Triple Vanilla Almond Flour Pancakes Recipe

There's nothing like a decadent brunch with friends and loved ones marked by a rich stack of pancakes and a generous pour of maple syrup, and there's not a better option out there than this triple vanilla almond flour pancakes recipe. "I like to think of these pancakes as a special occasion dish. Or a dish you serve when you want to impress company," says recipe developer Kara Barrett. "If I had friends over for brunch, this is a fabulous option to make. It's infused with vanilla flavor and complemented by the nutty flavor of almond." 

And it's that "triple vanilla" part that takes something as simple as pancakes and levels it up to something truly special. "You're getting the purest, most intense form of vanilla directly from the bean and then backing it up with the paste and extract. Also, don't you love those specks of vanilla?" says Barrett. The end result is something worth trying ... and after trying it once, you'll want to make it for every special breakfast or brunch thereafter. 

To get that almond-vanilla double whammy that will turn your next brunch into a special event, you have to first make sure you have all the ingredients on hand. Gather up almond flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, fine sea salt, sugar, vanilla extract, a vanilla bean, vanilla paste, eggs, milk, maple syrup, and butter, oil, or cooking spray. And if you really want to bump up the almond flavor, make sure you grab sliced almonds to use as a garnish, as well. 

You may wonder if you really need the three different types of vanilla to make these pancakes. As Barrett jokes, these wouldn't be triple vanilla pancakes without all three ingredients. That said, she admits you might be able to get by with just two. "I usually have all three types of vanilla on hand like most bakers, but I rarely have an opportunity to use them all. In a pinch, I think extract and paste work just fine to accomplish a similarly impressive and rich vanilla flavor. Then, you can call them double vanilla pancakes," she says. 

Grab a large bowl and add the dry batter ingredients — the almond and all-purpose flours, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Whisk them together until they're well combined.

In a separate, small bowl, combine the vanilla paste and extract. Use a knife to split the vanilla bean open and scrape out the contents into the bowl with the other vanillas. Stir all three until they're mixed well. "I think combining three types of vanilla is part of what makes this recipe feel very decadent and special," says Barrett.

Whisk your eggs together in a small bowl, pouring the vanilla into the eggs to combine them.

Pour the eggs and milk into the bowl of dry ingredients and whisk them gently to combine. Be careful not to overmix the batter. "You'll need to adjust your batter as needed depending on how much you've measured out (this can vary). Too thick? Add a little liquid. Too runny? Add a dash more flour. You want a pourable but not runny batter," Barrett instructs. 

Place a skillet on your stove and turn the heat to medium. Add a small amount of cooking spray, butter, or oil to the pan to prevent the batter from sticking. When the skillet is hot, spoon ¼ cup batter into the pan. 

Cook the pancake on one side until bubbles appear and the bottom is golden.

When the first side is cooked, flip to the other side and wait until it's golden brown as well. When both sides are done, use a spatula to transfer the pancake to a plate. According to Barrett this recipe makes 4 saucer-sized pancakes, plus enough for a small first pancake tester. 

When you've cooked all the pancakes, stack them up to garnish and serve. Start by adding the reserved vanilla paste to the maple syrup, stirring them to combine. Then, top the stacks of pancakes with the vanilla maple syrup and sliced almonds, if desired. "Adding vanilla paste at the end to the syrup enhances this dish. It just takes it over the top," Barrett says. "They were so good 'as is' with syrup that butter wasn't necessary." 

She also suggests serving them with mimosas or plain orange juice, along with fresh fruit and bacon. And while these are best served right when you make them, if you have any leftovers you can wrap them well and save them in the fridge for a few days.