Last updated on March 15th, 2016
I’ve had a busy morning! First, I deep-cleaned my bedroom. Then I hoovered (that’s Brit-speak for “vacuumed”) the entrance hall. And finally, because I craved something delicious and exotic to eat, I made a batch of Buttermilk Buckwheat Pancakes.
Buckwheat flour, if you’ve not yet made its acquaintance, is a super-food. It’s rich in protein, fiber, and B vitamins. It’s gluten-free, too. The nutty-flavored flour is simply the ground up seeds of the buckwheat plant, which goes by the unfortunate botanical name Fagopyrum esculentum. Use the flour for pancakes, and you won’t be sorry.
Well, you might be sorry if you eat every last pancake all by your lonesome.
(((Oopsies.)))
Here’s my step-by-step recipe for Buttermilk Buckwheat Pancakes, along with some utterly pertinent commentary:
Using the Valentine’s Day gift you received from your wacky but wonderful mother, tip 1 cup of buckwheat flour into a medium-size mixing bowl.
Add 1 tablespoon of sugar…
1 teaspoon each of baking powder and baking soda…
And a wee bit of salt.
Whisk these dry ingredients together.
Are you paying attention? I certainly hope so. There’s no room for levity here.
Ah, levity. In the early 1970s, my mother placed a bumper-sticker on her car. Shall I tell you what it said?
I brake for Jayne Mansfield’s head.
After you’ve googled Jayne Mansfield, pour 1 1/4 cups of well-shaken buttermilk into a separate bowl.
Add 1 large egg…
And 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
Then go to town with your wire whisk.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry…
And whisk or stir only until combined. Since the buttermilk is acidic, and the baking soda is pure alkaline, the mixture will bubble rather furiously. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Ladle, by the 1/4 cupful, the batter onto a greased and preheated griddle, frying pan, or electric skillet. If you are using an electric skillet — I have this one — set the temperature to 325°F.
When the edges of the pancakes look dry, flip them over, and brown the other side.
Now put these beauties on a plate…
Add a pat of butter…
And a ridiculous amount of wild blueberry preserves.
You can add some of this stuff, too, providing you’ve already cleaned your bedroom and vacuumed your entrance hall.
Oh, baby.
Think you’ll give these BBPs a try? You can let me know by posting a comment. As always, your words are the sunshine of my day.
Here’s the printable recipe:
These buckwheat pancakes are loaded with protein, fiber, and B vitamins. Serve them with butter and maple syrup for breakfast or brunch, or top them with wild blueberry preserves and whipped cream for dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, shaken
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Grease and preheat a large frying pan, a griddle, or an electric skillet. In a medium-size mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl (a 4-cup glass measure is ideal), whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and whisk or stir just to combine. The mixture will be thick and bubbly.
- Ladle, by the 1/4 cupful, the batter onto the hot skillet. Fry until the edges look dry, and then flip the pancakes over to brown the other side. Serve with butter, pure maple syrup, wild blueberry preserves, or anything else that happens to float your boat.
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More good eats:
Fabulous Almond Butter Cookies (GF)
Thyme and Wine Beef Stew
Linguine with Butternut Squash and Herbs
Jill says
I’m still laughing about the bumper sticker. Crude but funny. I guess in comparison to today’s zombies it is kind of mild 🙂 I have to get some buck wheat flour first. These sound yummy!
Peter says
I will make these! And I will add some bacon.
Mary in Iowa says
Peter’s got the right idea! I’m thinking that with all that blueberry preserve and whipped cream even your shoe might taste good.
I’ve grown buckwheat many times, but only as compost fodder or green manure. I’ve never let it ripen. Maybe I should.
Love that cup measure! Your mom can adopt me anytime.
DebbyMc says
Your mom’s a hoot. Obviously. These cakes look aMAZing!
Rosiland Ball says
I cracked up over the bumper sticker and I didn’t have to Google Jane Mansfield either!! Pancakes look yummy! Need buckwheat flour first! Love ya Kevin!!
