forget I need to melt butter first before pulling it all together.

Have you asked the restaurant if they use a mix or make them from scratch? They might be willing to share their secrets with you.

[MOMFUDSKI]

11. One suggestion is

make the batter using buttermilk and just the yolks called for. Beat the whites and then fold them into the batter right before frying them. They are fluffy and light. Also, let the batter sit for the half hour before adding the whites. Happy flapjacks to all!

[Major Nikon]

12. There's all sorts of ways to make pancakes

My favorite is rye sourdough pancakes.

If you like lighter, fluffier pancakes the key is lower protein content flour such as White Lily A/P, or cake flour, or pastry flour all of which have a lower protein content which will make them lighter. Fluffier means you'll need additional leavening. The easiest way to do this is to add more baking powder, but make sure your backing powder is fresh as it has a limited shelf life. In addition to the baking powder, you can add baking soda and some sort of acid like buttermilk. Provided you're using dual action backing powder you'll get an initial rise out of the first CO2 produced by the acid and base, and then an additional rise when the batter heats up and the baking powder is activated.

A basic pancake recipe lends itself well to adding all sorts of flavor elements like vanilla or other extracts, mashed banana, nutmeg, applesauce, etc.

[pansypoo53219]

13. we discovered aunt jemima or whatever it is now is better than hungry jack my grandpa always made.

always get the stuff you need to add stuff. tho i way prefer MY french TOAST. thin italian bread. more milk than egg. cousin got me on cardamom. some vanilla.

[AKwannabe]

14. One way I learned to do great cakes from a restaurant is

Add sugar and vanilla and one extra egg to your basic water only mix.

Fluffier more flavorful batter and cakes.

[dem in texas]

15. i used self-rising flour

usually 2 cup, a little salad oil, one beaten egg and milk, less milk, thicker pancakes.

haven't made any pancakes since my sweet old dog passed away. She would start licking her chops when I made pancakes. of course, I would make one for her - but no syrup on hers.

also like buckwheat pancakes, always make them from a mix.