Cloud 9 Pancakes

Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Serves 2 to 4

This is the best vegan pancake recipe you will ever make. You deserve it. To make this soy free, use soy-free Earth Balance.

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Egg replacement mixture
• 1 cup almond milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons vegan butter, melted
• Maple syrup and vegan butter, for topping

1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and sugar. In a small bowl, make the egg replacer and combine it with the almond milk and vanilla. Using a whisk, combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix gently until combined. You want some lumps. Gently fold in the melted butter. Make sure the batter is still lumpy and thick.

2. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat and coat lightly with oil. A spray-on oil works best to avoid over-oiling. Use a dry measuring cup to pour 1/4 cup of batter in a circle. Cook until the surface of the pancake has small bubbles all around, 3 to 5 minutes, then flip. Ideally you should only have to flip once.

3. On your serving plate, stack the pancakes high to seem impressive, or, as Darth Vader would say, “most impressive.” Top with butter and maple syrup and voilà! Pancake ninja.

From The Lusty Vegan © 2014 by Ayindé Howell and Zoë Eisenberg. Used with permission from Vegan Heritage Press.