Orange Cloud Pancakes

 

I’m going through a citrus fruit phase.  Maybe it’s my lingering cold.  Maybe it’s because they are in season and in beautiful bright piles at the Co-op.  Whatever the reason is, they taste really good right now to me.  In salad.  In desserts.  In breakfast.

I was intrigued by this recipe from King Arthur Flour.  Cottage cheese in a pancake?  Must be similar to ricotta, which, in my experience, equals a light and fluffy, texturally fantastic pancake.  I tweaked the recipe a little, just to add to my particular tastes.  I added in some almond extract (almond extract is like pure happiness to my senses), and that seemed to really compliment the orange flavor.  If you’re not a fan, omit or decrease it a bit.    I added in some other spices from the spice cabinet (I just kind of started experimenting…and this seemed to work.)

Fluffy as a cloud pancakes?  Ready in less than 15 minutes?  Good morning, friends.

Orange Cloud Pancakes

Servings: approximately 2 large servings (about 8 five-inch pancakes)

 

Ingredients

3/4 cup cottage cheese

3 eggs, separated

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1 tablespoon orange juice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Pinch cinnamon

Pinch nutmeg, grated

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon orange zest or 1/8 teaspoon orange oil (or as desired, to taste)

Instructions

1. Combine the cottage cheese, egg yolks, melted butter, orange juice, vanilla and almond extracts, and process until smooth, about 30 seconds.

2. Stop the processor and add the cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, sugar, salt and orange zest.  Process again until smooth and transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

3. Meanwhile, in the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites until stiff but not dry.

4. Very carefully (and using a rubber spatula), add one large scoop of the egg whites to the pancake batter, and lightly fold them into the batter until smooth.

5. Gently fold the remaining egg whites into the batter until incorporated.

6. With a lightly buttered or sprayed nonstick pan or griddle on medium heat, scoop about 1/3 cup of the batter onto the pan and cook on each side until lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes each side.  Serve immediately.

 

Source:  Adapted from King Arthur Flour.

 

January 12, 2012 - 6:54 am

Blog is the New Black - I love that you called them “clouds”! They look gorgeous and delicious!

January 12, 2012 - 10:06 am

Benthe - I just love citrus fruit, addicted to oranges right now! Every evening I eat one, they just are so wonderful. Also, I love lemon in my water, tea, anything. Happy citrus season lol 🙂 These look amazing as well. During school days I don’t have time to make these kinds of things but I’ll try these ones very, very soon.

January 12, 2012 - 11:16 am

Josie - I am not a huge fan of cottage cheese, but I think it makes the best pancakes. I love all the orange flavor in these – definitely want to try them soon!

January 12, 2012 - 11:47 am

Heidi @ Food Doodles - These look beautiful! I’m crazy about citrus right now too. I’ve never tried cottage cheese in my pancakes, but your pancakes look perfect – I might have to pick some up to try it out 😀

January 12, 2012 - 2:25 pm

natalie (the sweets life) - oh my goodness–i’m drooling thinking about these!! i’m big on citrus right now too!

January 12, 2012 - 3:19 pm

Nicola @ unhip squirrel - beautiful! I’m also a big fan of the ricotta pancake thing, so cottage cheese sounds like a no-brainer. Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

January 12, 2012 - 4:12 pm

Ann P. - wooooow. this is like the pinnacle of breakfast food! It looks fancy, but the prep doesn’t seem difficult at all!

January 12, 2012 - 8:04 pm

Margaret Murphy Tripp - Oh man, those look good! The texture sounds divine and I love orange flavored baked goods.

January 13, 2012 - 6:01 pm

Katie {Epicurean Mom Blog} - Any dish with the name “cloud” in it, has to be good!! I love these! Can’t wait to try them!! Mmmmmm!

January 13, 2012 - 6:18 pm

Rachel - Ooh, these look delicious! I think I’ll try them tomorrow with ricotta. (If I can wait all the way until morning.)

January 13, 2012 - 6:22 pm

Annie - These sound yummy, and the photo is gorgeous!

January 13, 2012 - 6:25 pm

srlacy - Haha. I’ve been thinking lately about Food and Light. And what would Annie do? 🙂

January 13, 2012 - 7:17 pm

Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum - Wow. These look amazing. I might be making them tomorrow morning!

January 19, 2012 - 12:31 am

Away Rotation « Recipes Remembered - […] new recipes for wholesome winter soups, deliciously filling breakfasts or any of the delightfully bright citrus recipes I’ve been bookmarking over the past few weeks.  But, alas, I am not.  I am […]

August 20, 2012 - 1:26 am

Sandy Farrington - Not a fan of cottage cheese. Is there another ingredient I can try in place of the cottage cheese?

August 20, 2012 - 12:29 pm

srlacy - Hi Sandy-

I would recommend ricotta, if you are ok with that.

August 20, 2012 - 7:57 pm

Pancakes | All About Mommies - […] thecurvycarrot.com via Elya on […]

November 9, 2012 - 12:01 am

50 Waffles and Pancakes - Something Swanky - […] Orange Cloud Pancakes […]

May 10, 2013 - 9:17 am

Orange Cloud Pancakes - […] source:  thecurvycarrot.com […]

May 31, 2014 - 11:38 am

Heidi Macrae - Made these this morning…AMAZING! If you are worried about tasting the cottage cheese,you will not because it is blended smooth.I did use gluten free all purpose flour instead of the wheat and it worked perfectly.