Japanese hotcakes
Thick, fluffy, golden pancakes with butter and a little maple syrup
Hotcakes are the tall, perfectly round pancakes of Japanese kissaten coffee shops and Sunday family breakfasts, and many children ask for them as an after-school treat too. They are thicker and more cake-like than Western pancakes, with an even golden surface and a soft, springy crumb. This batter is only lightly sweetened, so the butter and syrup on top do the work. It contains gluten, milk and egg. Chef's tip: cook them over a low heat with a lid on, so they rise high and cook through before the outside darkens.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 7 oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 egglarge
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ oz unsalted buttermelted
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp vegetable oilfor the pan
To serve
- ⅔ oz butter (optional)4 small pats
- 4 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Sift 7 oz plain flour and 2 tsp baking powder into a bowl and stir in 2 tbsp sugar.
Step 2: Whisk 1 egg, ¾ cup milk, ½ oz unsalted butter and ½ tsp vanilla extract in a jug, then pour into the flour and fold gently with a whisk until just combined. Overmixing is the common mistake: a few small lumps are fine, and smooth, overworked batter makes flat, tough hotcakes. Rest it for 5 minutes.
5 minStep 3: Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, wipe it with 1 tsp vegetable oil on kitchen paper, then set it on a damp cloth for a few seconds to even out the heat. Return it to a low heat.
2 minStep 4: Pour in a ladle of batter from a height of about 10 cm so it spreads into a neat thick round. Cover and cook for 3–4 minutes, until bubbles appear on top and the edges look dry.
4 minStep 5: Flip and cook, uncovered, for 2 minutes more, until golden underneath and the centre springs back when pressed. Repeat with the rest of the batter, wiping the pan each time.
12 minStep 6: Stack two per plate, top with ⅔ oz butter and drizzle with 4 tbsp maple syrup.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 45 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does japanese hotcakes take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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