By Ujjainee Roy
April 8, 2024
You can now elevate your homemade pancakes and make them much fluffier. There are some simple switch-ups which ca n bring make your pancakes softer and more delicious! If you're making pancakes at home, use these hacks to make them fluffier and more scrumptious.
Buttermilk and yogurt are acidic dairy products that react with baking soda, producing carbon dioxide bubbles that help leaven the pancakes. The acidity also tenderizes the gluten in the batter, resulting in a softer texture. If you don't have buttermilk, you can easily make a substitute by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk.
For an extra fluffy texture, separate the egg yolks from the whites and whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Then, gently fold the whipped egg whites into the pancake batter just before cooking. This technique incorporates air into the batter, making the pancakes light and airy.
Overmixing pancake batter can result in dense and tough pancakes. Instead, mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined, leaving some lumps in the batter. Overmixing activates the gluten in the flour, leading to a chewier texture rather than fluffy pancakes.
Cake flour and pastry flour have lower protein content compared to all-purpose flour, resulting in a softer and more tender texture. Substitute some or all of the all-purpose flour in your pancake recipe with cake flour or pastry flour for fluffier pancakes.
Allow the pancake batter to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking. This gives the flour time to hydrate and allows any air bubbles created during mixing to escape. As a result, the pancakes will have a smoother texture and better rise when cooked.
Preheat your griddle or pan over medium-high heat until hot before adding the pancake batter. Cooking pancakes on a hot surface ensures that they start to cook and rise immediately, resulting in a fluffy interior. If the griddle or pan is too cold, the pancakes may spread too much and become dense.
Baking powder is a leavening agent that helps pancakes rise and become fluffy. Ensure your baking powder is fresh and active for the best results. If using baking soda, make sure to pair it with an acidic ingredient like buttermilk or yogurt to activate its leavening properties.