PEAR + BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES
Friday, January 14, 2011 at 3:21PM 
I am gone for one blog post and Hugh goes and raises the bar. Videos and romantic coffee bean pictures... I can't top that, but these pancakes are just lovely.
This past week, we spent some time in Mammoth with some good friends. We don't get to the snow often, but I love the change of scenery. It felt refreshing to freeze for a couple days (but that's not to say that I didn't do my fair share of complaining while the sharp winds and snow hit my face, of course).
I've been snowboarding a good ten years or so, but I can't really say that I go flying down the slopes like a seasoned pro. It has nothing to do with skill, mind you, I totally get the technique, but cautiousness is a personality trait I can't seem to grow out of. I wish I had taken a big spill, just so I could see for myself that, yes, I'll actually survive. This antecdote parellels to other news going on in life - a risk of sorts - but I am saving that for next week :) For some reason, that news just doesn't pair well with pancakes. Speaking of, these are excellent. I have browsed, and am now closely studying Kim Boyce's Good to the Grain , as it is a stunning and inspiring cookbook. I only slightly altered these pancakes by adding some spices and swapping in buttermilk. The pear flavor here is pretty gentle, so make sure you use ripe and fragrant ones. I am an eggs-for-breakfast girl, but my cute barista has requested something on the sweeter side, and I'm not one to contest a whole grain pear pancake.
Enjoy your weekend! 
PEAR + BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES // Makes 12
Adapted from Good to the Grain by Kim Boyce
1 Cup Buckwheat Flour
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/2 Cup Unbleached All Purpose Flour
3 Tbsp. Turbinado Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Spice Blend*
3/4 tsp. Sea Salt
2 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 Cup Buttermilk
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Large Egg
2 Firm Pears (I used Bosc and Comice)
1/2 Cup Honey
2 oz. (1/2 stick) Unsalted Butter
* I have a baking spice blend from Penzey's that has some anise in it that I thought was great here - you could use a bit of cardamom, nutmeg or cinnamon as an alternative. Boyce doesn't mention any spice at all - so up to you.
1. Sift all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, making sure everything is evenly distributed.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk/milk, and butter until combined. If you don't have buttermilk, all milk will be just fine.
3. Peel the pears, and grate them in the large holes of a box grater. Add the pears and their juices to the buttermilk mixture.
4. Gently add the wet ingredients into the dry and stir 'til just combined. It should be fairly thick - Boyce recommends letting it sit for a little while, or overnight in the fridge. If you let it rest, you will need to thin it out with milk, 1 Tbsp. at a time. Adjust to your pancake thickness preference.
5. Melt the honey and 2oz. of butter together, and keep warm to pour over the pancakes later.
6. Heat a cast iron pan, or griddle over medium heat. Add batter in 1/4 cup mounds to the pan, once the tops start to bubble, check that the bottoms are golden brown and flip to the other side. Cook about 5 minutes total.
7. Wipe the pan between batches, and rub a little butter in between.
Serve the pancakes hot from the skillet, with a splash of honey butter on top. 
Reader Comments (45)
you seductress! that last photo of the ooozing maple syrup sealed the deal. omgyum.
I love pears and somehow never try them any other way besides just eating them raw! This could break me of that :)
Oh my gosh, I too have been devouring Good to the Grain! Stunning indeed. So far, I've loved the barley flour recipes, and I'm slowly working my way through the rest of them :)
Enjoy your beautiful afternoon of pancakes.
Oh. Em. Gee.
These look AMAZING! That first picture is a real work of art. Do you take them or your talented hubby?
Either way, you're making it VERY hard for me to continue cramming for my Chem final tomorrow. I WANNA MAKE PANCAKES NOW!!
:)
Those pancakes look so amazing! Going to have to try them!
I've been wanting to dig into this cookbook.. and this looks like another perfect reason! Wonderful post :)
When I'm eating carbs next month this will be a must try :) Lovely pics as always.
I haven't been snowboarding in far too long!! Miss it.... Would be great to get out of the snow for some hot cakes like this!
I'm an egg-for-breakfast gal too. But the pears have me intrigued. I recently had a pear pie that was divine - they were not mushy and the flavor subtle but distinctively pear.
Here since they are grated, I'm curious about the texture or if the pear melds into the batter.
These look so good! I have been using pears a lot lately, so I might just have to make these tomorrow morning!
Man oh man! This looks scrumptious! That last shot with the honey butter.. MmmmM!
the honey butter really makes this recipe shine! nice touch :)
Those pancakes look delicious! I never think to incorporate pear into my pancakes!
As always, your pictures are amazing. I have been really enjoying pears this year in all kind of places I never expected. Pear pancakes are a beautiful thing and I love the pairing of them and buckwheat.
I've been looking for a nice buckwheat pancake recipe. The image of the pear is fantastic - like a painting.
Lovely as always!
I have a bag of buckwheat flour languishing around, thanks for the inspiration!
I saw your tweet about your cast iron skillet smelling like chicken as you were trying to make pancakes, and I was hoping you would share your pancake recipe! I knew it would have a delicious, healthy twist :)
I have to come out and say it. I am NOT a pancake girl. They just don't do it for me. I need to spend more time with that cookbook though since I seem to be baking more than ever. I made the chocolate babka and it was divine. Can't wait for your news!
yuuuummmmmm. put that in the jar!!!
