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STOP! Before you hit ‘Jump to Recipe’ check ‘Skip to the Good Bit‘ below. I may answer a query you have about this recipe.
The great thing about these little Gluten Free Scotch Pancakes is that they can be whipped up in a jiffy. So, should the family wake on a Sunday morning and all fancy pancakes, I can happily pop into the kitchen and throw a batter together without any hassle. This is exactly what happened last week and we enjoyed Scotch Pancakes piping hot with Maple Syrup that we’d brought all the way back from our trip to Canada this summer.
Update: I’m thrilled to say that Bethany now makes these herself each Saturday for breakfast. Such a proud mummy moment the first time she did them off her own back, in fact, it was when I was away in Manchester. I got a message on Whatsap asking for the measurements of the ingredients..she photographed and sent me images of her first Scotch Pancakes Ever! My heart almost burst with pride!
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What’s the difference between a Pancake and a Scotch Pancake?
This is a rabbit hole we could go down and disappear for hours! Basically, in simple terms (because we’re all busy right and want the easy answer). There are a few types of pancake depending on what part of the plant you’re stand on.
Crepes – French owned and often super thin and delicate, made using a pancake pan, often large in size and folded. A great example is my Easy Three Ingredient Vegan and Gluten Free Pancakes
Pancakes – The British kind, stove cooked in a large frying pan, thicker than crepes and traditionally served with sugar and lemon juice (but anything goes with topping these days). Or do as we do and fill them til they burst Easy Gluten Free Pancakes, not just for Pancake Day
American Pancakes – drinks coaster in size, aeriated so fluffy and often stacked with butter and syrup. Cooked in a pan freehand or in moulds or pancake presses.
Scotch Pancakes – also known as Drop Scones. Similar size to the American pancake but traditionally thicker in size and fluffier, almost cake-like due to a thicker batter. Served in a similar manner to the American Pancake or enjoyed cold and spread with butter.
What is the History behind Pancake Day?
Good question, so good in fact that I wrote a whole post about it here Pancake Day! Enjoy a Happy Free From Shrove Tuesday including 5 fund facts about where Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day originates and the date for Pancake Day this year.
Can I make these mini pancakes dairy free?
Yes you can, simply my switching the milk for your favourite dairy free alternative, personally I sue soya milk. If you wish to make an egg free version you could follow the link below to my apple and cinnamon pancakes or you may wish to swap the egg for a flax egg.
How to make a flax egg
to make 1 flax egg you need the following ingredients:
– 1tbsp ground flax seed
– 3tbsp water
– 1tsp psyllium husk (optional but does add elasticity to baking)
Simply add all ingredients to a glass and stir before measuring out the other recipe ingredients, by the time you come to use your ‘egg’ mixture it will have thickened to a frog-spawn consistency (thicker if you added psyllium husk)
Then just add to your baking as you would an egg. For 2 eggs double the ingredients but note that recipes that require more than two eggs may fail due to lack of support in the structure.
Different Scotch Pancake toppings you can try
- maple syrup
- chocolate sauce
- chocolate spread
- chopped nuts – pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts
- strawberries
- blueberries
- bananas
- squirty cream
If you liked this recipe for Scotch Pancakes, I’m sure you’ll love these;
These are my Apple Cinnamon Pancakes | gluten free, dairy free, vegan and my kids top weekend favourite the recipe for my Gluten Free Belgium Waffles you might also like to try these pastries for breakfast or teatime too; Easy Gluten Free Apple Turnovers with a hint of cinnamon and Danish Treacle Tarts: Gluten Free and Vegan
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Gluten Free Scotch Pancake Recipe
If you make it and like the recipe I would be eternally grateful if you popped back and commented leaving a star rating as this will tell search engines that this recipe is worth checking out and others will get to find it in searches.
Gluten Free Scotch Pancakes
Ingredients
- 250 g gluten free self raising flour
- 250 ml milk or dairy free alternative
- 1 egg(s)
- 1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp Lemon juice
- 2 tsp Caster sugar
Instructions
- Crack the egg into a jug and combine the caster sugar and a tablespoon of the weighed flour using a whisk into a runny paste.
- Continue to add the remaining flour and milk taking it in turns until you achieve a thick batter texture. Doing it this way in stages will prevent lumps of flour from forming.
- Add the lemon and bicarbonate of soda last and allow batter to rest for at least 10 mins. The batter will feel like a loose cake batter at this stage. After 10mins the batter will have thickened and filled with little bubbles. Don't be tempted to stir it.
- Heat a griddle or frying pan on a medium heat. Too hot and your first side will burn as this needs the longest to ensure an easy flip onto the other side.
- No need for any fat in the pan (unless you don't trust you pan), simply spoon 2 dessert spoons of batter into the pan, if your pan is not flat bottomed you'll only achieve perfect circles in you cook one at a time.
- I find that teasing the dollops of pancake mixture (using the dessert spoon) into the desired size is the best way to achieve perfect results every time.
