Strike Gold on National Pancake Day

September 26 is National Pancake Day. While it may be tempting to visit a local pancake restaurant, making these at home is affordable and easy. Simply

1. Mix the dry ingredients.
2. Mix the liquid ingredients.
3. Combine, ladle and grill. 

The ingredients are staples found in most households-flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, egg, milk and oil or butter. 

Mix the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a bowl. Beat the egg into the milk with melted butter or oil. Add the liquids to the bowl with the dry, stirring just until no flour is visible. Let the batter sit for 5-30 minutes.

Heat a skillet or grill over medium heat. Do not overheat. 

Ladle the batter into the skillet. When bubbles form across the pancake, flip and bake on the other side. 

Pancakes do not require gluten for structure. There are many recipes for these made with gluten free whole grain flours, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, teff, oat and brown rice pancakes. There are also recipes for pancakes made with whole grain wheat flours Kamut and spelt. For the most nutrients avoid the recipes or mixes made with potato starch, tapioca starch, cornstarch and white rice flour.


Amaranth flour, ground from tiny seeds of the amaranth plant, is whole grain with high levels of the complete protein lysine. 

Amaranth Pancakes

4-6 inch pancakes (1/4 cup batter each)

In a bowl, mix flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.
3/4 cup amaranth flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon sugar

Beat egg into milk.  Add fat.
1 egg
1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoon skim milk
1 Tablespoon melted butter or oil

Pour liquids into dry. Mix only until flour is not visible.

Allow batter to sit for 5-30 minutes.

Heat skillet over medium heat. Ladle 1/4 cup batter onto skillet. Grill until bubbles form across the surface of the pancake. Turn and heat the other side until brown.

Serve with fruit, an egg or local maple syrup.

To make bigger batches, double or triple and freeze leftovers. Serve versatile pancakes for breakfast, lunch or dinner.