How to Enhance Pancake Mix

Pancakes are a welcome addition to most any breakfast

The supermarket is filled with convenience products, designed to provide a "homemade" meal in a quick and easy way. The end result will seldom be mistaken for homemade. But it at least will be consistent from one meal to the next, which is not always the case with homemade foods. One common example is pancake mix. Scratch-made pancake can vary a great deal, depending on what you put in the mix. Many cooks find it easier to start with a reliable pancake mix, then add extra ingredients to make them taste more homemade. Does this Spark an idea?

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Instructions

Adding to the Mix
- 1
  
  Add small quantities of buckwheat flour, whole wheat flour or quick-cooking oats to the pancake mix to improve its texture and nutritive value.
- 2
  
  Stir buttermilk powder into the dry mix to provide a flavor boost and better rise. Some mixes already include dried buttermilk, but a little more won't hurt.
- 3
  
  Add 1/2 tsp. of baking powder to each batch to increase the fluffiness of your pancakes.
- 4
  
  Use milk or buttermilk instead of water when mixing the batter. Your pancakes will be richer and better-tasting.
- 5
  
  Add a whole egg, or two beaten egg whites, to your batter. A whole egg will make it richer, while beaten egg whites will make the batter lighter.
Adding While Cooking
- 6
  
  Sprinkle the wet side of each pancake with chocolate, caramel or peanut butter chips while the first side cooks. They'll sink into the batter and be melted and soft when the pancakes are done.
- 7
  
  Add a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or chopped strawberries while the pancakes cook. Dried fruit is also good in pancakes.
- 8
  
  Toast a handful of almonds, pecans or walnuts. Chop them coarsely, and sprinkle over the pancakes as they cook.