The BEST Gluten-Free Pancakes EVER!
Many of my regular readers and Facebook followers will know that I have been trying to find the perfect pancake recipe for a while with many disasters. When I was still eating wheat, I was trying to find a good sourdough version, and did with my Sourdough Crêpes. Then, once I became gluten-free, I managed the perfect Coconut Pancakes -wheat-free, grain free pancakes using coconut flour. But these yeasted buckwheat pancakes that ferment overnight are absolutely incredible. They are the best pancakes I have actually ever tasted, restrictions aside. Plus they are gluten-free, egg-free and dairy-free – perfect for people with multiple intolerances/allergies.
My dear readers, these pancakes were so good, that I almost cried. Seriously. When you have food intolerances, it is the simple foods that are the hardest to find substitutes for – things like pancakes, pizza crust, pie crust, and bread etc – all the quick and easy go-to foods. Plus for us, Sunday morning pancakes and Friday evening pizza had become traditions that we shared and looked forward to every week. So losing the tradition aspect is really hard.
When you don’t have a substitute you experience many frustrating moments in the kitchen. These are not recipes you can just come up with in the moment either. Learning to bake without wheat, grains, eggs or dairy for that matter means you can’t use the old techniques that you are used to. You have to learn how the new flours work, which leavening agents to use, how to thicken without eggs, etc. Many on-the-fly experiences end in disaster, leading to more frustration.
Sometimes all you want is a regular ‘ol grilled cheese sandwich, or a plate of pancakes with butter and maple syrup.
These pancakes answer the call.
I cannot take the credit though; these pancakes are the recipe of my gluten-free guru and good friend Amy Green from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free. Based on a recipe she got from Beard On Bread by James Beard. I love her recipes because I know that I can eat them. There is no gluten or refined sugars in her recipes which means I don’t have to think about substitutions. She really is quite an amazing cook and well educated in the culinary arts – she is currently going to culinary school a lifelong dream she thought she would never realize because of her gluten issues. But she is there learning, and then comes home and applies her learning to figuring out gluten free versions to the most prized baked goods – things like croissants and cream puffs. Can’t wait for those!
Whether it is her mission or not, she takes the guesswork out of it for people like me who are just learning to live a life without gluten and who has a spouse that loves his breads and pastries. I think what makes Amy’s style so appealing is that her husband is not gluten-free either and yet they eat the same meals, so in her quest to feed him the foods he loves, she has to come up with gluten-free versions that are close to the real deal! Which is exactly what I need!
So if you are gluten-free or thinking about going that route, I strongly suggest you get her newly released cookbook Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free: 180 Easy and Delicious Recipes You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less, it is full of delicious recipes that even your non-gluten-free friends and family will enjoy! If you purchase it through my link, I will get a small kickback.
Now that I know how much I love these pancakes, I will likely make 2 batches and freeze one. If you are a small family, you might even have leftovers from the initial batch. This will make quick breakfasts nutritious and delicious!
*TIP: I always preheat my oven to 200F, and as each batch of pancakes finishes, I put them on a cookie sheet in the oven to keep them warm. Once all the pancakes are cooked, the cast iron skillet is nice and clean and hot to cook bacon or sausage.
Now for the recipe
Yeasted Buckwheat Pancakes

makes about 20 (3-inch) pancakes
INGREDIENTS:
1 package (7 grams) instant dry yeast
2 cups (500 grams) warm water (about 100°F)
1 teaspoon (4 grams) kosher salt
2 cups (260 grams) buckwheat flour
2 tablespoons (42 grams) blackstrap molasses ( I used date syrup)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter, melted
I also added 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
METHOD:
Combine the yeast, warm water, salt, and buckwheat flour in a large bowl. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel and let it sit overnight.
The next day, mix in the molasses or date syrup, baking soda, and melted butter. The batter will be relatively thin. Heat a large pan or griddle over medium heat. Lightly butter the surface and drop 1/4 cup of the batter onto the hot surface. Let it cook until the surface bubbles, then flip it and let it cook all the way through, about 30 seconds. Serve hot with butter and warm honey (we did butter and maple).









Rosa - March 10, 2011 at 12:51 pm
They look great! I love the idea of making them with buckwheat flour.
Cheers,
Rosa
bellini - March 10, 2011 at 1:04 pm
I am so happy that you found something you love Jenn. It is so hard to enjoy everyday foods when you have allergies and intolerances. Yippee!!Looks like this book will come in very handy!!
lo - March 10, 2011 at 1:10 pm
They look gorgeous, Jenn — you’re giving me a total craving for buckwheat pancakes! My grandmother used to make those for me when I was a kid, and they were some of my favorites.
Peter G @ Souvlaki For The Soul - March 10, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Happy to read that you found a recipe for a favourite dish Jenn!
sheree - March 10, 2011 at 3:20 pm
I cannot wait to try these! I am so glad when others find these awesome recipes and share them. It sure takes the frustration out of finding good gf foods for us newbies!
Christianne Madona - March 10, 2011 at 3:39 pm
I agree about Amy- and I am loving her book.I am gluten free by choice as well as dairy and refined sugar.
When i made her socca pizza dough last night for a lenten Ash Wednedsay meal- i almost cried too. Today all i want to do is play with different socca ingredients like rosemary. basil, sun dried tomatoes etc.
