27 December 2012

Gluten-Free Pancakes and Equipment Review - All-Clad Hard Anodized Nonstick Griddle

Gluten-Free Pancakes - Can't Tell the Difference! / www.delightfulrepast.com

Though just a small percentage of people have celiac disease, a lot of people are sensitive to gluten or simply choose to forego gluten for any number of reasons. Since several people in my circle fall into that last category, I've developed a number of gluten-free recipes over the last few years. Gluten-free pancakes had just worked their way to the top of my to-do list when All-Clad sent me their All-Clad Hard Anodized Nonstick 11-Inch Square Griddle for review.

I was thrilled! I've always preferred a square griddle, but have been making-do with a round one for the past few years. You can only make three pancakes at a time on a round griddle, but you can make four at a time on a square one. Most of my All-Clad pans are the plain, uncoated stainless steel; but I prefer nonstick in a griddle. This one, along with their new B3 Hard Anodized collection, is sold exclusively at Bed, Bath and Beyond. It is very similar to the All-Clad LTD Griddle

This is the heaviest nonstick griddle I've ever had, and that makes a huge difference. I've never gotten such even browning with any of the griddles I've tried! And the PFOA-free nonstick coating is very effective and will, I'm sure, hold up for many years to come. 

The enclosed information sheet said the use of nonstick cooking spray is not recommended as it may reduce the performance of the nonstick surface. I never use the spray on a griddle anyway - I like to brush on just the thinnest film of butter right before ladling on the pancake batter.

My recipe can be made with regular milk (I use 2%) and the buttermilk powder as written below; or with 1 cup regular milk and 1/2 cup buttermilk, sour cream or plain yogurt; or with regular milk alone. I keep buttermilk powder in the fridge at all times so I don't have to buy a quart of buttermilk when I only need 1/2 cup.

Of course, you can use 1 1/2 cups of regular unbleached flour (leave out the xanthan gum) or 1 1/2 cups of your favorite gluten-free blend in the recipe. I use all sorts of combinations, depending on what qualities I want for a particular recipe or, in some cases, what gluten-free flours and starches I happen to have on hand. I do not recommend garbanzo bean flour for many things (don't ask!). Tell me about your gluten-free pancake successes and failures.

Update 06/29/17: Just posted my Homemade Blueberry Syrup or Sauce.



Gluten-Free Pancakes


(Makes fourteen 5-inch round pancakes)

2/3 packed cup quinoa flour
1/2 packed cup brown rice flour
1/3 packed cup potato starch or gluten-free cornstarch
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
3 tablespoons buttermilk powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups milk, room temperature
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled


1 If you want to serve everyone at the same time, preheat oven to 200 degrees (actually, I now have a warming drawer) and, as each batch is cooked, place the pancakes slightly overlapping on an ovenproof platter, cover loosely with foil and keep in the oven.

2 In medium bowl (I use a 2-quart Pyrex glass measure), whisk together flours, starch, flaxseed meal, xanthan gum, buttermilk powder, sugar, baking powder and salt.

3 In small bowl (I use a 4-cup Pyrex glass measure), whisk together eggs, 1 1/4 cups milk and melted butter. Pour into dry mixture and whisk gently until just combined, adding as much of the reserved 1/4 cup of milk as needed for proper consistency. Let batter stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before using.

OR just make a well in the center of your thoroughly whisked dry ingredients and pour your individual wet ingredients into it; whisk them together in the well and work out from there, combining wet and dry; do not overmix.

4 During last 5 minutes of batter resting, heat griddle over medium heat. Preheating the griddle properly is the key to good pancakes; it takes about 5 minutes, not a minute less. Don't try to speed it up by turning the heat on high, especially if you're using a nonstick griddle.

Note: Unlike with other pans, never preheat a nonstick pan empty or over high heat. Rub a little oil or butter (I use about 1/2 teaspoon) onto the cold pan—don’t use cooking spray—and heat over low to moderate heat.

5 Using a 1/4-cup measuring cup, ladle batter onto hot griddle (preheated for 5 minutes over medium heat, drops of water should dance and disappear quickly). Cook about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side. Don't rush it (like I often do!); wait for the bubbles to appear and break.

Serve with butter and real maple syrup that has been warmed. Or with fruit and/or fruit syrup.

Note: Check out my Recipes index page for more gluten-free recipes.

20 comments:

Cranberry Morning said...

Hi Jean! The fam is here right now so I don't have time to say more than thank you for another gluten-free recipe! I've pinned it and can't wait to try it - maybe on this bunch.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Judy! Let me know if you try it on your "bunch"!

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

Call me a glutton for gluten. No allergy, no preference. Pancakes of any sort are on my menu – particularly corn-pecan. The griddle looks super. I do prefer a square shape. As you say, it does for four instead of three (or one humongous pancake that requires a backhoe to flip). Glad you are a connoisseur of Paul Bunyan’s favorite food!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Sully! A proper whole-grain pancake is actually quite a "nutritious" choice for you - hope you eschew HFCS and use real maple syrup.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

What a great griddle! I have a large AC griddle that covers two burners...this one is much more practical. Your pancakes look delish!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Lizzy! I love pancakes, but I more often make them for two so have told myself I don't need the two-burner model. (I want EVERYthing for the kitchen, even if I only use it once a year!)

Sippity Sup said...

I can't make pancakes. They fail for me every time. Maybe it's the griddle and not me! GREG

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Greg, with your skill in the kitchen, it MUST be the pan!

Gail Is This Mutton? said...

Very timely - my mother was asking for a gluten free pancake recipe.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Gail. I hope your mother will like these. I like the fact that they are fluffy like regular pancakes - I don't like a skinny pancake. (But if your mum does, she can make the batter thinner than I do.)

Unknown said...

Jean, you have outdone yourself once again with these pancakes. They look perfect!
I love All-Clad and have a griddle similar to that one.. I LOVE it. Don't make enough pancakes on them, but after this post, I'm going to have to change that!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Jenn! I could eat pancakes every day - they remind me of my Grandma! My husband made grilled cheese sandwiches on the griddle yesterday, and he was amazed at how much better and evenly they browned, compared to our old ones.

Becky said...

Your pancakes look wonderful. I haven't gone gluten-free yet, but I'm seriously thinking about it. Do you buy all of the gluten free ingredients online, xanthum gum, gluten free flours, etc?

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Becky, thank you! I buy all my gluten-free products (Bob's Red Mill) at my local health food store. Even my local supermarket carries a few of them. But you can also order online directly from Bob's Red Mill.

Anonymous said...

I find quinoi a little bitter. Is there something I can replace it with? - Thanks, Carla

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Carla, yes, you would probably like sorghum flour. Give that a try and let me know how you liked it.

Richard Sheppard said...

I'm a big pan cake fan and these look delicious! Having tried so many of your other recipes, I'm sure these are great. I'm not much for uni-tasker devices so it's good to hear this griddle is good for more than just pancakes.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Richard! Besides pancakes, French toast, sandwiches, etc., it's great for just toasting up some artisan bread slices for dinner. I don't like heating up the oven just for that.

Anonymous said...

I find quinoa a little bitter. Is there something I could substitute?

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Yes, I like sorghum flour a lot. I think you might, too.