If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been on a bit of a pancake tear lately. Including today, three of the last 4 Sundays have involved pancakes in some form or another. Maybe I was just getting a head start on National Pancake Week? There seems to be a bit of disagreement over the exact dates of this celebration, but I’ve found some evidence that it starts today so I’m going to run with it! My favorite thing about pancakes is their versatility – while they’re probably most common for breakfast, I love them for dinner too, and there are a million and one variations out there so you could keep trying new pancake recipes for a very long time if you wanted 🙂 I have one more I’m excited to share with you later this week, but I’m getting ahead of myself. First, let me tell you about these whole wheat oatmeal pancakes.
Though my favorite pancakes usually involve chocolate chips and are on the sweeter side, I set out to find something a little healthier for breakfast one day, and after looking around a bit, I decided on this recipe. It’s made entirely with whole wheat flour and also includes lots of oats. There’s only 2 tablespoons of butter in the entire recipe, and just 1 tablespoon of sugar – that’s about as healthy as pancakes are going to get around here 🙂 I was nervous these might be heavy or dense, but that wasn’t the case at all. In fact, they were surprisingly light and fluffy, with just a tiny bit of texture from the oats. I never would have guessed the pancakes were whole wheat if I hadn’t known (though full disclosure – I used white whole wheat flour so I can’t say for sure I would have felt the same with traditional whole wheat). They aren’t very sweet, I definitely added some maple syrup, but I also think they’d be good with fruit so I may go that route next time. Filling and nutritious, these whole wheat oatmeal pancakes were pretty much the perfect way to start the day!
If you want to make some pancakes to celebrate National Pancake Week, here are a few of my other favorites:
Best Buttermilk Pancakes
Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes
Blueberry Pancakes
Gingerbread Pancakes
Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes
from Gourmet, February 2008 (via Epicurious)
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk, divided
3/4 cup whole wheat flour (I used white whole wheat)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
canola oil (or nonstick cooking spray) for cooking
{If you aren’t going to serve the pancakes until you’ve cooked all of them, preheat oven to 200 F. Spray a wire rack with cooking spray and set it inside a baking sheet then place the baking sheet in the oven.}
Combine the oats and 3/4 cup of the buttermilk in a medium bowl and soak for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in another bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together. Add the egg, melted butter, brown sugar, the remaining 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of buttermilk, and the oat mixture to the bowl. Whisk together until just barely combined.
Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet set over medium heat (or spray with nonstick cooking spray). Once the oil starts shimmering, use paper towels to wipe the pan so only a thin, even coating of oil covers the bottom and sides. Use a 1/4 cup measure to portion the batter into the pan. Cook on the first side until the edges are set and bubbles form on the surface. Use a spatula to flip the pancakes and cook for 1-2 minutes on the second side, or until golden brown and cooked through. {If not serving immediately, transfer the pancakes to the wire rack in the oven.} Repeat with remaining batter, adding more oil to the pan if necessary.
Makes 10-12 pancakes
Ooh, I’m totally making these this week! I use www flour in pancakes all the time, but haven’t tried adding oats.
Delicious. Pancakes are a good choice for breakfast (or heck, any meal), regardless of flavor/type! Love ’em all!
They look wonderful. I rarely make pancakes but now I’m craving them!
Yum! I’m always on the lookout for whole wheat pancake recipes that aren’t super heavy. I’ll be trying these soon!
I had that plate but it broke in our move. Wahhh! 🙁 I loved it so much!
Well, I guess I need to eat some pancakes tomorrow morning then! I have to admit, I usually add chocolate chips to mine instead of fruit
Outside of the fact that these look phenomenal, how on earth can you photograph butter on hot pancakes without it melting??? Seriously, I would make these – haven’t made pancakes in “too long”. A great post for NPW Tracey!
Definitely pinning this one to try soon – and I love white whole wheat flour (if it’s nutritionally the same, why not?), so I’ll incorporate that too. Delicious!
Whole wheal flour gives everything such a hearty flavour, these look delicious!
Pancakes are always great (even for dinner)! 🙂
@Mike – Haha, by the time I photographed them, the top one wasn’t all that hot anymore. I didn’t bother to keep them warm in the oven while I cooked the whole batch.
Mmmm pancakes. I usually just dust mine with powdered sugar. I should make these for dinner one night. I love a good breakfast for dinner
Keep posting pancakes! We love them.
I am definitely saving this recipe! My fave combination of ingredients ever. Thanks for sharing Tracey.
Hmmm…maybe I need to get over my fear of making pancakes and celebrate National Pancake Week! I love oatmeal, so these sound delicious.
Yum! This is the kind of pancakes I’d love!
Keeping this one! My ventures into “healthier panckakes” haven’t been quite as successful 🙂
Happy pancake week!
Hmm i think this is a very interesting recipe because it looks so good. I will try it when i will go home tonight. Thanks for sharing and i promise to come back to tell you the result.
These sound so yummy! Love this idea 🙂
I love a good hearty pancake that isn’t too heavy and these look like just the ticket – pinning!
Matt’s favorite pancakes involve chocolate chips as well. I, however, am thinking the ones featured here would be among my favorites. Those look so pretty and delicious!
I’ve been looking for a whole wheat oatmeal pancake recipe that doesn’t look dense and this definitely seems to fit the bill! Can’t wait to try them!!
Nothing is wrong with a pancake kick! Another great looking recipe!
Tracey, you take awesome pictures of pancakes! I have tried and tried and mine never look as good as yours! Alas! I am going to keep trying — you are my pancake picture hero! Thanks for the inspiration! Blessings, Catherine @ http://www.praycookblog.com
wow, awesomee
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Preeti
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I have totally neglected to appreciate that it is pancake week. Yours might save the day!
These pancakes were delicious! I cut the recipe in half, and the batter was a lot “runnier” than normal pancakes, so I was worried. But they were great! And the texture really doesn’t differ that much from normal pancakes like I expected.
These pancakes were delicious! I was worried because the batter was a lot “runnier” than normal pancake batter, but they turned out great! I didn’t notice much of a texture difference like I had expected either.