Sticky sweet, two ways

Over at Simple Bites, Aimee has been posting up a storm about all things pancake. There was a post on homemade syrups and another post that included several pancake recipes. All that panny-cake talk got me hungry, so one night last week when I was scheduled to have a houseful of kids (eight total, to be exact), I decided to have a pancake feast.

cinnamon molasses syrup on a whole wheat buttermilk pancake

I spent a fair amount of the afternoon putzing around the kitchen, mixing up the dry ingredients and the wet for three different kinds of pancakes: pumpkin, cornmeal-blueberry, and whole wheat buttermilk (I made the buttermilk pancakes using 100 percent whole wheat and they were lovely—there is absolutely no reason to use any white flour in that recipe). I also made three corresponding syrups: cinnamon molasses, orange-honey, and buttery brown sugar. I planned to serve the pancakes in courses (my daughter’s idea), and there would be a huge skillet of scrambled cheesy eggs as well. And lots of milk, of course. ‘Cause you can’t have pancakes without milk.


My plan worked beautifully, or would have, if the electricity hadn’t gone off right when I started frying up course two.


The kids yelled and scrambled for candles and I, my shoulders slumping, said to my husband, “Better go get the outdoor stove.”


I fried the rest of the pancakes on the porch, a fading headlamp my only weapon against the encroaching darkness, and the kids ferried the pancakes from porch to table. The lack of light in no way inhibited them from stuffing their tummies to the bursting point.

Then, just when I was beginning to contemplate the mountain of dirty dishes (somehow I managed to soil nearly all of my spatulas and rubber scrapers and plates and forks and spoons and glasses and mixing bowls), the lights (and water) came back on.


My husband and I cast a Maria von Trapp spell over the kids while we blitzed the kitchen, and then my husband read from Little House while the kids lollygagged about and I sat on the floor in the middle of them and tried to knit without getting jostled.

All things considered, the meal was a success (though 18 eggs were definitely not enough). I enjoyed my time spent playing and creating and watching the kids stuff their faces. Also, I learned that I love cinnamon molasses syrup and that a bit of butter stirred into a standard brown sugar syrup makes for some serious deliciousness.

a dribble of cinnamon molasses-y goodness


Cinnamon Molasses Syrup

Adapted from Simple Bites

This syrup is wonderfully delicious on heartier pancakes, like sweet potato or pumpkin (I prefer lighter syrups for lighter pancakes). I also drizzled it on some leftover cornbread and loved loved loved it. In fact, I’m thinking that next time I make cornbread, I’ll be making this syrup to go with it.

1/4 cup molasses
½ cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

Combine the first four ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 or 3 minutes before removing from the heat. Stir in the butter. Store in the fridge, in a lidded glass jar.

Yield: one pint

and a dribble of buttery, brown sugar-y goodness, yum-yum


Buttery Brown Sugar Syrup

Inspired by Simple Bites and a bunch of other recipes on the web

I tried to make an all brown sugar syrup, but the brown sugar only stayed dissolved for a short amount of time before turning grainy. No amount of reheating could return it to it’s smooth, syrupy form. For this reason, I used three parts white sugar and one part brown—white sugar dissolves completely and remains that way.

(I already have a brown sugar syrup in the recipe index—it has equal parts sugar and water and some thickener, so it’s a little less sweet. Plus, it makes a large amount—it’s still my bulk-syrup go-to recipe.)

3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
½ cup water
1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon butter

Put the sugars and water in a saucepan and bring it to a rolling boil. Remove it from the heat and stir in the flavorings and butter. Store in the fridge, in a lidded glass jar.

Yield: one pint

To soak up the sticky-sweet: baked French toast, cornmeal-whole wheat waffles, Dutch puff, Farmer Boy pancakes, oatmeal pancakes, Russian pancakes, and whole wheat buttermilk waffles. Go on now, cook yourself up some breakfast love!

8 Comments

  • Anonymous

    Hey mama, aren't you going to post something about how the visits to this blog recently crossed the 100k mark? This seems celebration-worthy. Congrats! Brother #2

  • meemsnyc

    Wow, a pancake feat. Delicious. It's so cool how you were unphased by the black out. The syrups look just amazing as well. Delicious.

  • Mommy Emily

    oh, what a wonderful household you have… pancakes and delicious syrups and candles and little house on the prairie… love this.

  • Aimee @ Simple Bites

    I hope this doesn't do you in, but there's ONE MORE pancake recipe coming on Wednesday. Stay tuned- it just may be the best yet.

  • Margo

    makes me a little hungry.

    I adore hot buttered syrup! I'm going to have to make it for pancakes next time.

    Good tip on the brown sugar not melting all the way.

  • Zoë

    Bummer, now you know my secret pancake recipe! 'Cept I don't use the sugar.

    Amber, I'll take some sweet potatoes if you can't get them used up!

  • Amber

    Mmmmm, we love pancakes too and eat them fairly often. The other day I made buttermilk pancakes but my homemade buttermilk wouldn't culture (get thick) so in place of a fourth of the buttermilk I added mashed sweet potato (I'm desperately trying to use them up!) The pancakes were wonderful! The sweet potato made the buttermilk thick enough and the pancakes turned out a beautiful golden color. We liked them enough I made them the next morning too.

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