Pumpkin Oat Pancakes
Eighty-eight black and white keys stare up at me. I sit in front of a piano I’ve been listening to since I could barely reach those keys. My hands rest at center C waiting. I wait as well, hoping for uninvited inspiration. My tired eyes glance at the ivory pegs my mother once tapped at to serenade my brother and I awake on most early sunday mornings. I let my mind wander. I push it to search for familiar songs.
I begin to finger nonsense as my attention fades into a nostalgic daydream. Slow mornings spent under the covers, lulled by my mother practicing and perfecting another song of hers – a delightful melody so upbeat and bouncy it could put a smile on any passing face. Eventually my brother and I would be coaxed out of bed but we’d never make it farther than the hall, where we hid as long as possible, unwilling to distract or disturb her. My father would chuckle at his two sons as he walked by on his way to the kitchen.
Soon a kaleidoscope of breakfast scents would make their way from the kitchen, past my mother and her piano, and into the hall where my brother and I perched. Our polite patience for my mother quickly flew out the window as our dash into the breakfast room became a shoving match and screaming contest.
Like clockwork my mother was plucked from her piano and brought back to her motherly duties, separating my brother and I at the table, ensuring we each received perfectly even portions.
I give up on the piano and make my way into the kitchen – pancakes sound like more fun anyways.
The robust flavor of pumpkin and the bold spices that accompany it have a wonderful ability to stand up to other hearty flavors. Here, the warm, earthy flavor or oat and whole wheat flours pair perfectly with the spiced pumpkin puree. Together the create a pancake that is only made more perfect by sweet maple syrup and a pad of slow melting creamy butter.
Pancakes: Like muffins, pancakes are incredibly simple to prepare and require minimal effort. Mix together the dry and wet ingredients separately, then add them together with a few turns of the spoon. As for cooking them, that’s quite simple too. If you’ve got griddle, set it to 375°F, otherwise heat a nonstick flat, edgeless pan over medium heat. Lightly butter it before each pancake and flip only after the batter begins to bubble around the edges and the center begins to puff up. Serve immediately and keep warm – only if you absolutely must – in a warm (but not hot ) oven.
Pumpkin Oat Pancakes n
y 6-8 pancakes
d Easyt 20 minutes
o Tools:
Bowls
Wooden spoon
Griddle or flat nonstick pan
Flat, solid spatulai Ingredients:
3 ounces all purpose flour
2 ounces oat flour
1 ounce whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
4 ounces spiced pumpkin puree (recipe)
4 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 eggMaple syrup for topping
n Instructions:
1. Preheat a griddle to 375°F or place a nonstick flat pan over medium heat.
2. Mix the flours, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt together. Set aside
3. In another bowl mix the milk, pumpkin puree, butter and egg together until blended.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until a batter is formed.
5. Lightly butter the griddle or pan.
6. Spoon the batter in 1/3 cup sized dollops onto the hot griddle or pan. Take care not to overcrowd the pan as the pancakes will spread out a bit.
7. Once the edges begin to bubble and the center puffs up, check to see if the pancake is golden brown on the bottom and sturdy enough to flip. If so, flip the pancake carefully and lightly. The first side should take 3 to 5 minutes to cook.
8. Let the edges look cooked and the bottom is a golden brown as well. This side should take an additional 3 to 5 minutes.
9. Remove from the pan and serve immediately.
r Pancakes are best served immediately.
n Avoid adjusting the ingredients in this recipe.
Enjoy!
I want a tall stack of these pancakes!
We were on the same wavelength with a pumpkin breakfast this morning Russell! I hope you saved a plate for me at that table!!
STUNNING as always!
I love the image you created of hiding in the hall and waiting with your brother: The trepidation of disturbing your mother, the anticipation of a plate of pancakes.
Pretty much not going to be able to think of anything else until I get a plate of these pancakes in front of me.
These look so perfect! Lovely pictures, as always…and recipe :)
Gorgeous pancakes, I need these in my life!
Great looking pancakes and love the oat flour and pumpkin puree..nice touches!
yumness! Is that a word? I will be making these!
I love pumpkin pancakes, but I’ve never made them with oat flour before. Sounds wonderful!
As always, your photos are stunning!
beautifulll as always! wish i had a stack of warm pumpkin oat pancakes to weather the storm with!
My kids love pumpkin cakes – and I always feel as if I have to dole out perfect even portions to all my kids – why is that?!
I would love a seat at this table!
These photos are absolutely stunning!
I love it, Russell! I too struggle to find inspiration sometimes… but it’s always exciting when you can get through it.
These pancakes look marvelous… I haven’t made them in a long time, so this has reignited my love for them.
Wow! I love the plaid shirt! It reminds me of a lumberjack’s breakfast on a chilly morning!
This looks spectacular! Cant wait to try it.
The pancakes look stunning and no doubt delicious. You’re the best!
Gorgeous simple photos and recipe. I’ve not baked anything with pumpkin yet this year – that needs to be remedied very soon.
I love the table setting photos, and your memories!
I love how you’ve somehow linked pancakes with the piano in this post – two of my favorite things. Oh and pumpkin…can’t ever go wrong there!
Breathtaking…
I would love to take a seat in that chair and attack those pancakes… and look as elegant as possible. ;-)
Gorgeous photos! I love the way you work with light–you need to do a tutorial on that. And I think I could eat that whole stack of pancakes…
I could devour a whole plate full of these! LOVE your photos, I always feel like I’m sitting in your kitchen, which of course I wish, I have mentioned I do dishes if I’m invited, right :)
MMmm!!! I hope to make these in the very near future.
I love the mood of these photos, I want to site right down and devour that stack of pancakes.
I always love your photos! Your blog is simply amazing!
really enjoyed the story about your mother and her piano-playing. those pancakes look lovely! i love pumpkin pancakes!
Your story is so touching, I love hearing stories about Mom’s. People have the most amazing stories they remember from childhood.
Your pancakes just make me want to curl up with a nice cup of coffee and eat them with a blanket in front of the TV while watching The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown style of course. ;-)
Oh, and PS, I love pancakes as much as the next girl, but they are not more fun than pianos. Not at all. :D
These look so delicious! :)
This is a beauty!!
A really tall stack of these with loads of syrup and a lazy morning… Heaven!!
MMM,..Your pumpkin pancakes look freaking delicious!
Wow- first time visiting and I am impressed! Beautiful photos, yummy food and great story telling. Excited to read more!
Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog! Your photos are stunning, and this is just such a beautiful post. I love it!
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I swear I’m like the only person in my house that loves pancakes. I wonder if I make these will my hubby and son change their mind. Thanks for taking the time to post your recipes. :)
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These look heavenly! I love the combination of oats and pumpkin. I would love to pair them with whipped cinnamon butter, yum! Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely lovely photos mate!
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Your photography is truly incredible. Keep up the good work, I love your blog!
I would love to know more about the lighting and styling — perhaps as a feature in “Behind the Shot?” The lighting is just gorgeous!