Spelt flour pancakes

These soft, nutty, delicious spelt flour pancakes are perfect for breakfast.

They take very little prep and the results are everything you'd want from a pancake - light, fluffy, soft and perfect for drizzling with syrup.

You'll start with sifting spelt flour with baking powder, icing sugar and a pinch of salt, then whisk in eggs and milk to give a really smooth, even batter, ready to fry. It couldn't be simpler!

I like to cook my spelt flour pancakes on the smaller side so that I can fry four at a time and soon build up a lovely, tall stack, ready to serve with fresh fruit and a drizzle of syrup.

Here's how to make my spelt flour pancakes.

Instructions

Put the spelt flour, baking powder, icing sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl.

Whisk gently to combine, then make a well.

Add the egg and milk to the well.

Start to whisk the mixture in the well, slowly incorporating the flour.

Keep incorporating until you have a smooth, even batter.

Put 1 tsp of butter in a non-stick frying pan and melt over a medium heat.

Add 1 tbsp of batter per pancake - leave space for them to spread.

Fry until pale golden underneath, then flip with a slotted spatula.

Fry until cooked on both sides.

Repeat until all the pancakes are cooked. Stack them on plates.

Top however you like. Their slightly nutty flavour goes beautifully with banana slices.

And, of course, a drizzle of syrup never goes amiss!

Enjoy!

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect spelt flour pancakes

Are spelt flour pancakes easy to make?

Yes! This batter for this spelt flour pancake recipe is a doddle to make, and with a little frying you end up with beautifully light little pancakes that have a slightly nutty flavour and the added bounce of using a wholegrain flour.

It's quick to make these pancakes. They are little so you can fit a few in the pan together rather than waiting for massive pancakes that take up the whole pan.

Will I need any special equipment for this spelt flour pancake recipe?

Everything you need for this spelt flour pancake recipe should be easy to find in the average kitchen. The key piece of equipment is a non-stick frying pan to cook your pancakes in.

You will also need the usual things like weighing scales, measuring spoons, and a mixing bowl. When you head down to the recipe card below, you'll see the full list of suggested equipment.

Where can I buy spelt flour?

Spelt flour has increased in popularity over the last few years and is widely available in larger supermarkets, with your online shop, or in health food stores. You can also buy spelt flour on Amazon, although it works out quite expensive that way.

Spelt is part of the wheat family and comes in wholemeal or white varieties. I've used wholemeal for this recipe as it tastes really nice and nutty, and is a little easier to get hold of than white spelt flour.

Spelt flour still contains gluten, but in lesser amounts than regular flour. Some people with a wheat intolerance find they can tolerate spelt flour as it's a different plant, but remember it's not gluten-free and should never be given to someone avoiding wheat/gluten without their express permission.

Is this spelt flour pancake recipe suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, these spelt pancakes are vegetarian as they contain no meat, poultry or fish products. Check your other ingredients to be sure and be mindful too of what you're serving with your pancakes with, as a side of bacon wouldn't be veggie!

Is this spelt flour pancake recipe suitable for vegans?

This recipe isn't vegan as it contains egg and dairy milk.

You could try making a vegan version by replacing the milk with plant milk. Unsweetened soya milk would be my preference as it's relatively neutral in flavour and stays quite stable in batters.

For the egg,

For the eggs, you’ll need to use a suitable replacement. Each of the below suggestions is equal to one egg. My personal preference for pancakes is crushed chia seeds, but all of these suggestions should work:

• 1 tablespoon of crushed chia seeds or flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and left for 10 minutes in the fridge.
• 3 tablespoons of aquafaba (the water you get in a tin of chickpeas).
• 3 tablespoons of applesauce (bear in mind this will add sweetness).

And to fry, you could use plant-based butter as long as it has a high fat content (around 80%), otherwise it may spatter. Alternatively, you could use a little vegetable oil or a dab of coconut oil. If you pan is really good quality non-stick, you may not need very much fat at all.

Is this spelt flour pancake recipe gluten-free?

No, spelt flour still contains gluten, though to a lesser extent than regular wheat flour. These pancakes would not be suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten. They also contain baking powder which is not always gluten-free.

To make these pancakes gluten-free but still have that lovely wholegrain nuttiness, you can use buckwheat flour instead which is gluten-free. I've tested this recipe with buckwheat flour and it behaves in a similar way to the spelt flour giving you lovely soft, rich pancakes.

Remember to use gluten-free baking powder and double check the labels on everything you use in this recipe, including anything serve your pancakes with.

Is this spelt flour pancake recipe keto-friendly?

Spelt flour is a carbohydrate so these pancakes are not keto-friendly.

Is this spelt flour pancake recipe healthy?

Depending on what you serve with your pancakes, they can easily fit into a healthy, balanced diet.

There are some nutritional benefits to eating wholegrains with increased dietary fibre, numerous B vitamins and other minerals our bodies need to keep healthy. Serve your pancakes with plenty of fresh fruit and if eating regularly, keep an eye on the amount of syrup.

Is this spelt flour pancake recipe safe to eat while pregnant?