Now because of Amy, I have been introduced to your wonderful blog and recipes!
I am also a leftover lover but far from a queen. I am looking forward to exploring your site!
Thanks so much and contiunued success!
Christianne
Peter - March 10, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Gluten-free or not, these pancakes look fantastic…flap-jacks for brekkie?
vanillasugarblog - March 10, 2011 at 6:46 pm
i bet that molasses adds a lot of flavor. and you know the blackstrap is very good for you. i remember years ago when i first started reading dr. weil books he always talked about how high in calcium critrate is was (the right calcium).
you really are becoming more and more creative with the gluten-free. that’s hard and you’ve done such a good job at it.
Amanda - March 10, 2011 at 10:06 pm
These look and sound glorious. I do an egg free version for Lucy and bind them with pureed sweet potato or carrot. They approximate the heft and texture of roofing insulation. These sound like the answer, thank you!!!! xoxo
5 Star Foodie - March 10, 2011 at 10:56 pm
So these must be similar to blini? I love your use of date syrup or molasses here, nice!
nina - March 10, 2011 at 11:39 pm
I could finish that stack off for breakfast, yum!!!
Simone - March 11, 2011 at 9:18 am
Great that you found a recipe that works for you… I mean; what would life be without pancakes right? I just love them and these look really good!
Arlene (MOM) - March 11, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Well now. I am going to have to try these if they are so good they make you almost cry!!!
I keep trying different recipes so I am sure this one will be added to the list as I like pancakes – a lot.
Ket Brian - March 12, 2011 at 10:20 am
I just found your site and love all the recipes! I am just beginning to cook and bake with almond flour and I’m so delighted with how things turn out! I look forward to reading your book as well.
Melanie - March 12, 2011 at 1:56 pm
These pancakes look great! It’s so hard to get the “diet” foods right, so when you find a recipe that works, it’s a very lucky day!
The Leftover Queen - March 12, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Thanks Ket! Just to let you know, the ebook is not 100% gluten-free – I wrote it before I became gluten-free.
kellypea - March 14, 2011 at 3:42 am
Very cool that you are able to get some relief with these. I can’t imagine
. We buy a box of mix for Kodiak Cakes, which are essentially buckwheat pancakes. I just add water. But this risen version sounds like something we’d enjoy. Especially with the molasses in the list.
mayajo - March 18, 2011 at 6:17 am
Fantastic! my wife would love this for her breakfast! looking at it makes me hungry!
cool maternity chick - March 19, 2011 at 11:42 am
mmmmm….looks good. my only lament is that there is no buckwheat flour in my pantry RIGHT NOW!
Lynda Lorenz - April 17, 2011 at 10:13 pm
This sounds like the near perfect recipe for me, however, I am also not allowed to have yeast. Do you think substituting baking powder would produce a similar result? I’m glad for the recipe w/o the gluten and dairy, since these are also things I must avoid. And I was very glad to read about the recipe book you mentioned with all the “substituiting” already done and now I ask for another way to do that. You are absolutely on target about the frustrations with trying to find something to eat/cook that is somewhat “normal” when you have food allergies/sensititivites. Thanks for your suggestions and work on this, I can see this will be very helpful.
The Leftover Queen - April 18, 2011 at 11:17 am
Hi Lynda – unfortunately with this recipe, I think the yeast is an important part – it seems to act as the binder for the flour and holds everything together. So I am not sure if the baking powder will work or not. But give it a try! I would love to know, myself! Best of luck – and thanks for your comment!
Arn - June 11, 2011 at 10:31 pm
I love this recipe and have eaten it for the last three weeks! Thanks so much for posting it. For lack of molasses I used honey. I also add more cinnamon and a couple of dashes of nutmeg. Super yummy!
GWEN - June 19, 2011 at 7:40 am
Thank you, my husband loved them! as did my daughter! this was the easiest/simplest gluten free pancake recipe I have found. big hit at my house!
Emily - August 7, 2011 at 10:55 am
I love them, but only if I don’t let them set overnight. One hour is plenty for me and doesn’t ferment, so no sourness. Thanks so much, buckwheat is my favorite!!
Rebecca - August 28, 2011 at 1:27 pm
You should change the title on this post to The Best Pancakes ever! Wow! Thank you thank you thank you! They are mmmmm-azing!
tom nolan - March 4, 2012 at 12:33 pm
I just turned 80 years old,and for last 5or 6 years I`ve been scraching, 2or 3 skin doctors have said “we don`t know what`s the cause of it”, finely a colored Dr told me I have Celiac disease,and there is no cure for it,moreover I cannot eat any thing with wheat in it. Gluten free foods only! I`m new in gluten free pancakes, I love to make my own form of pancake batter, but now i`m at a loss even to the written recipes. My queston is what in the mixes will bring about a cooked pancake all thru insted of a gwewy uncooked mix inside the two cooked sides. Is it “starch”? “yeast ” baking soda or powder, or a combenation of these with something else to bring about the desired form of my taste,others too.
The Leftover Queen - March 5, 2012 at 1:06 pm
I wish I had an easy answer Tom. Gluten-free baking can be a challenge in the beginning and after being at it for 3 years, I am still learning. If you follow this recipe as written I promise you will find yourself eating delicious, cooked through pancakes! Good luck!