How to Make the Best Pancakes

Pancakes are THE ultimate comfort food. No one can be unhappy with a big, old plate of pancakes sitting in front of them. Think about it, have you ever seen anyone crying or frowning while eating pancakes? Be honest! And no matter what stage of life you are in, pancakes can provide the backdrop of wonderful memories of warmth and love.

So, what exactly is a pancake? A pancake (or hotcake, griddlecake, or flapjack) is a flat cake, often thin and round, prepared from a starch-based batter that may contain eggs, milk and butter and cooked on a hot surface such as a griddle or frying pan, often frying with oil or butter. It is a type of batter bread. Served with butter and covered with your choice of syrups or fresh fruit and often topped with whipped cream, they are more of a dessert than a meal. Often infused with fruits and nuts, they are a great way to express your culinary creativity.

My mother worked full-time, and the weekends would be the time that she would take the time to make big breakfasts which always included pancakes. Dripping with Aunt Jemima(TR)syrup and swimming in melted butter, sitting beside a couple of sausage links pancakes were the perfect love feast for me as a child.

Her sister, my aunt, liked to make pancakes smothered in strawberries and whipped cream. And if there were no strawberries, then it would be blueberry pancakes. And in the coolness of winter when fresh fruit was not available - you got it - chocolate chip pancakes! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! And my heart is smiling from all of the good memories.

And then when I got married, my now ex-husband would make pancakes and serve them to me in bed. There were a lot of problems in the marriage, but one thing I will always give him credit for - he made the best pancakes ever! They were light, fluffy and had a wonderful flavor. We lived in New England, so they were always served with real Vermont maple syrup and real butter. And I truly hope for his new wife's sake, that he has continued to make these delectable, mouth-watering treats.

And fortunately, for me, he passed this ability onto his youngest daughter, Hilary, who can not only make the best pancakes, but she also makes the best latkes ever! And what Mother's or Father's Day is complete without pancakes? It's traditional. You must have pancakes on those mornings!

So even though I am not the "official" pancake maker in my family, here are some tips I have picked up and learned from the experts in my life:

As with all baking, and making pancakes is baking - even though it is done on the stovetop, is that you MUST measure ingredients carefully. Baking is a mixture of art and science, and being precise is very important. Take the time to accurately measure the ingredients by lightly spooning the flour into a measuring cup, to carefully leveling it off with the back of a knife. Follow your recipe very carefully and precisely. Don't rush it, and don't be sloppy and careless.

Never ever overbeat the batter. The more delicately you treat the batter; the more delicate your pancakes will be.

Julie O’Hara 2001

- Julie O'Hara 2023

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