KRYSTYNA says
you Keven make us smile,I’m buying buckwheat flower today
Chris says
All that housecleaning this morning already !! I’m still on the coffee. The pancakes look wonderful however. I’ve got blueberries in the fridge . . . got me thinking.
Ruth melvin says
What a lovely surprise to see buckwheat as the star of the show this morning!! For at least 3 generations my family have savoured sourdough buckwheat pancakes. Our tradition is to enjoy the first batch of the year on Christmas morning and carry on enjoying them pretty regularly throughout the winter season. This year, after many, many delicious mouthfuls, I regretfully ended my winter deliciousness. My waistline was suffering!!
I love reading your blog! Thank you
Sheri says
I’ve had a horrible flu. These look wonderful. I think I have a reason to keep living.
Marianne says
I have to agree buckwheat pancakes are very good, I’ve been making them for years although the way my slacks fit I better slow down! Who was it, Johnny Carson who introduced the well endowed Jayne by saying, “Jayne Mansfield! Here they come!”
Maggie says
Has anyone here heard of Buckwheat Honey? We were traveling through the valley in California and the bees were busy working the fields of something that had a light and lovely fragrance. We stopped at a little market loaded with honeys of many kinds. I inquired about the bees working frantically asking what they were working. I was told it was probably Buckwheat. And guess what, the store just happened to have some. I thought it was wonderful but it didn’t last long enough to meet up with Buckwheat pancakes. 🙂
These look so good Kevin!
Trudi says
I love your mom’s measuring cup ! Being a mom of grown sons myself, anytime i can do something silly to make them gasp ,I will as payback for all their gotchas Her bumper sticker ..nah. and yes i am such a wimp i even can’t watch the zombie movies. ..I’m not too sure buckwheat is gluten free. I guess it depends on who you ask. My gut doc says to skip it. She’s a party pooper! I can use almond meal though . Blueberries and whipped cream on durn near anything is good !..a Happy week to ya
Trudi says
I see i refused to address the cleaning my bedroom first part.!bah humbug .
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Maggie – Buckwheat honey is fabulous. If only I’d had some for these pancakes…
Hi Trudi – Buckwheat flour is definitely gluten-free. The plant from which is hails isn’t related botanically to wheat. Don’t worry about your bedroom. I’ll never tell!
Sue Smith says
I love buckwheat pancakes. I haven’t made them in years. Thanks for the reminder, Kevin.
I got a big laugh from the bumper sticker comment
I had a zany mom, too. I have so many memories of all the fun stuff. We are lucky.
Dia says
Ah, the memories of one of my favorite childhood comfort foods!! My Mom made buckwheat pancakes for us on Saturday morning. I always loved them slathered in lots of butter and just a drizzle of molasses. I am going to make these. It is so nice of you to share the recipe!!
Elizabeth says
Yum. My family thinks you are member of the our family. Uncle Kevin recipes are the best!
Catharine R. says
Your mother’s a hoot! I bought buckwheat flour and buttermilk this morning, and then made the pancakes. THEY’RE GREAT! So easy and so delicious with butter and jam. My new go-to pancakes. Hubby loved them, too.
Linda A says
I can’t imagine doing all that energetic cleaning and vacuuming before breakfast!
Can’t quite tell from the photo but your silver fork looks like Gorham’s Buttercup pattern.
In your upcoming cookbook, you could name your recipe: “Buttercup and Buckwheat!” ha.
Your heart-shaped measuring cup is almost as cool as your favorite blue spatula.
Joan L. Higgins says
Kevin, I love everything you post—you make everyone feel like we are your personal friends. It is truly like visiting a dear friend when I open your blog and see pictures of your garden, the yummy food pictures and recipes, the rooms of your home. Thank you so much for sharing with so many total strangers. I also remember Jane Mansfield’s unfortunate accident, ugh. Your Mom must be a hoot! Many blessings for you in 2016.
Cat says
This will be my dinner tonight! I just cleaned my house and sooooooo deserve these!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Catharine R – Thanks for the review!
Hi Cat – Sounds like you do deserve these pancakes. Enjoy them! (I made another batch this afternoon. Yummerz.)
