Maybe you have to reach a level of maturity to know how to make really good pancakes. Maybe to make your mom’s secret pancakes, you know the best there ever was, fluffy and soft on the inside but crispy on the edges, is to be a “grown-up.” I used to think I would never be able to make pancakes like my mom as much as I tried.
Now, at 33, I can say my pancakes are as good or better than my mom’s… (gulp). Don’t tell anyone I said that. If you’re wondering if there is a secret to your mom’s pancakes, there is, and I am going to tell you. But first, how did I come to find these secrets? It’s not like I have children that I have to make pancakes for every weekend, but I do have nephews and nieces who absolutely love pancakes.
So, here’s secret number 1. I discovered this one because my nephews moved in with us, and I wanted to start a tradition of having pancakes every Sunday morning before church. Now, my nephews are genetically gifted. The oldest is 12 but gets confused for 16 years old 100% of the time. They’re some big kids, so I bought a 10-lb bag of Krusteaz Buttermilk Complete Pancake Mix. I had no idea that this pancake mix would be secret number 1 to my mom’s pancakes. They come out so soft and so fluffy every single time.
Secret number 2: do not listen to the directions on the pancake mix bag. There is this thing called women’s intuition. Follow it. Eyeball the water to pancake mix ratio. It should not be watery or stiff. It should cause ripples in the batter that disappear after a bit. Have I made stiff pancakes with this batter before? No, but my sister has. They were dense, so just make sure your batter isn’t too thick.
Secret number 3: now, this one is important, so do not skip it and do not use an alternative. Salted butter. Not vegetable oil or olive oil, just old-fashioned salted butter. If I don’t have salted butter, I’ll use unsalted, but I prefer salted. The contrast in flavor against the sweet maple syrup wins every time. And yes, I do put a little sliver of butter on top of everyone’s pancake stack.
Now that my nephews do not live with us, my husband still looks forward to our Sunday morning pancakes. Sometimes, if we’re feeling nostalgic, I’ll even make them for us during the weekday. He never fails to tell me that I make the best pancakes he’s ever had, and I have to agree. Give these “secrets” a try, or share your favorite pancake recipe with us in the comments.
