Tools & Tricks for Perfect Pancakes

Introduction

Pancakes are one of the oldest desserts, enjoyed in hundreds of sweet and savory variations around the world. Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner, they can be filled with fruits and honey for a healthy start, smoked salmon and cream cheese for a luxurious brunch, or spinach and mushrooms for a hearty dinner. What’s not to love about a dish that can “host” all your favorite flavors?

Crepes vs. American Pancakes

Both styles use flour, milk and eggs, poured into a pan and cooked until golden. The key difference:

• American Pancakes: Thick and fluffy, leavened with baking powder or baking soda.
• French Crepes: Thin and delicate, no raising agent used.

Global Pancake Recipes

1. French Crêpes

Made with flour, milk and eggs. Fill them sweetly (Nutella, fruit, jam) or savory (cheese & dill, smoked salmon, chicken). Vegan versions swap milk for water and omit eggs.

2. American Pancakes

Fluffy cakes flavored with baking powder, often served with berries or chocolate chips. Try these:

• Vegan American Pancakes
• Coconut & Yogurt Pancakes
• Savory Corn & Ham Pancakes

3. Russian Blinis

Traditionally made with buckwheat flour and served with sour cream or caviar. Related blintzes are rolled with cheese or fruit then fried or baked.

4. Dutch Baby (German Pancake)

Baked in a cast-iron skillet, these puff up dramatically. Top sweet with berries and yogurt or go savory.

5. Potato Pancakes

East European-style, made with grated potatoes, flour and eggs, fried until crisp.

6. Vietnamese Bánh Xèo

“Sizzling cake” made with rice flour and turmeric, filled with shrimp or pork and bean sprouts, served with fresh herbs and dipping sauce.

7. Indian Dosa

A fermented rice-and-urad-dal batter creates paper-thin crepes, crispy on the edges. Served with sambar and chutney or stuffed with spiced potatoes.

8. Moroccan Msemmen

Layered square pancakes made from wheat flour and semolina, traditionally served savory with meat dishes.

More to Explore

• Almond & Banana Flour Pancakes
• Cocoa Pancakes with Pear Cream
• Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
• Spinach Arab Pancakes
• French Crêpes with Mornay Sauce & Tuna

Essential Pancake Tools

You only need a few items: a good pan, a mixing bowl and a whisk (even optional!). A quality nonstick pan is key:

1. de Buyer Mineral B Blini Pan: Three 10 cm wells, high-grade carbon steel with a beeswax coating and nonstick interior.
2. Unold Electric Griddle (1250 W): 33 cm nonstick aluminum plate, adjustable temperature, comes with spreader and spatula.
3. Kitchen Craft Batter Dispenser: Dispense consistent pancake, muffin or waffle batter with no mess.
4. Flic-Flac Flip Spatula: Nonstick metal spatula designed for easy flipping of pancakes and omelettes.
5. Wooden Crepe Spreader: FSC-certified beech wood tool for spreading batter evenly on any pan surface.
6. Electric Pancake Maker: Nonstick plates, 14 cm rounds, adjustable browning control for perfect American pancakes.

Tips for Memorable Pancakes

• Right Pan: Use a heavy-based nonstick pan. Dedicate one pan to pancakes and simply wipe it clean between batches.
• First Ones Fail: The first pancake is often a test—use it to calibrate batter consistency and pan temperature.
• Buttermilk vs. Milk: Buttermilk (or sparkling water) makes pancakes lighter and airier by reacting with leavening agents.
• Sweet vs. Savory: Skip sugar in the batter and add black pepper or chopped chives for savory pancakes like blinis with salmon or Peking duck crepes.

Fun Facts & Curiosities

1. Paleo Pancakes: Otzi the Iceman’s last meal included einkorn flour cakes cooked on embers—an Iron Age pancake.
2. Roman Innovation: 1st c AD Romans made sweet pancakes called alita dolcia from milk, flour, eggs and spices.
3. First Published Recipe: A 15th c English cookbook features the earliest known pancake recipe.
4. World’s Largest Pancake: In 1994, a 15 m-diameter pancake was flipped by cranes in Manchester.
5. French Tradition: On February 2nd, La Chandeleur, French cooks flip crêpes while holding a coin to ensure prosperity.
6. Crêpe Suzette Accident: Flambéed crêpes Suzette were born when a waiter accidentally ignited orange-infused batter for the Prince of Wales.

Conclusion

Pancakes are far more than a simple dessert—they’re a canvas for sweet and savory creativity worldwide. We hope these recipes, tools and tips inspire you to explore new flavors and perfect your pancake craft. Let the great pancake adventure begin!