Nate asks… Hi Jenny! Firstly, thanks for your swift response to my question about creating a clean cooking space; I really appreciate it. I tried out your blueberry pancake recipe this morning, and although I was following along with your YouTube instructional and used the exact measurements you prescribed, my mixture was much more liquid than thick with flour, and even though I subsequently tried adding about 25% more flour, the flour dissolved pretty quickly and the mixture only made about 4 pancakes. Any hints other than more flour to get them as lumpy as you did?
My Response…
I’ve been making this exact recipe for years with the same result every time… a thick lumpy batter and great pancakes. At first I thought maybe the egg you are using is too large but even if you used an extra large egg, it should not make such a dramatic difference as you are experiencing. One thing that might be causing a thin batter would be your choice of buttermilk. You must use store-bought buttermilk, and be sure to shake the container well before pouring. I know a lot of recipes will tell you if you don’t have buttermilk you can make your own by adding a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk and let it stand five minutes. Hogwash! That does not make buttermilk, or anything close to buttermilk. I’ve tried it several times and all I got was lemon-flavored milk. If that’s what you’re using, then it’s the reason for the thin batter. Another possibility is your baking powder and/or baking soda are expired. The reaction of those powders with the liquids is what creates the fluffiness in the batter.
You can test your baking powder this way: Drop a teaspoon of the baking powder into a cup of very hot water. If it bubbles heavily, the baking powder is still good. If it doesn’t, it’s time for a new one. To test your baking soda, place a teaspoon of baking soda into a bowl and add 3-4 tablespoons of white vinegar. If the mixture fizzes heavily, the baking soda is still good. If it doesn’t, you need a new box. I hope this helps because these are really great pancakes, with or without blueberries.