Today I woke up craving vanilla. The next thought was vanilla pancakes. What better way to start your day than with a cup of warm coffee and a stack of fluffy vanilla-flavored pancakes? The only problem was, I couldn’t decide which vanilla pancake recipe to make. There are so many options to include this flavor in your flapjacks, from a simple addition of vanilla extract into the batter to lavish sauces and frostings.
In the end, I realized I was running late for work so I made my favorite easy pancake recipe and topped it with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream. A little over the top for a breakfast treat? Told you I woke up craving. The point is that whatever vanilla pancake recipe you decide to make, you can be sure it will be absolutely fragrant and delicious.
Why Include Vanilla in Your Pancake Recipes
In my defense, ice cream is not my regular breakfast choice. In fact, I take great care of what I eat. And I know how good vanilla is for me.
Vanilla extract does not only have an incredibly pleasant aroma and taste, but it also offers a lot of health benefits, all this with a low-calorie impact! However, this only counts if the extract you add to your pancake recipes is pure. So, check the label before buying. Pure vanilla extract might be slightly more expensive than the regular one but considering that it is added in small amounts, it is a great investment.
Here is what pure vanilla extract does for you:
– Acts as an antioxidant and protects you from diseases;
– Has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties;
– Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety;
– Lowers bad cholesterol levels.
Homemade Pure Vanilla Extract for Your Pancake Recipes
To make sure your flapjacks are delicious and healthy every time, make your own vanilla extract.
You need:
6–9 vanilla beans
1 cup alcoholic beverage with about 35% alcohol content (bourbon, vodka, brandy, or rum)
A large amount of patience ?
Slice each bean lengthwise and cut into smaller pieces. Put the beans in a tall glass jar and pour the alcohol to submerge them.
Place in a dark spot at room temperature, and wait for about 8 weeks to mature. Gently shake the mixture once a week.
Vanilla Pancake Recipe with Vanilla Maple Syrup YUM!
Making vanilla-scented flapjacks is a no brainer – simply add from ½ to 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract into the batter of any pancake recipe you make. I have found that 1 ½ teaspoon is my ideal measure.
However, I recommend that you ditch white refined sugar and sweeten your hotcakes with pure honey or maple syrup. They will remain fluffy and tasty, but will be much less caloric.
As for the vanilla topping, I couldn’t decide which one to share, so I decided to go with the simplest option.
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons orange zest
Heat the maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until warm (don’t boil). Remove from heat and stir the vanilla extract and orange zest. Pour on top of your pancake stack and enjoy!
Leave a Reply