Miniature Pancakes with Sourdough Discard

Miniature pancakes are a fun breakfast trend, also called pancake cereal, in which tiny pancakes are cooked and served in a bowl like cereal. These fluffy mini pancakes are golden brown, bite-sized, and perfect with maple syrup and fresh fruit.

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I preferred to make them because I like a pancake with eggs and sausage, but not so big that I just add 400 calories to my breakfast. They are tiny wonders in one bite that the whole family can enjoy without overdoing it. One regular pancake equals 110 calories, where a mini pancake is about 8 calories, so I can have 4 pancakes when I make a full breakfast for brunch.

Another thing I do is I use sourdough discard in pancakes, which is one of the easiest ways to upgrade a simple breakfast recipe. Instead of discarding the extra starter, you can turn it into exceptionally fluffy pancakes with deeper flavor and a softer texture than regular pancakes. Many bakers actually prefer discard pancakes over traditional buttermilk pancakes because the natural fermentation improves both taste and structure.

History of Pancakes Around the World

Pancakes are one of the oldest prepared foods in the world. Nearly every culture has some version of a pancake made from flour, liquid, and heat. While the ingredients and textures vary widely, the basic idea of cooking batter on a hot surface has existed for thousands of years.

• Ancient Greece and Rome
  The first written references to pancakes appear in Ancient Greece. Greek poets in the 5th century BC described pancakes called “tagenites.” 
• Russian Blini
  Russia has a long tradition of blini, small pancakes made with wheat or buckwheat flour.
• French Crêpes
  In France, pancakes evolved into crêpes, which are much thinner than American pancakes.
• Japan – Okonomiyaki
  A savory pancake made with cabbage, eggs, flour, and various toppings.
• China – Scallion Pancakes
  Layered flatbread pancakes filled with green onions.
• India – Dosa
  A thin fermented pancake made from rice and lentils, often served with chutney and curry.
• American Pancakes
  The fluffy pancakes most people in the United States recognize today developed in the 18th and 19th centuries.

These modern versions of the mini pancake recipe show how a food that began thousands of years ago is still being reinvented today. Now let's get started with these miniature pancakes for brunch!

Kitchen Tools From Amazon

(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my Amazon Storefronts or buy some items for this AMZCHEF

• electric griddle
• non-stick skillet
• squeeze bottle
• baking sheet
• small ladle

Simple Pantry Ingredients

Dry ingredients
1 cup flour or oat flour, more if needing thicker pancakes
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients
¾ cup sourdough discard, active will also work
¼ cup melted butter
2 tablespoons honey, or maple syrup
1 egg
1 cup milk
optional lemon juice

How to Make Pancake Cereal

Cereal pancakes, they are also called, are easy and take very little time to make.

1. Mix the batter

• In a bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
• Then mix the wet ingredients until smooth.
• Mix to form a smooth pancake batter and allow it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes during the batter rest.

2. Heat your pan

• Warm a non-stick skillet, frying pan, or electric griddle over medium heat or medium-low heat.
• Avoid high heat because the small pancakes cook quickly and can burn before they turn golden brown.
• Add a little butter to the hot pan. I wipe the griddle, then on a wipe the butter one when I use the griddle

3. Pipe the tiny pancakes

• Transfer the batter into a squeeze bottle or a ziplock bag with the tip snipped.

• Use it to pipe round pancakes about the size of coins onto the pan.
• You can also use a small ladle, but the bottle makes it easier to create perfectly tiny pancakes.
• Cook until bubbles form and flip when the bottoms are golden brown.

4. Cook in batches

• Place cooked pancakes on a baking sheet while finishing the rest of the batch.
• This method works great when making a large batch.
• If you prefer larger pancakes, you can simply make regular pancakes instead.

How to Serve Mini Pancakes 

Pour the warm pancake cereal into bowls and drizzle generously with maple syrup.

My Favorite Toppings

• fresh fruit
• chocolate chips
• cinnamon sugar
• whipped cream
• yogurt

These fluffy mini pancakes are a fun twist on breakfast and always make taste buds happy.

Storage

Store leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. They reheat quickly for another quick breakfast or easy meal prep option.

Helpful Tips

The most important thing when making mini pancake bites is to keep the heat controlled.

• Cook over medium heat or medium-low heat
• Avoid high heat
• Make sure the pan is evenly heated
• You can also stir in chocolate chips or sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top for different flavors.
• Letting the batter sit for a short batter rest helps create a softer pancake texture.

More Breakfast Recipes to Enjoy!

The perfectly golden brown small pancakes are a guilty pleasure that one has because let's face it, who doesn't love a pancake of any size? For a brunch get-together,  these are a perfect addition to a full breakfast, and they are a fun food to put a smile on your face. I hope you enjoyed our journey today in exploring  American Miniature Pancakes. Until next time, my beautiful friends, as my quest for the perfect bite continues!