Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes
Bright, citrusy pancakes studded with poppy seeds—fluffy, tender, and finished with a silky lemon glaze. Ready in 20 minutes for an elegant breakfast that tastes restaurant-quality.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 385
- Protein
- 8g
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 2 whole large eggs
- 1.25 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, for cooking
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
- 1
Zest 2 medium lemons on a microplane into a small bowl—you need 1 tablespoon of zest for the pancakes and 0.5 teaspoon for the glaze. Then juice the lemons to yield 2 tablespoons of fresh juice for the batter and 2 tablespoons for the glaze.
- 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 0.25 teaspoon fine sea salt, and 2 tablespoons poppy seeds. Set aside.
- 3
In another bowl, crack 2 large eggs and beat them together, then pour in 1.25 cups whole milk, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, and 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter. Whisk until just combined—the mixture should be slightly lumpy.
- 4
Set a 12-inch nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and let it preheat for 1 minute. Place 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in the pan and let it melt until foamy and smelling nutty, about 30 seconds—do not let it brown.
- 5
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together gently with a rubber spatula, making 8-10 folds. Stop as soon as you don't see dry flour streaks—lumps are fine and will create a fluffier pancake.
- 6
Using a 1/4-cup measure or a ladle, pour 3-4 pancakes onto the hot buttered skillet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Sauté until the edges look set and opaque, about 2-3 minutes. You'll see steam holes forming across the top surface—this signals they're ready to flip.
- 7
Slide a spatula under each pancake and flip gently. Cook for another 1-2 minutes on the second side until golden brown. The pancakes should feel springy when gently pressed—if they still feel wet, cook for another 30 seconds.
- 8
Transfer the cooked pancakes to a large plate and keep them warm. Repeat with the remaining batter, using a touch more butter in the pan before each batch.
- 9
While the pancakes cook, make the glaze: In a small bowl, sift 1 cup confectioners' sugar into a bowl, then whisk in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 0.5 teaspoon lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon whole milk. Whisk until the glaze is smooth and pourable, with no lumps.
- 10
Stack the warm pancakes on serving plates and drizzle the lemon glaze over the top, allowing it to cascade down the sides. Serve immediately.
Tools you’ll need
- 12-inch nonstick skillet or griddle
- microplane zester
- medium mixing bowl
- small bowl
- whisk
- rubber spatula
- 1/4-cup measure or ladle
- wide spatula
- sifter or fine-mesh strainer
- serving plates
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