Gifts from the Kitchen: Homemade Pancake Mix

I avoided making this pancake mix for a while because I just figured that any mix that could sit in the cupboard ready to go wouldn't be as good as something I whipped up on the spot. When I finally made it though...not a single pancake was leftover and no one spoke the whole meal. The next time I made it? The same thing. Silence during a meal in our house is when I KNOW the food is a winner. These became our absolute favorite pancakes because they are just so consistently good. They adapt no problem to add-ins, it's a breeze to throw together (even before I've had coffee!) and did I mention how good they are? 

The mix itself takes just a few minutes to throw together, and while malted milk might sound like a weird ingredient, it's really easy to find in a grocery store. Everything else will be sitting in your pantry already. Once the mix is made it's a matter of scooping out a cup of the mix, adding an egg and a cup of milk-that's it. Easy peasy. This time around I added in some cinnamon chips but chocolate chips or blueberries are also favorite add-ins. This recipe will make about 5 cups of mix, so you can fill several smaller mason jars or one larger container in one fell swoop.

I packaged this gift up in a large mason jar and added a pretty gift tag from Mediterraneo Gifts (a great find in the Alt for Everyone gift box!). The directions for the pancakes go on the back of the tag and it's all set! I would include a nice bottle of maple syrup...especially you New Englanders who can get so many varieties of the good stuff. I've used this as a gift for everything from Christmas to welcomes to thanks for letting us (and our crazy children) stay for the weekend. If you use it as a hostess gift you can even offer to cook one morning...especially if said children have just wreaked the amount of havoc usually reserved for raiding Vikings or a horde of Dothrakis. 

                  

                                                                       Who us?

Homemade Pancake Mix:
adapted from The Naptime Chef

3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup malted milk powder
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt

Optional:
1/2 cup cinnamon chips (or chocolate chips, blueberries, etc!)


Mix all ingredients except for the optional add-ins together in a medium bowl. Once completely combined, pour into an airtight storage container and seal.

To make pancakes:

For each 1 cup of pancake mix, add in 1 cup of milk and 1 egg. Mix together completely. Ladle about 1/3 cup of mix on to a heated griddle or pan and cook until top begins to bubble. Flip and cook on the other side until browned. Serve immediately.