Those sound amazing- Scrunptious and perfect:)
I cannot wait to try your recipe! I've made pumpkin pancakes and coconut pancakes lately (see my blog for recipes). Now it's time for pear pancakes!
This post + the previous = one heckuva breakfast. Nice timing!
Too funny. I JUST made these for the first time this morning and was blown away. The delicate taste/smell of the pairs along with that buttery honey and the nutty buckwheat--one of my favorite new breakfasts.
Nice! We sound wonderful. I'm going to try them for dinner tonight. Continue to love the photos.
Pear pancakes - brilliant! Love the buckwheat flour in there, too, and lovely touch adding the baking spices. Everyone is raving about Good to the Grain, I think it's time I get a copy too :)
wow, these sound epic. was just pulling together some pear recipes the other day and this may have to be added to the list! thanks for sharing the recipe and more gorgeous photos :)
i just bought good to the grain! what a lovely book. the ginger snaps are perfect + these pancakes look perfect too... yumm. cheers!
[...] (photo and recipe via sprouted kitchen) [...]
These look delicious! I think I will be making them on Saturday morning. I don't have any buckwheat flour, I was wondering if I could use spelt flour or if I should just replace it with more whole wheat pastry flour? The honey butter will be a perfect complement to the pancakes! Thanks for the yummy recipe.
I keep hearing about Good to the Grain - I'll take this as another sign I should get a copy! These pancakes look fab. Thanks!
So I woke up this morning thinking it is about time to make pancakes again, check my mail, and find this post....talk about good luck and awesome timing. I never thought to combine pear with pancakes but from the looks of it I bet it is one magical combination, I can't wait to try these out! ~ and lovely pictures ;)
Your posts are so beautiful. The photography is incredible and the recipes always make me hungry. Your site is definitely one of my favourites. Happy New Year!
I just went to Mammoth and did some snowboarding myself. These pancake pics are inspiring me to make some myself, thanks for sharing! You have such a lovely blog!
we love buckwheat pancakes! I never thought to add pear, what a wonderful addition!! Wow, you made pancakes look beautiful which is hard to do IMHO. ;)
Wow, your pictures are inspiring. I posted an all buckwheat (no wheat) soaked pancake recipe a while back that is delicious... but my pictures don't make it look half as good as your:)
Adding a few spices is a good idea... to be tried.
Oh my gosh! Pear and buckwheat? Are you kidding me!? That sounds so glorious I am gutted that I didn't pick up pears at the store yesterday cos I sure as hell picked up buttermilk for the very reason of having pancakes and waffles all week long.
A pitstop may have to be made tonight. THese sound divine.
Thank you for sharing, made them yesterday for breakfast, the 3 of us enjoyed them greatly! Amazing photos.....
Amazing blog and fascinating pictures? what camera do u use if u dont mind?
great blog and pictures, what camera do u use if u dont mind?
[...] PEAR + BUCKWHEAT Pancakes {Sprouted Kitchen} [...]
Honey butter and pancakes...truly divine. A friend of mine insisted that I checkout your blog. I plan to drool over your page often. Thanks again for shooting our wedding last year, Hugh...and a belated congrats to you both!
I can't wait for fall to arrive so I can make this recipe. Love this book!
Your pancakes look delicious - I'm a huge fan of your blog!
Sprouted Kitchen...
Well, I have made these now for the fourth time since I came across this post a few months ago. Today, I actually followed the recipe as written. In the past, I have not made these with buckwheat flour because I simply did not have any and wanted to use up what was in the pantry. So...I substituted almond flour for buckwheat and once used a combination of almond, organic cornmeal, and whole wheat pastry flour. I understand, a totally different taste and texture, but still wonderful. As I was preparing the batter this morning, I can honestly say I was not sure of my children's responses. The batter was a gray color, thick in texture (almost like I had over mixed it and it had become 'gummy'). But after our four year had devoured her first two pancakes, I knew that the recipe had become success (at least to her). Later after feeding the entire, the rest was proved true! They were delicious! It feels wonderful as a mother to feed my children healthy meals and try new things. Your blog is beautifully done and I look forward to reading things from it daily! Wish I had more time between four children, homeschooling, watching a young child, and just being a mom to try more of your recipes!
Have a wonderful day!!
Brenda
I made these an hour ago and am still totally in awe! I took a few liberties: used 1 cup buckwheat + 3/4 cup whole wheat flour + 1/4 cup ground flax seed for the flours, substituted runny yogurt instead of buttermilk, added 1/2 cup light molasses instead of the sugar, added 1/2 tsp vanilla, and substituted apples for the pears. The result was superb--very tender and moist and somehow simultaneously light! The buckwheat flavor was delicately nutty. I have a minor obsession with pancakes that stand on their own as whole-foods--with whole grain flours, dairy protein, fruit fiber and nutrients, and some fat to bring all these wonderful ingredients together and aid absorption--and this is my new go-to recipe! Thanks so much!
the sequence of photographs tells such a beautiful story with the last picture leaving my mouth watering and the "motion" feeling of the syrup falling down each pancake is maginficent. great job!