Yes, there nothing in these pancakes that would usually pose a risk to a pregnant woman, as long as all the ingredients are fresh and the pancakes are made safely and hygienically.

The advice regarding egg safety does vary from country to country so check information local to you. In the UK, most eggs are produced under the Red Lion code. At the time of writing (September 2021), the NHS states that Red Lion eggs are safe to eat raw as there is such a low rate of salmonella. Check your eggs or the box for the Red Lion stamp.

If you have any specific questions or concerns, please speak to your doctor or a qualified health professional. A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice.

What goes well with spelt flour pancakes?

I love these pancakes simply with some slices of banana and a drizzle of syrup. The list of toppings you could add is almost endless. Any fresh fruits are great, chopped apple and blueberries are a favourite in our house, and blackberries work really well too.

You could serve your pancakes with some berry compote, apricot jam, yoghurt or a combination. You could even go down the American-style sweet-savoury breakfast route by adding both syrup and some bacon/veggie bacon slices too.

If you have a few pancakes left over, they are also lovely handheld snacks with some Nutella or honey spread on top.

Can I make this recipe without eggs?

I haven't tested this recipe without egg but in theory, you could use an egg replacer if you need to make these pancakes egg-free.

The eggs can be replaced with one of the following options (each = 1 egg, so multiply as needed for any given recipe):

• 3 tablespoons of aquafaba (the water you get in a tin of chickpeas).
• 1 tablespoon of crushed chia seeds or flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and left for 10 minutes in the fridge.
• 3 tablespoons of applesauce (bear in mind this will add sweetness).

I haven’t got icing sugar can I use caster sugar?

Personally, I prefer to use icing sugar, as it's so fine it dissolves into the milk and mixes through the batter really easily.

That said, if you don't have any icing sugar to hand caster sugar will work ok too as the grains are quite fine.

I haven't tested this recipe with coarser sugars like granulated, but they may might make the pancakes a bit grainy in texture. A trick to tackle this would be to mix the milk, egg and sugar in a separate bowl to help start to dissolve the grains before mixing with the dry ingredients.

Can I add extra fruit to these spelt flour pancakes?

These pancakes are perfect topped with whatever fruit you have in the fruit bowl. Banana is always a winner.

You can also add fruit into the pancakes as you make them. Dot a few blueberries into your pancakes after they've been in the pan for about 30 seconds, pushing them into the batter shortly before flipping. This can make for a bit of a sticky pan so you might need to wipe it with kitchen paper between batches, remember the pan is hot so be careful!

How should I store spelt flour pancakes?

If you have any leftover pancakes, allow them to cool on a plate before covering well with a beeswax wrap or transferring them to a sealed container. Pop your pancakes in the fridge to enjoy later on. Get them into the fridge as soon as you can, within an hour of cooking so they don't go hard.

You can also freeze these pancakes if you like. Although the texture isn't quite a nice as freshly made, they make a big win for busy mornings. See my see notes in the "Can I freeze spelt flour pancakes?" section below for more tips on how to prepare them for the freezer.

How long do spelt flour pancakes keep?

When stored correctly, these spelt flour pancakes will keep for a couple of days in the fridge and for up to two months in the freezer.

Can I leave spelt flour pancakes out on the counter?

No, it's best to keep these spelt flour pancakes in a sealed container in the fridge other than when they are being served.

Can I make spelt flour pancakes ahead?

Pancakes are best enjoyed freshly made, and they are quite quick to make. You can keep these warm in a low oven as you cook them if you want to serve them all at the same time, just make sure they're on a tray and covered with foil so that they don't dry out and go stiff.

If you're tight for time in the morning then making ahead is also a possibility, they freeze pretty well so you could make a double batch and put half in the freezer for a speedy breakfast another day. There are more tips on how to do this in the "Can I freeze spelt flour pancakes?" section below.

When you make these pancakes ahead, make sure to get them cooled and into the fridge or freezer as soon as you can. They will keep for a couple of days in the fridge or up to two months in the freezer.

Unlike classic English pancakes/crepes, this batter needs to be cooked soon after making as the batter contains baking powder which reacts with the milk to create lovely, fluffy pancakes. If the batter sits for a long time before being cooked, all those air bubbles will be lost.

Can I keep spelt flour pancakes in the refrigerator?

Yes, you need to keep any leftover pancakes in a sealed container in the fridge to keep them at their best.

What is the best way to reheat these spelt flour pancakes?

For me, the best way to reheat these pancakes is in the oven. Wrap your pancakes into a tin foil parcel. The foil helps keep the moisture in so your pancakes don't dry out. Pop the parcels onto a tray and put them into the oven at 200C (180C fan) for 5 minutes. After which you can check your pancakes every minute or so until they are thoroughly warmed through. Careful as steam might escape when you check on them.

Another great way to warm them up is in a frying pan, put a little butter into a non-stick frying pan and set over a low heat. Put in as many pancakes as will fit comfortably in the pan, with enough room for flipping. Flip the pancakes every now and then until they are warmed through.

You can also reheat pancakes in the microwave if you wish but this will likely dry them out.

