Perfect Pancakes

On Tuesday night Bud went to a meeting before dinner. I was in the mood for pancakes and decided I could get away with that since I could make something else for him after he got home.
I don't usually take the time to make pancakes from scratch. Why should I when I'm happy with Krusteaz mix? Add a little water and you're done! However, after trying this recipe, I now know why I should take the time to make them from scratch.
This recipe comes from Cook's Illustrated (love that magazine!).
Yield: 16 4-inch pancakes.

Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (10 oz)
2 T sugar
½ tsp table salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
¼ cup sour cream
2 large eggs
3 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1-2 tsp vegetable oil

Instructions:
1. Whisk flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in medium bowl. In second medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, eggs, and melted butter. Make well in center of dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients; gently stir until just combined (batter should remain lumpy with few streaks of flour). Do not overmix. Allow batter to sit 10 minutes before cooking.
2. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Using paper towels, carefully wipe out oil, leaving thin film of oil on bottom and sides of pan. Using ¼ cup measure, portion batter into pan in 4 places. Cook until edges are set, first side is golden brown, and bubbles on surface are just beginning to break, 2 to 3 minutes. Using thin, wide spatula, flip pancakes and continue to cook until second side is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Serve pancakes immediately, or transfer to a wire rack set on baking sheet in preheated 200 degree oven. Repeat with remaining batter, using remaining oil as necessary.

I cook my pancakes on an electric griddle at 350 degrees. I usually just spray it with Pam instead of the whole oil-paper towel ritual. Also, I recently purchased powdered buttermilk and used that in this recipe. Let me just say- these were the best pancakes I have ever eaten. Ever.

Caleb, hurry home so Nana can make you REAL pancakes instead of the fake ones I made you eat before! Maybe I should try them again just to make sure they were really as good as I thought on Tuesday night. I'll let you know.

And here is my little Agnes from last summer.
These aren't the pancakes from the recipe. Maybe that's why she felt the need to add some colored sugar to her heart-shaped pancake.
Oh, so much better with colored sugar. A masterpiece! Agnes, you're cute!