Oatmeal Pancakes
If you want a much better history and description of these treasures, click over to Orangette. I'm just here to testify.
My testimonial: regular buttermilk pancakes don't tempt me anymore. They're so...what's the word? Oatmeal-less. Disappointingly fluffy. I'm always after texture--crunchy, chewy, crispy, toothsome. My default pancakes don't have any butter in them, though you'd never know it. These have a whole cube. Is that a plus or a minus? And I love how they get all lacy around the edges and beautifully golden all over.
Here's the fine print, though--you have to start them the night before. But wait! Don't close your browser! Just throw two cups of old-fashioned oats in a bowl, add two cups of buttermilk, stir and cover, put in the fridge. The next morning, add a bit of flour, melted butter, leavening and eggs. 2 minutes. And who are we kidding? Like I don't start thinking about the next day's breakfast right after dinner is over.
One of the things I love about pancakes is that you can have that industrious, Prairie Home Companion feeling of making something from scratch without too much effort. I don't know if you've noticed, but I haven't been churning out a bunch of creative meals lately. Toast for breakfast, cottage cheese and crackers for lunch, burritos for dinner. I don't feel bad about it, especially when I think of these pancakes, just waiting to fortify us again.
Oatmeal Pancakes
Lifted straight off Orangette. These have frozen blueberries in them, which I didn't stir into the batter, but dropped one-by-one onto the cooking pancakes before I flipped them.
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups buttermilk
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. table salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted but not hot
Vegetable oil or spray, for greasing the pan
Maple syrup, for serving
The night before:
Combine the oats and buttermilk in a medium bowl. Stir to mix. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
The morning of:
Take the bowl of buttermilk and oats out of the fridge. Set aside.
In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Add the eggs and melted butter to the oat mixture, and stir well. Add the flour mixture, and stir to blend. The batter will be very thick.
Warm a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat, and brush (or spray) with vegetable oil. To make sure it’s hot enough, wet your fingers under the tap and sprinkle a few droplets of water onto the pan. If they sizzle, it’s ready. Scoop the batter, about a scant ¼ cup at a time, onto the pan, taking care not to crowd them. When the underside is nicely browned and the top looks set around the edges, flip the pancakes. Cook until the second side has browned.
Re-grease the skillet, and repeat with more batter. If you find that the pancakes are browning too quickly, dial the heat back to medium.
Serve hot, with maple syrup.
Yield: about 12 pancakes, or 3 to 4 servings
March 12, 2010
Reader Comments (16)
I'm in a pancake phase. But I'm not sure I'm organized enough to predict my pancake craving 12 hours earlier. Will ruminate on this most important life question and return with answer.
This is eerie - I had the NYT oatmeal pancakes recipe (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/health/nutrition/10recipehealth.html?_r=1&em) open in another browser window; I'm planning to make them tonight or tomorrow. This seals the deal. And I am SO with you on feeling uncreative re: meals lately. I'm sitting here w/ my grocery list, planning dinners for the week ahead, and coming up with nothin'. Or at least nothing I feel like making.
does the oatmeal and buttermilk component need to be at room temp before you mix the rest of the ingredients with it or it doesn't matter?
ha!
yum! Ricky and I were just talking about pancakes this morning.
Funny you should post this! I have had this recipe from Orangette printed out and just waiting to be made for over a month now! YUMMM, thanks for the nudge:)
I am all about hearty 'cakes - no fluffy white discs for me please. And who are we kidding, don't all foodies think about their next meal during the one they are in the middle of eating : )
we had waffles today. i have been putting flaxmeal in all pancakes/waffles lately and it makes them so nutty and yummy. these sound delicious.
Made 'em last night/this morning. Awesome. Even the little guy ate it up. Thanks!
Love the pot holder ..... and the shout-out to Prairie Home Companion! I proudly share the same Alma Mater as Garisson Keillor - The University of Minnesota :)
Also, great post about the pancakes. Ditto about having breakfast thoughts the night before.
While I love my fluffy pancakes, I think I'll give yours (or Molly's!) a shot - thanks! :D
Fluffy pancake convert! Ok these made the best St Patrick's day dinner yet.
Used the leftover pancake batter for dinner. Made the oatcakes, and topped them with sauted leeks,cabbage,and kale, and smothered them with a watercress Cashel blue cheese sauce.
To die for.
Okay.....these are the BEST pancakes ever!!!! My husband loved them and said he like the texture and "bite" of the oats the best.
I failed to recognize that I would want to make these for breakfast /brunch 12 hours earlier so I thought , well, i wonder if I could just microwave the oats and buttermilk for few minutes on low and then let them sit for another 15 minutes or so. It worked!!
They turned out soft, with a bite/tooth to them but everyone thought they were great! I...and I loved the lacy texture when they were cooked on the griddle. You're right though...no crowding 'cause these babies spread!! So, I have also tried them with adding a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese to the batter to add extra protein- also yummy and gooey! Thanks again!!
Ooh...good idea with the cottage cheese...
I think these would be delicious with chocolate chips as well! I would be willing to bet that they work just fine in this recipe.. even mixing them in. My daughter won't do blueberry anything (She gets that from her dad I'm sure) so I'll have to try the chocolate chips. I'm so happy to see a new oatmeal pancake recipe!
-Sylvia
Made these....so delicious! Had to add cinnamon - just because...tasted like a bowl of oatmeal. My kids loved them!