Overnight yeast-risen pancakes with orange honey butter

 

There are snowflakes flitting around in the air. I mean, I know it's still March and all, and it's not supposed to amount to anything. But still, enough already. It drove us to make reservations for next winter's getaway, so we set our vacation time before we overbook ourselves with concert tickets like we did this year. I know, first-world problems extraordinaire.

But at any rate, it's still comfort food weather, and we had some maple breakfast sausages from Hilltop in the freezer, so pancakes it is.

Overnight yeast-risen pancakes with orange-honey butter

Adapted from Kitchn.com's "Christmas morning pancakes"

Ingredients

2 cups warm milk (about 105 F)

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled slightly, plus more for the griddle

2½ cups flour

½ teaspoon salt

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

For butter:

8 tablespoons room temperature butter

2 tablespoons honey

Zest of 1 orange

Method

Combine milk, sugar and yeast in a medium bowl. Let set about 10 minutes until foamy. Whisk in the melted butter.

Whisk flour and salt in a large bowl. (A glass bowl is handy so you can see from the side how much the dough rises later.) Pour the milk mixture over the top and stir to blend. You can expect (and tolerate) lumps.

Cover the bowl loosely and place in a warmish place away from drafts. Let rise until doubled. The original recipe says this takes 30 minutes, but definitely not in my cold Minnesota kitchen. An hour and a half did the trick. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

In the morning, stir in the eggs and let set at room temperature for a half hour. Lightly grease a griddle or large skillet and heat over medium to medium high heat until a drop of water sizzles on the surface. Pour a scant ¼ cup of batter for each pancake and cook in batches until done. Serve with orange honey butter. Makes 14-16.

For orange butter mix butter, honey and orange zest. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before breakfast (or dinner). Can be made well ahead, and tastes better if it’s had at least a few hours to blend the flavors.

Rating: Nice and reasonably fluffy. The orange butter is tasty, as you might expect.  Good for breakfast or supper if you plan ahead.