- Wait for bubbles to appear on the surface and pop, be patient, this will take about 5 mins. Once bubbles have popped you're good to turn your pancake over, the second side will need only 20-30 seconds.
- Layer on a plate and enjoy with a multitude choice of toppings – enjoy!
Nutrition
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Helen Reynolds says
Hi, can I leave out the lemon juice in the scotch pancake recipe or will it alter the taste? Thank you in advance
Helen
Glutarama says
Hi there Helen, the lemon juice helps with activating the rising process. However, if you plan to make this with normal milk then you can leave it out.
Happy baking, hope you love them as much as my daughter – she makes these on a weekly basis!
Karen says
I woke up this morning with a real craving for American pancakes, found this recipe and having had Scotch Pancakes in the past knew that they would be similar, it was so easy to follow and they turned out perfectly. They really satisfied my craving perfectly, greek yogurt and honey on mine, delicious! Thank you ☺️
Glutarama says
Karen, its been a long hard day (you wouldn’t believe me if I told you) so reading your comment tonight has been the perfect tonic to pop a little smile at the corner of my mouth – thank you so much xx
Rebecca W says
Hi Rebecca, I’m so glad I found this recipe all of 30 minutes ago. Have already whipped up a half batch of the pancakes & am delighted with them. Today I promised my 4 year old pancakes for dinner, but I’d yet to find a recipe I was 100% happy with & am constantly searching for & trying new recipes. Out of the 4 recipes I tried for him today, 2 went straight in the bin, the other 2 were brittle & dry, & even couldn’t be salvaged by maple syrup, which he loves. I can’t wait to try your recipe again & let my little boy try them. I’m constantly trying to build a core group of go-to recipes that meet his dietary requirements. Thank you for helping me to add to it. I’m going to be up late searching the rest of your site
Glutarama says
Thank you so much for coming back and tell me this wonderful news. This is EXACTLY the reason I do what I do. My two are teens now but when Glutarama started out in 2015 my daughter was 11 and had been Coeliac for 6yrs. I just knew I had to share my recipes to help other parents who were pulling their hair out like me in the early days. Crossing my fingers and toes you son loves them as much as we do. Rebecca xxx
Rebecca W says
Thank you! I’m planning to make them for him soon. He can’t have dairy, gluten, egg, soya, nuts, fish or legumes. So eating is a challenge at the best of times. Every recipe that tastes good & is dependable is amazing. Parents need wins like this.
Lynzi says
This recipe has saved breakfasts in my house. THANK YOU! We haven’t been able to find these in the shops where we live for a while now and we’ve been pulling our hair out trying to get our 8 year old to eat something else. He loves them, thank uiy x
Glutarama says
Lunzi, I get very few comments with feedback but when I do they’re all so lovely and supportive of what I do. Your comment has literally made my whole week. THIS is why I do what I do, I am super thrilled it’s made your son happy. Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know. Rebecca xx
Lynzi says
Just on with making our second batch. Thank you once again. We are so grateful x
Sara Louise Wheeler says
Just made these and they’re amazing! Delicious, fluffy, satisfying 🥰
Glutarama says
Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave your feedback Sara and can I just say I LOVE your avatar too! These Scotch Pancakes are a huge family favourite, fluffy like clouds hahaha. Rebecca x
Ian says
I’m a retired chef. I have issues with gluten now after years of being in the trade. I have moved to Turkey and do struggle for gluten free items but I’ve been using your recipe for scotch pancakes and I love them. Thank you for your time and energy in doing these recipes.
Glutarama says
This comment literally made my weekend Ian, thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a comment. Whilst I’m sorry to hear about your gluten issues, I’m thrilled you like the recipe. Rebecca x
Terry Crylen says
Wow. That looks heavenly, I’d love to try this!
Lesley says
What a great recipe, these are lovely fluffy pancakes. I’m going to make these for my Mum who’s coeliac and drop them off to her.
Jenna says
these are similar to my pancake pillows! You’re so right, pancakes take on many different forms and names depending on which country they’re in!
Glutarama says
Yes they are, but without the egg it’s MAGIC haha, I love to add a bit of trivia to my recipe posts, keeps those little grey cells working doing the extra research ;-)
Of Goats and Greens says
Never heard of Scotch pancakes until now. In the photos they look English muffin-like but you say fluffy – which means I should try making these someday soon! Thanks for sharing and enlightening us here at Fiesta Friday!
Glutarama says
Well I am glad to have enlightened you :-) You’re right they do look like English Muffins, not the same texture…but you may have just inspired me to try a gluten free English muffin now (adds to the list hahaha) x
Petra says
Wow! These are so super fluffy! What a breakfast treat! I love your tips about making them gluten free and possibly vegan!
Thank you for sharing here at Fiesta Friday! :)
Glutarama says
So many people comment on how fluffy they are, almost as fluffed up as my pride hahaha x