Strawberry Powder Pancakes with Freeze-Dried Fruit

Freeze-dried fruit is versatile enough to work in savory snacks and baked goods alike, but crushed into a fine powder, it becomes something closer to a magic ingredient. Stirred into pancake batter, freeze-dried strawberry powder turns the batter a fun shade of pink — a hit with kids, and a natural choice for a Valentine's Day breakfast.

Strawberry Powder Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons powdered freeze-dried strawberries
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions:

1. Sift together the flour, strawberry powder, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, milk, and vanilla together.
3. While the butter melts on the griddle, combine the wet and dry ingredients.
4. Ladle 1/4 cup of batter onto the griddle — a heart-shaped mold is a nice touch if you have one — and cook until bubbles form on the surface.
5. Flip and cook for about another minute on the other side.
6. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more butter to the griddle as needed.

Try Other Fruits Too

Strawberry isn't the only option — powdered freeze-dried banana, raspberry, or blueberry all work the same way in pancake or waffle batter, each adding its own color and flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much freeze-dried strawberry powder goes into this pancake recipe?
2 tablespoons, sifted in with the dry ingredients.

Can other freeze-dried fruits be used instead of strawberry?
Yes — banana, raspberry, and blueberry powders all work well in pancake or waffle batter in place of strawberry.

Why does the batter turn pink?
The powdered freeze-dried strawberries color the batter naturally as they mix in, with no food coloring needed.