Buttermilk Pancakes with Vanilla Bean–Berry Syrup
Pat: What suits a lazy, stay in your pajamas kind of morning more than a stack of buttermilk pancakes topped with butter and a drizzle of spicy maple syrup? (Ours is infused with a fresh vanilla bean.) Aren’t mornings grand? Cornmeal gives these pancakes a toothsome appeal. If you want flavored pancakes, feel free to add a sprinkling of sliced bananas or peaches, shredded coconut, mini–chocolate chips, chopped toasted nuts, or granola to the batter. (You’ll want to add nuts and granola to the pancakes after they have been poured onto the griddle—otherwise they will lose their crunch.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4
Ingredients
Vanilla Bean–Berry Syrup
Preparation
Step 1
Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and oil. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and stir just until blended, being careful not to over mix (a few lumps are okay). Cover the batter with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour and for up to 8 hours. If necessary, thin with water or extra buttermilk before cooking, being careful not to over beat.
Step 2
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to grease it lightly and leave a film on the bottom of the pan.
Step 3
Working in batches, ladle the batter, about 1/2 cup at a time, into the pan. Cook until the pancakes are golden brown and bubbles start to form on the top, about 1 minute per side. Flip the pancakes just as the surface bubbles begin to rise. (Flipping them after all the bubbles are gone produces a flatter pancake.) Transfer to a platter, and cover to keep warm while you make additional pancakes.
Step 4
Divide the pancakes into stacks among four plates, placing a pat of softened butter between each of them, and pour warm Vanilla Bean–Berry Syrup over each stack. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar, if desired.
Vanilla Bean–Berry Syrup
Step 5
Heat the maple syrup and both halves of the vanilla bean in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Just before the mixture comes to a simmer, remove from the heat, stir in the fresh berries, and set aside for at least 30 minutes, to allow the flavors to meld. Remove the vanilla bean before serving.
