Pancakes make a quick and delicious breakfast, and instant pancake mix makes it even easier to prepare them in a hurry. Spice up your breakfast routine by using instant pancake mix to make things other than pancakes. Since pancake mix is usually a combination of flour, sugar and leavening agents such as baking powder and baking soda, it adapts to being used as a base for different recipes. Use it to make doughnuts, crepes, waffles, muffins, coffeecakes, dumplings, fritters and more.
Doughnuts
Doughnuts are a popular breakfast item, but they are tedious to make at home. Traditional doughnuts have a yeast dough that must be set aside for a specific time so it rises sufficiently before being cut and deep fried. Instant pancake mix makes it easy to prepare doughnuts at home. Combine 3 cups pancake mix with 2/3 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk together 2 eggs and 3/4 cup milk. Add 2 tbsp. melted butter or margarine. Knead the dough slightly, roll 3/8-inch thick and cut with a doughnut cutter. Deep fry till golden and roll in powdered sugar or dip in toppings such as melted chocolate or a plain sugar glaze.
Muffins
Muffins are delicious as breakfast or for a quick snack. Instead of measuring individual ingredients such as flour, sugar and leavening agents, combine pancake mix with other liquid ingredients to prepare muffins quickly. To make 12 muffins, mix together 2 cups pancake mix, 1 egg and 1 1/2 cups milk. Stir in 2 tbsp. melted butter. Pour in a greased muffin pan and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 18 minutes. When cool, top with sugar glaze or fill with flavored jam.
Coffeecake
Coffeecake is served for breakfast or tea and instant pancake mix provides a good base for making coffeecake when short on time. Beat 1 egg and 1/2 cup sugar until light and frothy. Add 1/2 cup milk and 3 tbsp. melted butter or margarine. Add 1 cup pancake mix, mix well and spread in a greased 8-inch round or square pan. For the crumb topping, mix 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tbsp. flour, 1 tbsp. melted butter and 1/3 cup chopped nuts. Sprinkle over the batter and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm.
Waffles
Waffles are typically served at breakfast, but make a great lunch or dinner combination with fried chicken. While recipes from scratch always make delicious waffles, instant pancake mix also forms a good base for waffles. To make three 9-inch waffles, combine 2 cups instant pancake mix, 2 tbsp. melted butter, 1 2/3 cups milk and 1 egg. Stir thoroughly to avoid lumps in the batter. Pour required amount in a preheated waffle iron and cook until waffles are golden. Serve with maple syrup, fresh cream and fresh fruit.
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Writer Bio
With more than seven years of combined experience as a newspaper editor and technical writer in the Silicon Valley, Farozan Jivraj brings a unique versatility to her writing. She has been published in the "Deccan Chronicle" and on various websites and volunteers on the Admin Council of the Society for Technical Communication (Silicon Valley chapter).