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The Pancake Princess

The Pancake Princess

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Pancake Fridays: Whole Wheat Pear and Chocolate Pancakes

by erika

I say the word “literally” a lot.

Even (or especially) when I don’t mean it.

Pancakes are LITERALLY the best thing ever (wrong, vacation is), that’s LITERALLY the most rank thing I’ve ever tasted (nope, I probably haven’t tasted anything that bad yet), that is LITERALLY the best blog ever (no way. I could never choose!)

So if I said these were LITERALLY the best pancakes I’ve ever made, you probably wouldn’t believe me.

But if there’s one thing being an English major taught me, it’s the power of words to create an effect. You can spend a bunch of time searching for just the right word, or you can throw out a bunch in hopes of creating the right effect of what you want to convey. So if you’re getting the sense that I was a really, really big fan of these pancakes…well. Literary devices at work!

Over the weekend, Erik and I went to get late night food for the first time in a long time. 59 Diner is one of the staple late night food hang outs in Houston and long ago, I’d once had a near-perfect waffle there. This past Saturday night/Sunday morning, I got the pancakes. Whole wheat, because I was in the mood.

When the waiter set the large stack of three perfectly thick and lightly brown pancakes in front of me, he said, “you can’t eat three pancakes” with a little grin. Erik and I giggled after he left. Obviously the waiter had never seen me go to town on pancakes. They were fluffy, but not even close to the best. I left craving whole wheat pancakes anew. And after making Smitten Kitchen’s phenomenalย roasted pear and chocolate scones…there was to be no argument about what flavor pancake I was making next.

These pancakes will make you feel like whole wheat, pear and chocolate were made to go together. I feel like I refer to pancakes are blankets all the time, but really. This batter is tender and fluffy and wheat-y, the perfectly blanket to barely hold together toothsome chunks of cinnamon-spiced pears and pockets of melting chocolate. This is a great fall recipe to add to your repertoire, made even better with a generous pat of butter or a drizzle of honey…or duh, both! ๐Ÿ™‚

Notes

I made half a batch with leftover roasted pears from the scones and half with sauteed pears, as directed below. I didn’t detect a huge taste difference, but if you have the oven on anyway, you can roast the pears at 375 F for 20 minutes until slightly dry to the touch. Deb recommends using “firmish” pears in her scones, and I think those are best in these pancakes. If you use ripe pears, they’ll be too juicy to hold together well in the pancakes. The pears in the finished pancakes will have a tender texture but slight crunch, like baked apples.

You can use any combination of flour, but I really like the whole wheat. Next time, I would make them using all whole wheat.

If you really like cinnamon, I might up the cinnamon to 3/4 to 1 teaspoon since the cinnamon flavor is very subtle.

Whole Wheat Pear and Chocolate Pancakes
Pancake base loosely based on Bake. Eat. Repeat.

1 teaspoon butter
1.5 to 2 cups pear, diced into 1/2″ chunks (about 1 large pear)

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + more for sprinkling
1 egg, separated
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup buttermilk (I used 1 cup almond breeze + 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar)
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped chocolate (preferably dark or bittersweet, but semisweet works) or chocolate chips
Canola, olive, butter or other neutral oil for greasing the pan

Heat a griddle over medium heat and add butter. While pan is heating, whisk together flours, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon in a large bowl. When butter is hot, add the diced pear and sprinkle with cinnamon. Saute for 3-5 minutes until pears have softened, but are not falling apart. Set aside to cool. Wipe out the pan–you will be cooking pancakes in it, so no need to clean all the way.

In another medium bowl, whisk together egg yolk, oil, “buttermilk” and milk. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir until barely combined. Fold in sauteed pear and chopped chocolate. Add theย egg white and stir until it is mostly combined–lumps are good.

Lightly grease the pan and set over medium heat for a minute or two. Pour batter into the preheated pan using a quarter cup measure. Cook until bubbles start to appear on the exposed surface of the pancake and the surface starts to appear taut, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side for another 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.

Keep finished pancakes warm in a single layer on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 200 degrees or serve immediately with butter and honey!

See my other Pancake Fridays!

Pancake Fridays: Cornbread Pancakes
Pancake Fridays: Peanut Butter Carrot Pancakes
Pancake Fridays: Pumpkin Pancakes
Pancake Fridays: Tarte Tatin Pancakes
Pancake Fridays: Tres Leches Pancakes

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Comments

  1. Erica

    August 7, 2013 at 4:26 pm

    Oh yum! Chocolate and pears are such a luxurious flavor combination. Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. Sockmonkeys Kitchen

    April 11, 2013 at 10:06 am

    Ohmyohmy! If only these could be delivered to my work desk right now! They look and sound spectacular!
    What is it about pancakes that they can literally take away all your worries? ๐Ÿ˜‰ True comfort food, at it’s finest.
    PS: what a beautiful blog – am your newest follower =0)

  3. Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen

    November 5, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    Wow these pancakes look so delish ๐Ÿ˜€ Can you come over and make me some pleeassee haha

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 10:06 pm

      Lol for sure! It’s not like I have an abundance of pancakes on my hands every week or anything… ๐Ÿ™‚ I love sharing the love lol. And my hometown is also actually in the Bay Area! Totally feasible when I’m home on break ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. alisonamazed

    November 5, 2012 at 5:00 am

    They look and sound amazing! I must try them.

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:33 am

      They totally are! And I loved that the whole wheat was a healthy-ish twist that totally worked with this fruit/chocolate combo!

