Pancakes Gone Wild

By Tamipri

What's your favorite pancake house pancake? Chocolate chip? Butter-pecan? Strawberry-banana? How about "plain" blueberry? Pancakes are a wonderful launching pad for favorite your breakfast fantasies. It's easy to make a basic batter, then either stir in your favorite enhancements, or sprinkle them on top as the cakes bake. We particularly love diced crystallized ginger; toasted coconut; and chips of all flavors (cinnamon, chocolate, cappuccino...) You may think this is a rather small recipe ? only 3/4 cup of flour? ? but it's perfect for a couple, or several kids. It yields 8 fairly large (4") pancakes; or 14 smaller (2 1/2" to 3") pancakes, a very kid-friendly size.

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 2/3 c. milk
• 2 Tb. vegetable oil or melted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 c. King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 Tb. sugar or 2 tablespoons malted milk powder
• 2/3 about 2/3 c. add-ins of your choice

Preparation

Step 1

1) Whisk together the egg, milk, vegetable oil or melted butter, and vanilla.

2) Whisk together the dry ingredients, and add to the liquid ingredients, whisking briefly to combine. A few lumps are OK.

3) Set the batter aside to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes, while you preheat your electric griddle to 350�F. Or preheat a frying pan over medium heat.

4) Choose your add-ins: chocolate or flavored chips, dried fruit, fresh berries, diced apples, nuts, toasted coconut, crystallized ginger, or...?

5) To make all one type of pancake, simply stir the add-ins into the batter. Or divide the batter in half, and make two types of pancakes.

6) For a larger variety of pancakes, leave the batter plain; you'll sprinkle on the add-ins as the pancakes cook.

7) Lightly grease the griddle, and ladle on about 2 tablespoons for 2 1/2" to 3" pancakes, or 1/4 cup for 4" to 4 1/2" pancakes. A tablespoon scoop or muffin scoop, respectively, work well here.

8) If the pancakes don't spread well, due to the add-ins, simply use the back of a spoon to spread them to the desired diameter. If you haven't stirred the add-ins into the batter, now's the time: sprinkle the top of each pancake with your desired chips, nuts, fruit, etc.

9) Cook the pancakes for about 1 minute, 15 seconds per side, or until they're a light golden brown on both sides.

10) Serve the pancakes warm, with syrup or confectioners' sugar.