Chef's simple method to make 'fluffiest' American pancakes ever

Pancake Day is here and families across the UK are ready to flip some yummy pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of the big differences between English pancakes and American pancakes is how thick they are.

Even though American pancakes are a lot thicker, they are also really light and fluffy. The fluffier the pancake is, the more it can soak up yummy toppings and sauces, like maple syrup.

Getting the perfect thickness might seem hard at first, but according to Rose Levy Beranbaum, who wrote the cookbook The Baking Bible, the secret to the "fluffiest" pancakes is how you prepare your egg whites.

She says you should make sure to use whipped egg whites. Talking to lifestyle website Say Yes, she explained: "Adding the white at the end gives more support. This is a technique used in souffles, adding a little of the white unwhipped at the end so that the souffle doesn't deflate as quickly."

"Whipping egg whites [into] soft or stiff peaks adds more air but also as the egg white cells enlarge, the membrane gets thinner and thinner and is more fragile."

READ MORE: Gordon Ramsay has a secret cooking technique for how to ‘perfectly’ flip a pancake

How to make American pancakes

Recipe

To start, make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature. In a big bowl, sift the flour and add in baking powder.

First, separate the yolks from the egg whites.

Next, lightly beat the egg yolks, add milk and stir well.

Mix this into the flour and baking powder until you get a thick batter.

Whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, adding a pinch of salt.

Fold these egg whites into your batter.

Heat a non-stick pan with a couple of drops of oil, then pour in some batter.

Cook the pancake on both sides until it's golden and firm, flipping halfway through. This should take about a minute.

Repeat this process until you've used all the batter.

Finally, serve your pancakes with your favourite toppings like maple syrup, lemon and sugar, honey, chocolate spread or berries and cream.