Pumpkin Pancakes – Recipe

The pumpkin pancake story/recipe – On Sunday mornings I always make a big breakfast for my family. This past Sunday I woke up craving pancakes. So, I got out of bed while the house was still nice and quiet (the kids were all still sleeping) and went to the kitchen to start the batter so everyone could wake up to the smell of pancakes. Well, to my dismay, when I went to the refrigerator to get the buttermilk, we were out. Dag-gone-it! Yes, I say Dag-gone-it (I got it from my Mom)! Anyway, I still wanted pancakes, and I didn’t have time to run to the store, nor did I want to, before the baby would be up. So, I started digging around my cabinets and came across a can of pumpkin. I love pumpkin! So, I decided to make pumpkin pancakes. I had no recipe so I just made it up as I went (this happens all the time in my kitchen)! I don’t want to sound conceded, but these are some of the best pancakes in the world, provided you like pumpkin of course! They will be a new regular at our breakfast table and may even show up at dinner. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Ingredients

3 c self – rising flour

1/4 tsp salt

3 eggs

2 1/2 c milk

4 Tbsp butter, melted

1/2 c sugar

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 can pumpkin (15 oz)

1 tsp orange zest chopped fine (optional)

Instructions
1. in a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and spice

2. in a separate, small bowl, beat the eggs a little and add the milk and beat a little more

3. melt the butter in the microwave

4. pour the egg mixture into the flour and beat until combined

5. add the butter and sugar and beat

6. add the pumpkin (and orange zest if you’re using it) and beat until combined

7. pour out 2 oz portions on a griddle heated to 300 or cook on the stove- it is easier if you use a 2 oz ladle – also make sure you use butter or cooking spray on your griddle/pan because these will stick – I use cooking spray

8. the pancakes are ready to flip when the edges start to look a little dry and bubbles are rising to the surface and popping

9. butter them as they come off the heat while they’re nice and hot so the butter melts

10. we used maple syrup on these but they would be good with others like orange

yield about 24 pancakes

*you can make your own pumpkin pie spice by combining equal amounts of nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice and half as much ground cloves

i.e. – 1 tsp nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice and 1/2 tsp ground cloves

**you can also roast your own sugar pumpkin instead of using canned, but most of us don’t have the time- especially in the morning!