Whole Wheat Cherry Vanilla Bean Pancakes.
Happy National Pancake Day!
Usually I attempt to stay away from trends, but I think we can all agree that I have a thing for pancakes. I practically need pancake rehab. Just call me the Charlie Sheen of pancakes.
I can’t stay away.
This is quite obvious considering I’ve shared red velvet pancakes, cake batter pancakes, chocolate french silk pancakes, white chocolate coconut pancakes, whole wheat chocolate peanut butter pancakes, peanut butter and jelly pancakes, apple bacon pancakes… just to name a few. Somebody stop me!
But really… don’t.
Perhaps I just should have prepared a post dedication to pancakes?
Nah. I couldn’t help but share another one.
The highlight of these pancakes are the cherries – the frozen cherries to be exact.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know I adore cherries. There is a fairly short window of time where I can find good ones in Pittsburgh, and when they happen to be available I tend to buy $18 worth. Which only yields about two snacks of cherries. I like my cherries.
I always happen to have frozen cherries on hand since they are one of my favorite things to throw in smoothies. I couldn’t think of a more delicious way to incorporate fruit in breakfast, especially since the cherries burst with juice when warmed.
And I can’t forget my beloved vanilla beans.
Vanilla beans that I scour the Earth (okay…errr, Pittsburgh) for. Vanilla beans that I inevitably use in a new recipe (that fails) almost once a month, never learning my lesson, even when I’m dumping $14 vanilla beans into the trash. Vanilla beans that Mr. How Sweet claims he “doesn’t like,” since vanilla beans taste so much different from vanilla.
I would sell my soul for vanilla beans.
Not only did I add vanilla beans and cherry bits to the pancakes, but I stuffed the pancakes with a warm cherry mix, then drizzled them with cherry juice and a vanilla bean glaze. You know I’m all about the glazes.
And I have to admit – I actually prefer my pancakes made with whole wheat pastry flour. I find them to be more hearty, still fluffy but a bit chewy, and overall I really can’t tell a great difference. Plus, whole wheat = totally healthy! Lots of pancakes for me.
Whole Wheat Cherry Vanilla Bean Pancakes
Ingredients
Whole Wheat Cherry Vanilla Bean Pancakes
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- contents of 1/2 vanilla bean
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups frozen cherries
Vanilla Bean Glaze
- 1 heaping cup of powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 1/2 tablespoons milk
- contents of 1/2 vanilla bean
Instructions
Whole Wheat Cherry Vanilla Bean Pancakes
- Stir together dry ingredients. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Fold in vanilla beans. Mix until dry ingredients are moistened. Chop 1 cup of cherries into fine pieces. You can either stir them into the batter (the pancakes will turn reddish-blue in color) or drop the cherries in the batter while each pancake is cooking. To cook, heat a griddle or skillet on medium heat and pout in 1/4 cup of batter. Flip once tiny bubbles appear on the pancakes.
- Heat remaining cup of cherries in a saucepan or in the microwave. Mash with a fork and stuff in between pancakes and drizzle juice on top. Top with vanilla glaze.
Vanilla Bean Glaze
- Add sugar to bowl and stir in heavy cream and vanilla until mixture resembles a thick batter. Add milk one tablespoon at a time, stirring until smooth – about 3-5 full minutes. Mixture may look lumpy at first but just continue to stir and it will come together. Fold in vanilla beans and pour over pancakes.
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What would your perfect pancake be?
153 Comments on “Whole Wheat Cherry Vanilla Bean Pancakes.”
Ooooh! All I need to do is thrown in some chocolate chips and kirsch, call ’em Black Forest Cake Pancakes, and my dad will love me even more :)
OMG…black forest is my fav!!! Excellent Idea!
THAT. LOOKS. SO. GOOD.
These look HEAVENLY! My favorite pancakes in the world are pina colada pancakes- rich coconut pancakes with a pineapple creme glaze. And I know how much you love yourself a glaze…
You’re the same way with pancakes as I am with French toast. These look awesome, though, and if I had the patience to make the batter this morning, I’d totally be eating these.
Ohmygosh! Where have these been all my life?! I’m with you in that I ALWAYS have frozen cherries on hand AND I finally found vanilla beans cheaper than $11.99 for one – I think it’s a sign that I should make these ASAP :)
My sister in law gave me some whole wheat pastry flour to use. I think I’m going to need to use it with pancakes first. You’ve given me a serious craving.
And I hate how cherries are good only a limited time here too. I keep checking to see if I can find some good ones at the store…but no go.
I absolutely LOVE whole wheat pastry flour. It’s what I use in all of my muffins and quick breads. Delish! If you have any questions or need recipe suggestions, let me know!
I have a feeling I’m going to be perusing your site for recipe ideas, but if you have a specific recommendation I’m all ears! You’re my baking/cooking guru!
Hey Tina and Jessica, this looks delicious, I can’t wait to try this recipe out! Since the cherry season is so short, you might try substituting canned dark sweet cherries from Oregon Fruit. We have been packing these beauties for over 75 years and they are scrumptious. I think they’d work great in this recipe.
