There is comfort in ritual. It can be anything, big or small.
For us, it’s pancakes on Saturday morning. I know a lot of families that share this ritual, but for us it is a big one. We don’t miss them, not even our summer vacations get in the way of pancake Saturdays. I just take the ingredients with us. There is really nothing like sitting outside, eating warm pancakes, listening to the wind blow through the evergreens, with the mountains as your morning view.
This recipe is very simple. No eggs. No buttermilk. Yet they are fluffy, light and not overly sweet. I usually double the recipe as the boys will eat them cold as snacks or we’ll do a reheat of the leftovers Sunday morning for Samuel (he’s the only one that likes leftovers). I make each boy their pancake of request as they are cooking on the griddle. The most popular is chocolate chips. I love blueberries and Bret likes his plain.
Pancakes
adapted from ‘The Joy of Vegan Baking’
yields 8-10 pancakes (this is never enough so I usually double the recipe)
1 cup whole wheat pasty flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup nondairy milk
2 tablespoons melted nondairy butter or safflower oil (or any vegetable oil)
3 tablespoons maple syrup or freshly squeezed orange juice
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine the milk, oil (or butter) and sweetener.
Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and mix just until moistened; a few lumps are okay. Over-mixing makes for tough pancakes.
Heat a nonstick griddle over medium -high heat (I set mine at 325 degrees).
Pour the batter onto the heated griddle, about a 1/4 cup each. Add any berries, chocolate chips or nuts to each pancake at this point. Cook the pancakes for a couple of minutes until bubbles appear on the surface. Slide a spatula under the pancake and flip it over. Cook the pancakes on the other side for another 2 minutes or until golden brown.
Many times rituals are the building blocks for memories. I hope someday, when my boys are all grown, they’ll fondly remember Saturday morning pancakes. I know I will.
Easter Blessings friends! Have a wonderful weekend!
Alison
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10 comments
Thank you for this delicious recipe! I have been looking for a good whole wheat, vegan pancake recipe. We had tried a few recipes that were okay, but these were SO good. Made them for my daughters and nieces this morning – some blueberry, some chocolate chip. They devoured them!
Thanks Amy! I’m so glad you all liked them!
These look absolutely delicious! I just stumbled upon your lovely blog the other day– it is gorgeous! The pictures, the words, the moments. Growing up, it was my dad’s job on Saturday mornings to make us pancakes too. As they cooked, he would carve into them and create shapes; the best was a hummingbird! It’s so great that your family shares this ritual as well. It makes for some amazing memories.
Thanks Sarah! It sounds like you had some amazing pancakes growing up. A hummingbird? Wow!
These look so good! I love the pictures, the one of your son is beautiful!
Thanks Elise!
Sounds great! (the recipe AND the ritual)
Wondering, though, does the wheat flour need to be pastry flour?
No, it wouldn’t have to be. You could use whole wheat, they just might be a little more dense. AP flour would work too or you could even do half/half of each.
I love your blog. good luck and I’m sure that your boys will be more than happy to read it in 10 years or so!
Thank you!