Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

My kids love pancakes. My Mom (Ama to my kids) makes these crazy pancake shapes that they fell in love with from the time that they were little! She would make them castles, Llamas, horses, guitars, snakes and anything they could come up with! While I am not as talented as my Mom with pancake shapes, I did want to come up with the perfect pancake recipe.

It took a long time and a lot of recipe trials to create this recipe, but it is our favorite. It makes perfectly fluffy pancakes every time. They are delicious and fluffy and so good, I prefer them with nothing on them!

Begin by measuring your flour. Make sure to spoon it into your measuring cup and wipe off the excess with a flat edge. You will need 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour.

Next add your other dry ingredients. You will need 4 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 2 Tablespoons of sugar. Whisk together your dry ingredients with a fork until well blended.

Create a crater in the center of the flour mixture with your fork. Add your 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 2 eggs, and 3 tablespoons of melted butter into your crater. Whisk lightly within your crater to blend eggs. Add your buttermilk slowly. Whisk just until blended, scraping sides and bottom of the bowl. Do not over mix! It makes your pancakes dry and less fluffy. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes. It gives the baking powder time to start working.

In the meantime grease a pancake griddle or frying pan with butter. Turn on medium-low heat. I use a measuring cup to make circles on the griddle, my mom uses a spoon to make her shapes and I have heard of other people using different techniques as well. Experiment with what works for you. The important thing is to keep an eye on the pancake and make sure not to over cook it. As soon as you see bubbles/holes begin to form on the top an you can slide your spatula underneath, flip your pancake!

To keep them warm while you finish making all the batter just stick a plate in the microwave, and leave the pancakes on the plate as you make them, or turn your oven on the lowest possible setting for 10 minutes and then turn it off. Once it is off set an oven proof plate in the oven and add your pancakes onto the plate as you make them. This way you can serve a plate full of warm pancakes to your whole hungry crowd!