Ever watched a good peach go bad? It’s a real tragedy. Some gorgeous organic peaches withered away on my kitchen counter last week. Those peaches sprouted some unsightly fuzz as they waited their turn to be used in a blog recipe.
It’s my fault. I forgot how quickly a good peach can go bad. I still feel as though I’ve committed a grievous crime. It was, at minimum, a serious violation of my own summer peach policy. Better to eat a ripe peach over the sink than to let it go to waste. Right?
I’m practicing peach repentance with pancakes. Oat and yogurt-based pancakes that are fluffy, gluten free and gently spiced. Thinly sliced peaches caramelize against one side of the cakes once you flip them over.
I owe credit for the idea to Ali and Deb. Ali commented a couple of days ago on my blueberry lemon yogurt pancakes. She said she made them with peaches and they were divine. You guys have the best ideas (thanks, Ali!). Her comment reminded me of Deb’s peach pancake cooking method in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, where she pours batter onto a hot pan and tops the pancake with peach slices before flipping it over.
I had to make those peach pancakes immediately, with fresh Missouri peaches. Ali was right—they are divine, if I say so myself.
These oat-based pancakes are gluten free, so they are a little more delicate than most at the flipping point. Just be gentle and they’ll turn out great. I made them on buttered cast iron and on a non-stick griddle (no butter). The butter makes them taste sort of doughnut-y, which is nice, but I preferred the cleaner taste of the non-stick surface. This could be because I grew up eating Bisquick pancakes cooked on an electric skillet. To each her own.
If you have a favorite pancake recipe, you can totally caramelize peaches on them using this method! Try it!
Caramelized Peach and Oat Pancakes
Thinly sliced peaches caramelize as they cook in these delicious, gluten-free, oat and yogurt pancakes. They’re peach upside-down pancakes! No need to peel your peaches, unless you want to. Recipe yields about 8 pancakes.
- In a small-ish bowl, stir together the yogurt, butter, lemon juice, honey and vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon.
- Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. With a big spoon, stir just until the dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened. Do not overmix or you’ll run the risk of getting tough pancakes! Let the batter sit for 10 minutes.
- Heat a heavy cast iron skillet or nonstick griddle over medium-low heat. If you’re using an electric skillet, preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- You’re ready to start cooking your pancakes once the surface of the pan is hot enough that a drop of water sizzles on contact. If necessary, lightly oil the cooking surface with butter or cooking spray (I don’t oil the surface of my non-stick griddle and my pancakes turned out great). Give the batter one gentle stir, then scoop a scant ¼ cup batter onto the pan. Place two to 3 peach slices on top of the pancake. Let the pancake cook until the top edges of the pancakes are more matte than shiny and the underside is golden, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Once the bottom side has cooked sufficiently, flip it with a spatula and cook for another couple of minutes or so, until golden brown on both sides. You may need to adjust the heat up or down at this point.
- Serve the pancakes immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven.
Notes
Recipe adapted from my blueberry lemon yogurt pancakes.
Why buy organic? Conventionally grown peaches are notoriously high in pesticide exposure.
A note on gluten free: If you want gluten-free pancakes, make sure your oat flour is certified gluten free.
Change it up: I think nectarines would work great in place of the peaches. I also want to try these pancakes with apples and pears this fall!
*How to make your own oat flour: Pour one cup of oats (old fashioned or quick cooking) into a food processor and process until it is ground well. One cup before and after grinding measures just about the same, believe it or not!
Storage suggestions: These pancakes keep well in the fridge, covered, for a couple of days. Freeze for longer-term storage.
Recommended equipment: I really like my Calphalon removable plate griddle/grill. I can cook pancakes much faster on a large surface, plus I don’t have to grease the non-stick surface.
If you love this recipe: You’ll also love my banana oat pancakes, pumpkin oat pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, individual peach crisps and peach and ricotta flatbread.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
