IHOP Country Griddle Cakes

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Many many years ago I was working the overnight shift at IHOP for a little spare cash. I would always eat there during my shift and got to love lots of the foods. My favorite pancakes were the country griddle pancakes. I swear I could eat them every day! Well I stopped working there and a few years later went back to eat there expecting to have my delicious favorite pancakes and they were OFF the menu. I was so disappointed. If you know me and food, you will know that this was seriously an emergency.

I went home and looked in my Top Secret Restaurant Recipes cookbook (the same one I used for the Denny’s Fabulous French Toast recipe I posted a few weeks ago. They actually HAD the recipe and I HAD to try it out immediately! It did not leave me disappointed, that’s for sure.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups Thrive White Flour (You can also grind wheat and use wheat flour)
1/3 cup Thrive Germade (cream of wheat) (on sale this month!)
1 egg (or 1 T. Thrive powdered eggs + 2 T. water)
1/3 cup Thrive White Sugar
1 1/2 cups buttermilk (can make your own, see notes below)
1 tsp. Thrive Baking Powder
1 tsp. Thrive Baking Soda
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. Thrive Salt

Directions:
Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Spray skillet with nonstick spray. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl with a mixer set on medium speed. Mix until smooth, but don’t over mix. Pour the batter by 1/4 – 1/3 cup portions into the hot pan and cook for 1 to 3 minutes per side or until brown. Repeat with remaining batter.

How to Make a Buttermilk Substitution

Since I don’t often have buttermilk on hand, I like to make my own. It’s super easy! You mix 1 Tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice per 1 Cup of milk. Stir it around and let sit for a few minutes. It’s not a true buttermilk but it definitely works as a substitution in a pinch. I also often make it using Thrive Instant Milk so it’s 3 tablespoons of milk powder, 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, and 1 cup of water. Easy and delicious in any recipe calling for buttermilk!