The Queen of Tarts
blog.oregonfruit.com
oh my- those look insane! I had no idea it was national pancake day. Both J and I are big fans. He loves blackberries on top- but I totally want to throw some cherries on my next batch
You gotta celebrate!
I wish I would have read this post before I ate breakfast – otherwise I would have celebrated national pancake day! Now I’m upset…
Pancakes for lunch!
Beeeeeeautiful pictures!!!! I have a bag of frozen cherries on hand right now…I need to make these!
Anything with cherries and vanilla bean has my vote!
You’ve done it again Jessica!!! These looks AMAZING!!!! So decadent & delicious :)
ooh cherry and vanilla is the most amazing combo! These look to die for.
Must…make…pancakes.
Love:-) I’d cry throwing out that much vanilla bean lol but it is amazing when used well so probably worth it. I need to start buying frozen cherries just to try this!
I LOVE peanut butter and jelly pancakes! I have been craving cherries lately and this made it worse! I am a pancake lover for sure…I think I know what I am having tonight!
all i want right now is a stack of these. in bed please.
I love the texture and taste of whole wheat pastry flour. These look incredibly delicious, and a perfect all-around pancake recipe when I just can’t bear the price of cherries!
What a way to celeb national pancake day!!!!
Love whole wheat pastry flour! Agree 100% about those vanilla beans, but still, I’m too cheap to buy them. What’s wrong with me? Arg!
You have my heart.
How many vanilla beans is your soul worth? Just curious.
Well, it would probably look something like this! You’ve practically got me drooling over my keyboard this morning Jess! If I didn’t have to go to work right now, I’d be making these!
Can’t believe I didn’t know about this very important holiday! Oh my–that looks decadent enough to be a dessert!
I have to say the highlight for me would be the vanilla bean glaze. The pancakes look delish.
You know the other great thing about frozen cherries? No pits.
Yep, I’m that lazy.
Lovely pancakes, as always! :)
Totally agree! That’s one of the reasons I love them too.
Pancake day!? What?! How did we not know about this!? Those look amazing…and that vanilla bean glaze…oh goodness.
You are the pancake queen. These look so delicious!
I’m so sad I had an 8 AM class this morning….my breakfast was an Odwalla bar and a pear! I wish it’d been pancakes! Maybe I’ll make some soccakes for dinner :)
Great idea to use cherry! These pancakes look awesome!
I could eat pancakes or breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lemon juice and sugar is my fave sweet topping, but savoury it’s got to be either bacon and maple syrup, or ham and cheese.
Do you guys have vanilla bean paste over in the US? It’s a jar of the vanilla bean “caviar”, a little bit less expensive but just as good as those exxy beans -but still delivering that vanilla bean flavour. It would be an inexpensive option for recipe trialling.
We do! You are right, I need to get my hands on some.
Not a fan of cherry anything—but these pancakes could change my mind. They look so good and filling!
You could use blueberries or raspberries!
My perfect pancake would be chocolate chip with with some sort of yummy glaze and a fruit-y filling! =D
Plus whole wheat flour cancels out any heavy cream or sugar in a recipe, making it completely healthy….right?
yum! THese look amazing!!
I like my pancakes with just butter….no syrup, no toppings, no nothing! haha!
Kelly! That’s two days in a row. I’m beginning to rethink our relationship.
I know! I am failing you! :)
These sound absolutely amazing. And might JUST be what the doctor (or mom) ordered for this coming Sunday’s breakfast.
Yes, please! That’s all :)
I adore cherries as well, and when they’re in season, I practically buy out Trader Joe’s of their organic dark sweet red cherries ;).
These pancakes look phenomenal, and I am definitely bookmarking the recipe!
Have you seen vanilla bean paste? It’s a more economical way of getting those beautiful flecks of vanilla bean. I buy mine at Whole Foods, but you can purchase it online, too.
oh.my.lord.
I just saw frozen cherries at Costco. YUM!
Oohhhh mama.
These have to be the best looking pancakes I’ve ever seen!
Those look absolutely amazing! Thanks for informing me of National Pancake day! I’ll take any excuse to eat pancakes! Pancakes for dinner tonight, I think so!
Oh my word. These would be my perfect pancakes!
I am a cherry addict and I would gobble these up until I couldn’t breathe!
I don’t even have words. Ok maybe I do. Yum!!!!!!!! These look like pure divinity. I share your obsession for pancakes and cherries :)
I love cherries too, and I think I may have stashed some in my freezer over the summer….
your pictures always look SO yummy!
My perfect pancake would probably be your Funfetti pancakes topped with my dad’s homemade strawberry syrup
Cherries are one of my favorite fruits! Never thought to put them in pancakes. The vanilla glaze sounds wonderful!
I think that has to be one of the best looking pancake stacks! Please don’t stop… What would I do without your pancake encouragement? You dream up the best combos Jessica.
Haha Charlie Sheen of pancakes- I am loving all the madness he is putting out there! Whole wheat, cherries, sounds healthy to me!
Geez… how I wish we were neighbors! These look sooo good!! I am the same way with Vanilla. Vanilla Bean Ice Cream will always be my favorite flavor…ever!