Homemade mix makes perfect pancakes

Pancakes are one of my daughter’s favorite breakfasts, and at 16 she is old enough and skilled enough to whip up a batch for herself. But she won’t bother unless there is a pancake mix she can use. Sigh.

While we had found a couple of whole-grain mixes suitable, it always irked me to spend a premium for what is essentially a simple addition of baking powder and salt into flour. And “fine” was about as high a praise as we could muster for any of those we tried.

Finally, it struck me: I can make my own mix! Since then I’ve been toying around with variations, incorporating grains such as cornmeal and oats, and ground nuts and seeds for intrigue and a nutritional boost.

This version has soft, mild whole-wheat pastry flour as its base (you could substitute regular whole-wheat flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour) with almond meal/flour added for extra richness, protein and healthful fat. You can buy almond meal or make it yourself by whirring blanched almonds in a food processor to a powdery consistency.

This recipe also includes hemp hearts or wheat germ for nutty-tasting nutritional goodness and texture. The pancakes come out tender and light, and — with or without added fruit and nuts — they are officially approved by at least one teenager.

Whole Wheat Almond Pancake Mix

12 to 16 servings (makes 5 cups mix, or enough for 4 batches of pancakes).

MAKE AHEAD: The dry mix can be refrigerated for up to 3 months. From nutritionist and cookbook author Ellie Krieger.

For the mix:

3 cups whole-wheat pastry flour

1 cup almond meal/flour

¼ cup hemp hearts or toasted wheat germ

¼ cup baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

For the pancakes:

1 cup low-fat milk (1 percent), or milk of your choice

1 large egg

1¼ cups Whole Wheat Almond Pancake Mix

⅓ cup chopped toasted nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans), optional

⅔ cup sliced banana or strawberries or whole blueberries, optional

¼ cup pure maple syrup, for serving

For the mix: Whisk together the whole-wheat pastry flour, almond meal/flour, hemp hearts or toasted wheat germ, baking powder and salt in a container with a tight-fitting lid.

To make enough pancakes for 3 to 4 servings, whisk together the milk and egg in a medium bowl. Add 1¼ cups of the pancake mix, stirring until there are no dry spots or large lumps; some small lumps are OK. Stir in the nuts and fruit, if using, reserving some to use as an optional topping.

Heat a large nonstick griddle or skillet over medium heat. Ladle about ¼ cup of the batter per pancake. Cook for about 2 minutes, then flip them when the pancake tops are covered with bubbles and the undersides are browned. Cook for another 2 minutes or so, just until the pancakes are golden brown on both sides and cooked through. The yield is 8 or 9 medium-size pancakes.

Serve right away, topped with reserved fruit and nuts, if using, and with the maple syrup.

Nutrition per serving (based on 4, using 1-percent low-fat milk): 60 calories, 5 g protein, 5 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 50 mg cholesterol, 95 mg sodium, 0 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugar.

Nutrition per serving (mix only, based on 16): 140 calories, 4 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 370 mg sodium, 3 g dietary fiber, 0 g sugar.