Deliciously light and fluffy, these wholegrain rye pancakes are the perfect breakfast. This recipe blends the richness of buttermilk with the warm sweetness of honey.
Soaked Or Fermented Rye Pancakes
While these pancakes can be whipped up first thing in the morning, I recommend setting the batter up the night before. The lower gluten content of rye flour means that it can be soaked and fermented without turning into a bread-like batter.
Here are a few advantages to mixing the rye and buttermilk the night before:
- Setting up the batter the night before makes it easy to mix in the morning.
- Fully hydrated flour will improve the texture of the pancakes, making up for the lower gluten content of rye flour. It means that the pancakes are light and fluffy, rather than dense.
- Soaking in buttermilk, milk kefir or yogurt gives these pancakes a sourdough-like flavour. So rich and delicious.
- Soaked and fermented grains easier to digest. A perfect option if breakfast sometimes leaves you feeling sluggish.
Honey Rye Pancakes
Soaking flour overnight makes these rye pancakes deliciously light and fluffy. They are a wholesome breakfast that blends the richness of buttermilk with the warm sweetness of honey.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 Servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Fermented
- Cuisine: Traditional
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups cultured buttermilk
- 1 3/4 cups rye flour (see notes for alternatives)
- 3 eggs
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Soaking the flour overnight is optional, however, it will improve the texture. See the section above for more details. To preferment, mix the flour and buttermilk in a glass container the night before. Cover with a towel and leave the container out on the kitchen counter.
- The next morning, start by preheating your pan on medium.
- Mix all of the remaining ingredients into the soaked flour. The flour mixture will be quite thick, so don’t worry about being gentle, just try to evenly mix everything.
- Scoop 1/4 cup of batter onto your frying pan. Cook until the middle is bubbling and the edges are starting to dry out (about 3 minutes). Flip and cook the other side for one more minute. The secret to these pancakes is to cook them low and slow. Otherwise, the honey browns quickly. They’ll still taste good. They’re just a bit browner than typical pancakes.
- Serve immediately or keep warm.
Notes
- This recipe can be made with ANY wholegrain flour. Use wholegrain spelt, barley
or gluten-free oat flour
(affiliate links.) The only trick is that certain flours have a higher hydration ratio. If the batter seems too thick, then add an extra few tablespoons of buttermilk. If the batter is too thin, then add a few extra tablespoons of flour.
- For really FLUFFY pancakes, then separate the yolks and whites. Mix the yolks directly into the main batter. Whip the whites up separately, then fold into the batter.
- The buttermilk can be replaced with yogurt, milk kefir or your favourite non-dairy cultured milk.
or 
(affiliate links.) The only trick is that certain flours have a higher hydration ratio. If the batter seems too thick, then add an extra few tablespoons of buttermilk. If the batter is too thin, then add a few extra tablespoons of flour.Keywords: soaked, wholegrain, no refined sugar, low gluten, gluten-free, fall, winter
Hello Emillie.
Thank you so so much for all your work in posting recipes with fermented food and other information. It has been very enlightening.
I myself have been suffering with sensitive digestive system for a while now. I read that fermented foods can help so I am giving it a go.
I decided to start with this recipe (BUTTERMILK, HONEY AND RYE PANCAKES) but I find that the inside of the pancake doesn’t get cooked. I cook them for quite a while and it is like the outside creates a barrier that doesn’t allow the inside to cook. (I hope you understand what I am trying to explain)
Can you help me understand what I am doing wrong?
I look forward hearing from you.
Kind Regards
Tania
It took 2-3 years of eating a lot of fermented foods, but it’s certainly helped my digestion! As for the pancakes, I’m not sure why they aren’t cooking. Whole grain rye is a moist flour and honey keeps things moist and soft, so perhaps that is keeping the pancakes moister than you expect? The egg should cook with the heat. Maybe try a different flour or adding a bit more liquid so they aren’t as thick?
Thank you for the ideas. I will try them and figure out what is not working.
Kind Regards
Wow! This turned out way more fluffy than expected. Super yummy!
★★★★★
They are surprisingly fluffy hot off the grill. 🙂
We LOVE this recipe!!!! We made it exactly as told, except with a little less honey as we use maple syrup when eating;) thank you for helping make our Sunday morning pancakes even better!
Spaeh family, Neustadt a. D. W. Germany
★★★★★
Glad you enjoyed it!
Taste great!
Very light and tasty!
★★★★★
Thanks!