Lillian plummer says
Hello Kevin, I like your style too, you make me feel as if we are friends. You turn ordinary events like bedroom cleaning into jovial pastimes. Love your heart scoop. I am out the door to buy buckwheat. ❤️ Luv ya! Lillian.
Naomi S. says
Kevin, I was under the impression that buckwheat flour, although it is wheat-free, it is not entirely gluten-free. You might want to research this if you haven’t already. I like things made with buckwheat and I remember being disappointed when I learned that it wasn’t gluten-free, as I am gluten-intolerant.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Naomi S. – Buckwheat flour a/k/a “kasha” a/k/a delicious-for-pancakes is 100% gluten-free. More details from celiac.com.
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
I am old enough that I did not have to Google up Jayne Mansfield.
I also adore the heart shaped measuring cup, and I have also heard of buckwheat honey.
My husband is the official pancake maker around here so I will make sure he sees this lovely set of instructions. Even the fork is beautiful !!
Julie R says
I want to make these delicious looking pancakes as soon as I can get some buckwheat flower. Thanks for all of the extra info about buckwheat flower. I always learn something new when I visit your website.
Julie R says
Oops, I will get buckwheat flour, not flower, as I had wrote. Ha Ha = ) I’ve got gardening on my mind too.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Julie R – Well, if you can get your hands on a buckwheat flower, then you can grind its seeds to make buckwheat flour!
Tracy says
I hope none of the people who knew and cared about Jayne Mansfield read your blog today. 🙁
Annie says
Glad to see you chose organic flour. The even better choice would have been Farmer Ground buckwheat flour. They stone grind grain grown in the Finger Lake area of New York and their flours are simply fresher, more carefully ground and unsurpassed in flavor. I notice you used old school vanilla. Try some Beanilla vanilla and maybe add some vanilla beans to the mix for a truly gourmet result. If you separate the egg and beat the white til stiff, you’ll get even fluffier pancakes without having to add so much baking powder and soda. Oh and organic cultured butter is the way to go…. Other than that, you’re on the right track.
Sandra says
I had forgotten how much I love buckwheat pancakes. The first time I ever ate buckwheat pancakes was in Yellowstone, Wyoming years ago. Now I have the flour from our health food store I can love these pancakes again.
Thanks Kevin!
Sandra
Cheryl hodges says
Looks good and healthy too! Many years ago I waitresses (back when it was ok to say that word) in Anchorage Alaska before the oil boom. The place was called Flapjack Jim’s and they had every kind of flapjack known to man! These were my favorite and I didn’t know how healthy they were. Will get some buckwheat flour to make for the grandkids. Will even try putting in some of my old Alaska sourdough starter in it. Thanks Kevin…
Mary W says
Just bought a bottle of this years cane syrup from our farmers market and LOVE it on buckwheat pancakes. Thanks for a great recipe!
Julie says
We took our kids to Brittany and Paris a few years ago, and had to buy some buckwheat flour when we got back to replicate the fabulous Crêpes they had become addicted to. Here’s (someone else’s) post about them, with recipes: http://cheznousbistro.com/2013/breton-buckwheat-galettes
Flora says
Do you know if pancakes can be frozen? I live alone and have always thrown out any extra pancakes. The crows love them but I hate throwing out food……even for the crows. I usually cut the recipes in two but don’t know how to cut an egg in half. Anyway, I am going to make these for myself and the crows if I have to.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Flora – When sealed in zip-lock bags, these Buttermilk Buckwheat Pancakes will freeze very well. Wrap in paper towels before reheating in the microwave oven. To reheat in a traditional oven, wrap loosely in aluminum foil. Enjoy!
Myrtle Miller says
Those pancakes look delicious.
Chris says
How ironic that you were “Hoovering” , and then later used an electric frypan for your pancakes. My electric frypan is a copper-colored version made by , you guessed it, the Hoover Corporation. And the #1 thing I use it for is to make pancakes !! I got it for a wedding present almost 42 years ago. I had never seen one like it before and I haven’t seen one like it since !!