      • alisonamazed

        November 5, 2012 at 8:55 pm

        Oh I’ve often made whole wheat pancakes with added fruit – have even added rolled oats! What I really love is the combo of chocolate and pears ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. All That I'm Eating

    November 4, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    They do literally look like the best pancakes ever! Could easily eat these for breakfast.

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:34 am

      Mmmm. I support this!

  6. Keep Calm and Eat On

    November 3, 2012 at 7:17 pm

    Totally delicious!

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:33 am

      For sure! I am obsessed with the pear/chocolate combo now…

  7. Candy

    November 3, 2012 at 9:19 am

    These look gorgeous ๐Ÿ™‚

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:33 am

      Thanks Candy ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere

    November 3, 2012 at 8:01 am

    These look great! I love the mile high stack!

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:32 am

      Thanks Sarah! You have no idea how satisfying (and messy) it was to slice a bite right out of that whole stack. Talk about a mouthful of pancake!

  9. yummychunklet

    November 2, 2012 at 9:57 pm

    What a delicious high stack with dripping syrup! Tempting!

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:32 am

      Haha thank you chunklet! Yes, it was nearly impossible to resist temptation around that stack…

  10. girlinafoodfrenzy

    November 2, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    Totally gorgeous pics and stunning cloth in the backdrop! Love the combination of chocolate & pears, a definite favourite!

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:31 am

      Thank you! ME TOO–pear + chocolate is an awesome combo. Pears have been on sale for $1 a pound for the past 2 weeks or so at the grocery store and I keep buying them. I probably have 8 pears in my fridge right now!! What I really want to make is Smitten Kitchen’s pear and chocolate cake again…I made it years ago and my family loved it. You should try it, if you haven’t yet!!

      (And thanks–the cloth is actually a dress of mine :))

  11. petit4chocolatier

    November 2, 2012 at 7:48 pm

    Love your pancakes, the syrup, and the butter on top! Triple WOW!!!

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:30 am

      Haha…triple thanks Judy! ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. Bam's Kitchen

    November 2, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    I love how the syrup is just drizzling over the tower of hearty pancakes.

    • erika

      November 5, 2012 at 9:30 am

      Thanks Bam ๐Ÿ™‚ Do you want to know a secret? I don’t actually own syrup. All the drizzle photos so far have been using either honey or agave! Real maple syrup is so pricey! But I know I will have to go invest soon ๐Ÿ™‚ What’s your pancake topping of choice, normally?

      • Bam's Kitchen

        November 5, 2012 at 5:59 pm

        My teenagers favorite topping is Mrs. Buttersworth syrup. They like to slather it on like there is no tomorrow and yes it is expensive. Take Care, BAM

  13. 3pastriesaday

    November 2, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    Let me at these pancakes!!!! They look amazing! Also, fruit = way healthy. Also LOL at the waiter…seriously underestimated your abilities.

    • erika

      November 2, 2012 at 2:54 pm

      Haha thaaanks. I know I kept telling myself…pears = practically no calories! And they take up so much of the pancake!

      I almost laughed in that waiter’s face. U DON’T KNO ME!! But I politely waited until he was gone ๐Ÿ˜‰

  14. Leah

    November 2, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    These look amazing! Your stack of pancakes is so impressive. You are a food photography queen!

    • erika

      November 2, 2012 at 2:09 pm

      Oh stoppppp. Haha. But thanks!! ๐Ÿ™‚

      (Right after I took a photo of one of the really tall pancake stacks, it totally toppled over…getting greasy butter all over EVERYTHING! ๐Ÿ™ Worst. But still delicious :))

  15. Choc Chip Uru

    November 2, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Pear and chocolate? PEAR AND CHOCOLATE? Collapses from hunger…

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    • erika

      November 2, 2012 at 2:09 pm

      Haha Uru come here I will feed you!

  16. Healthy Glow Nutrition

    November 2, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Please deliver these every Friday morning ๐Ÿ˜‰ They look AMAZING!!!!!

    • erika

      November 2, 2012 at 11:36 am

      Thank you!! After so many white whole wheat/AP flour pancakes, these whole wheat-y ones were quite delicious. I wish I could deliver them–what do I do with this giant stack?? ๐Ÿ™‚

      • Healthy Glow Nutrition

        November 2, 2012 at 1:14 pm

        They look amazing! What should you do with it? EAT it girl lol just bit by bit throughout the day ๐Ÿ™‚ I know I would on this gloomy day!

      • erika

        November 2, 2012 at 2:10 pm

        Haha I knowww I was just being coy…for no reason. Is it embarrassing that there are only 2 left as of this moment? Eek.

      • Healthy Glow Nutrition

        November 2, 2012 at 9:57 pm

        Don’t be embarrassed! I would eat them all too ๐Ÿ™‚

      • erika

        November 5, 2012 at 9:34 am

        Haha okay yay ๐Ÿ™‚ Pancake soul mates!! (…or just eating soul mates?)

      • Healthy Glow Nutrition

        November 5, 2012 at 12:11 pm

        Eating and pancake soul mates is perfect ๐Ÿ™‚ I love food! Unless it’s something gross I will try it ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. Kayle (The Cooking Actress)

    November 2, 2012 at 9:29 am

    GAHH! You make LITERALLY the best pancakes ever. Come over to Astoria and make me breakfast! ๐Ÿ˜›

    • erika

      November 2, 2012 at 11:35 am

      Haha awww thanks! Um, I totally would!!! I want to go to NY so bad you don’t even know!!

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