Strawberry Cardamom Pancakes with Toasted Cashew Coconut Sprinkle

SERIOUSLY GOOD PANCAKES - STRAWBERRIES INSIDE & OUT WITH A SPRINKLE OF TOASTED CASHEWS & COCNUT

Pancakes are my happy food.  If I'm in a quandary about what to have for dinner and groceries are running low, my go to is usually some form of breakfast food and especially pancakes.   I love all kinds of pancakes.  Check out my Grandma Rice's Buckwheat Pancakes with Cherry Compote.  Those are a taste of my childhood.

These special spheres are so easy to make.  They're almost always a cup of all purpose flour, a cup of milk and an egg for starters, then you doctor them according to your whim.  I usually add some good vanilla for starters and then go from there.

I DON'T ALWAYS USE A PANCAKE MIX, BUT LATELY HAVE BEEN LOVING KODIAK. I USE IT HERE FOR A PROTEIN PACKED SHORTCUT

Buttermilk pancakes are absolutely a family favorite, but I often do like to take shortcuts that save me a bit of time.  I always have a pancake mix on hand and for the last couple of years it's been Kodiak Cake mix.  I use that exact mix here in this recipe, but you can use your mix of choice. 

EASIEST BATTER EVER WITH A SMIDGE OF CARDAMOM

Adding some luxurious vanilla and cardamom, one of my favorite warming spices, makes these pancakes taste so delicious.  I dot them with strawberries as they cook and then top them off with more strawberries that are mixed together with sweet, sticky maple syrup.

READY FOR MY GRIDDLE

I DOT THE CAKES WITH BERRIES WHILE THEY COOK

The kicker is the toasted coconut and cashew spinkle that you dust over the whole lot.  Perhaps a little butter?  These are strawberrylicious.

TOASTED COCONUT & CASHEWS ALL READY TO SPRINKLE OVER MY CAKES

When you take a bite that involves all of the elements it's a pancake party happening in your mouth.

There's something about the crispy edges you get when you make pancakes in an iron skillet like this one from Lodge, but I also love the convenience of an electric griddle, especially when making pancakes for more than 2.  You can't go wrong with either here.

Strawberry Cardamom Pancakes with Cashew Coconut Sprinkle

Pancakes
Makes about 8 pancakes

1 cup pancake mix (I love Kodiak Cakes Mix)
1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
1 egg. (I love the bright orange yolk of pasture raised eggs like Vital Farms)
1 teaspoon vanilla (I love to use vanilla paste)
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
2 cups strawberries, stems removed & chopped into smaller bits (divided)
1/4 cup maple syrup
Cooking spray for griddle or skillet (I love to use spray ghee for a Buttery flavor)
Butter for serving (optional) 


In a large bowl use a whisk to combine all the pancake ingredients together well (pancake mix through cardamom) and let sit for about 5 minutes.


In a smaller bowls take half of the chopped strawberries and combine with the maple syrup.  


Heat an electric griddle or skillet to medium heat and add  a bit of butter or spray with cooking spray (I love to use spray ghee).  Spoon about 1/4 cup batter per pancake onto griddle in even sized circles.  You can, of course, make your pancakes any size you'd like.


Using the remaining strawberry bits, sprinkle a few over each pancake as it cooks.  When bubbles start to form on the pancake surface (1-2 minutes), flip over to finish cooking on the other side.  This should take just another minute.


Remove to a plate and spoon the strawberry maple syrup over the pancakes and dust with the toasted cashew and coconut sprinkle. 



Cashew Coconut Sprinkle
1/2 cup raw cashews, roughly chopped
1/4 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)


Combine & toast over medium heat in a nonstick skillet like the one I use by T-Fal, just until the the coconut turns golden (about 3 minutes)  Remove from heat and let cool.

Love my Pyrex mixing bowls for everyday use.