Friday, March 11, 2011

Pumpkin Pancakes with Buttermilk Caramel Syrup and Toasted Hazelnuts

Looking for the perfect pumpkin pancake recipe? I was, too. I tried about a gazillion versions before I came up with this one of my own. They’re so good; even better topped with caramel syrup and hazelnuts toasted to perfection.
pumpkin pancakes

Pumpkin frickin’ pancakes. I’ve been trying to perfect the recipe for years.
Last year, I probably made ‘em a dozen times – they were decent, even good, but none were the perfect pumpkin pancake.
This year, I thought I’d be starting the process all over again, when lo and behold – the very first version I concocted were fabulous! So either I completely lucked out, or my standards have lowered greatly.
Either way, I think you’ll love these delicious-spiced pumpkin pancakes that taste just like Fall is supposed to – with just plain old maple syrup, or made truly decadent with Buttermilk Caramel Syrup and toasted hazelnuts.
Please pass the Stairmaster.
Here’s the recipe!

Pumpkin Pancakes with Buttermilk Caramel Syrup and Toasted Hazelnuts

Yield: About 10 four-inch pancakes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup hazelnuts

Pancakes:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour (substitute another cup of all-purpose flour if you want)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 2/3 cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 batch Buttermilk Caramel Syrup (aka Buttermilk Caramel Sauce)

Directions:

  1. Spread the hazelnuts on a cookie sheet, and toast at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until fragrant and toasty brown. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the flours, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.Microplane zester + whole nutmeg. Add these to your Christmas list now – you need them in your life.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, pumpkin, vanilla, and melted butter.
  4. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix just until incorporated, being careful not to overmix.
  5. Make the pancakes! Using a 1/3 cup measure, pour the batter onto a buttered griddle or into a large frying pan. They’re ready to flip when they start to look a little dry around the edges, and the edges are starting to form little bubbles. Cook on both sides until cooked through.
  6. Top with butter and Buttermilk Caramel Syrup, then sprinkle with ten or so hazelnuts per serving. And enjoy!

No comments:

Post a Comment