Pancakes a la gingerbread

Yield: about 14 pancakes

Whether you call them flapjacks, griddlecakes, hotcakes, or pancakes…you will call these delicious!

When our son, Zach, was about 5…he expressed how much he loved pancakes. And, I enjoyed making them for him. However, I quickly tired of the “traditional” pancake. So, I started scouring my cookbooks, not sure if I would find any fun variation on the classic ‘cake. I was shocked to find so many different recipes. So, I messed around a bit with one (provenance, “1,000 Vegetarian Recipes”), and this one turned out to be a favorite. When you serve these around Thanksgiving or Christmas, they are even more fun.

So light and fluffy…who needs a restaurant when you can crank these babies out!

1 1/4 c. unbleached, all-purpose flour

3/4 c. whole wheat flour (store in gallon zip-top bag in the freezer if you don’t use very often)

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. Kosher salt

2 Tbsp. firmly packed brown sugar

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

3 egg whites

1 1/2 c. nonfat milk

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

*Preheat griddle to 375 (a nonstick griddle will quickly pay for itself, cost about $20, SO much easier than using a skillet)

In large bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour through ground cloves). Mix with wire whisk to combine well.

In medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients (wet ingredients—egg whites through vanilla extract).

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients (doing the opposite doesn’t work as well).

Mix well with wire whisk. Let stand about 5 minutes (results in a fluffier pancake).

Place about 1/4 c. of batter on griddle. Turn with slotted turner when bubbles appear on surface of pancake.

**These freeze very well. Separate layers of pancakes with waxed paper. Place in gallon zip-top bag.

To use, simply place bag in fridge overnight. Remove from bag & remove wax paper, place on micro safe plate, heat through. You can also do this with frozen pancakes, prying apart the layers to remove wax paper. If you can’t get them apart, micro for about 30 seconds until pliable.

Enjoy.