One Extra Step Is So Worth It For Luxurious, Fruity Pancakes - Tasting Table

"Pancakes are the ultimate breakfast (or lunch ... or dinner) of champions. They're so simple to prepare that even an amateur home cook can perfect them, and they are still tasty enough to satisfy the snobbiest of palates. But if you have ever wanted your homemade pancakes to taste like they came from a cozy, corner-side café rather than your own kitchen, there is one small step that makes a massive difference: roasting fruit before incorporating it."

"While uncooked fruit is delicious on its own with bright and punchy flavors, roasting takes it to the next level, bumping up your pancakes from good to great. When the oven's high heat hits the fruit, its sugars start caramelizing and its juices reduce, creating deep, jammy flavors and a luxurious texture. It's far more complex and perfectly suited to compliment the warmth of the pancakes. All your favorite fruits can be roasted, extracting the best flavors out of them all."

"Perhaps the greatest part of roasting fruit for pancakes is that there's no cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all approach to its incorporation. You can fold the roasted fruit directly into your pancake batter before cooking, where it will create delicious pockets of caramelized sweetness without making your batter overly moist or soggy. Or, you can generously serve it on a tall stack of flapjacks, spooning on the richly flavored juices like a natural fruit compote."

Roasting fruit concentrates natural sugars and reduces juices, producing jammy, caramelized flavors and a luxurious texture that complements warm pancakes. A wide range of fruits, including berries, benefit from roasting and gain deeper, more complex profiles. Roasted fruit can be folded into batter to create pockets of caramelized sweetness without over-moistening, or served on top as a compote-like topping that adds both flavor and striking presentation. High heat promotes caramelization, and the resulting juices act as a natural sauce. Roasted fruit elevates ordinary pancakes into a richer, more indulgent dish.

Read at Tasting Table