Can I freeze spelt flour pancakes?

Yes, these pancakes freeze pretty well. The texture won't be quite as good as when freshly cooked but it's a great time saver for busy mornings, and a good way to store leftovers.

I recommend splitting them up into portions or separating each pancake with a piece of baking paper so that you can get out only what you need. As these pancakes are quite small, it might be easiest to stack a portion up and wrap them well in a ziplock bag.

How ever you choose to divide them, make sure they are well wrapped, squeezing out as much air as you can without squashing the pancakes themselves. Label your bag with the date and type of pancake so that you can find them in the freezer later on.

These pancakes will keep in the freezer for up to two months.

How should I defrost frozen spelt flour pancakes?

Ideally, defrost your pancakes overnight in the fridge before reheating, especially if you've frozen them in stacks as they will be stuck together!

However, when in a hurry, I've had success with putting the small frozen stack on a small plate, covering with a small bowl and zapping in the microwave in 30 second bursts. The bowl keeps the steam in, which prevents the pancakes from toughening. In fact, they tend to come out beautifully soft. Just make sure that every pancake is piping hot, right the way through.

Can I make this spelt flour pancake recipe in a different quantity?

It's super simple to change the quantities for this recipe if you want to make more or fewer pancakes. Head down to the recipe card below where you'll see the servings are set to make 35 pancakes. This is enough for 4 people and takes 2 eggs for the batter.

Click on the number of servings and a slide bar will pop up. Move the slider up or down to get the number you wish to make. Remember these pancakes are quite small, so it takes about 8-9 pancakes to make a stacked portion. As you move the slider you'll see the ingredients updating automatically. Try to keep the egg as a whole number for ease!

Can I make these spelt flour pancakes into larger pancakes?

It's best to keep these pancakes small so they cook properly. You could make them a little larger, try two tablespoons instead of one. Don't try and fill the pan as these are not meant to be thin like crepes!

Can I make the spelt flour pancake batter in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

This pancake batter comes together just fine with a few turns of a simple hand whisk. If you overwork the batter, the gluten in the flour may toughen the mixture, and any air bubbles produced early on by the baking powder will be knocked out, potentially leaving you with flat, chewy pancakes.

However, if you do find it easier you can use a stand mixer with the balloon whisk attachment on slow, using short bursts and scraping down the sides until just smooth before stopping so as not to overmix the batter.

How can I make sure my spelt pancakes are perfectly cooked?

These pancakes are perfectly cooked when they are light golden brown on both sides and spring back if pressed lightly.

The pancakes are ready to flip when little bubbles are forming around the edge and the middle has just turned from glossy, wet batter to slightly matte looking. Lift an edge with the spatula to check the underside is lovely and golden before flipping to finish the other side.

Depending on the size of your pan, you should be able to cook 3 or 4 pancakes at a time. When they are done, transfer them to a plate or baking tray in the oven set to 140C (120C fan). Cover them with tin foil to stop them drying out as you cook the rest of the pancakes. Serve on to plates in warm stacks and enjoy!

Why did my spelt flour pancakes turn out dry and thin?

These spelt pancakes will turn out thin if the batter is made too far in advance. They contain baking powder which reacts with the milk to create tiny bubbles of air, making light and fluffy pancakes. But if the batter sits out on the side for ages before being cooked, the air bubbles will escape and you'll end up with flat pancakes.

Next time get everything set up ready before you add the eggs and milk to the flour. Do this just as the pan is getting hot enough to cook your pancakes.

There may also have been too much liquid in the batter, making it too thin to hold its shape in the pan. I've used medium eggs for this recipe, so it could be that you used large eggs or added a little too much milk. If you think your batter looks very thin, you could try sifting in a little more spelt flour and whisking through. It's important you use a sieve to avoid lumps.

Another reason these pancakes will turn out dry is if you've kept them warm in the oven without covering them over with tin foil.

Why did my pancakes turn out wet and undercooked?

Make sure the pan is hot enough before you start. The butter should easily melt and sizzle a little as you spoon the batter in.

If the pan isn't hot enough, the pancakes won't cook properly all the way through. Make sure to give them enough time on each side. You can lift the edge up to check how the underside is doing. And you can always flip them back over if the underside isn't done enough.

Undercooked centres can also happen if the heat is much too high and the batter is too thick, as the outsides will quickly brown before the insides can cook.

How can I add/change the flavours in this dish?

If you like, you could add 1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla extract or ground cinnamon to the pancake batter to give them a more fragrant flavour.

These pancakes are also a great base for so many different toppings, both savoury and sweet. Fresh fruit and syrup is an obvious choice, or yogurt and compote. Have a look in the fridge and cupboard and see what flavour combinations you can come up with!

What is the origin of spelt flour?

Spelt flour is considered an ancient grain, with archaeological evidence showing it was widely used across Europe and Asia.

It has been cultivated since around 5000 BCE, at times being more prevalent than the common wheat flour we are familiar with today.

In Greek mythology, it is said Demeter the goddess of harvest and agriculture gave spelt as a gift to the Greeks.

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