I’m on an orange kick, and cannot be stopped!

Not that I want to be stopped, I mean they’re oranges for Pete’s sake, not chocolate-covered almonds. Now those you can pry from my death grip anytime now. We have a huge bag of them leftover from the holidays and I swear they call to me every single night.

Eat at least 37 of us! They say. Quickly! You’ll feel horrible afterwards!

Anyway right now oranges, particularly navel oranges, are in season and I cannot get enough of ’em. There’s something so thirst-quenching and satisfying about a juicy, sweet orange slice, amiright?

Recently I wrote a post about using navel oranges in savory dishes like Sesame Orange Beef for Delish Dish, but today I went the sweet route and made the gems you see below – Orange Pancakes with Berry-Orange Sauce, aka THE BEST PANCAKES EVER!!!

I have made a LOT of pancake recipes in my day, like lemon poppy seed pancakes, banana pancakes, carrot cake pancakes, cornbread pancakes, churro pancakes, apple cider pancakes, but these Orange Pancakes with Berry-Orange Sauce are hands down my favorite. Made with fresh orange juice, and spiked with orange zest, they actually taste refreshing. Whodathunkit? A REFRESHING pancake recipe!

Not only are Orange Pancakes with Berry-Orange Sauce packed with bright, fresh flavors, they’re incredibly light and fluffy too. As soon as the batter hit the hot griddle they puffed like magic. MAGIC, I tell you!

Topped with a warm, Berry-Orange Sauce made by quickly simmering frozen berries with orange juice, orange zest, and a pinch of sugar, these pancakes satisfied my soul. I have been aching for warmer weather lately, and these actually helped me think of sweet, summer days ahead. PS: daylight savings time starts in less than two and half months – who’s wants to start a countdown chain with me?!

Start the Berry-Orange Sauce for the Orange Pancakes first. You’ll need 1 cup frozen organic mixed berries to serve 2-3 people.

To the berries add 2 Tablespoons orange juice, and 1-2 teaspoons sugar depending on how sweet your berries are. I started with 1 teaspoon then tasted at the end to see if they needed more. They didn’t!

Finally add 1 teaspoon orange zest. Orange zest is just the orange part of the orange peel. It contains oils that make whatever you add them to taste SO ORANGY. FYI, don’t flex orange peels causing the oils to mist onto your skin. I once tried it on my wrist in college thinking it’d make me smell terrific. No. It burnt then I think I got a rash.

Anyway, bring the berries up to a bubble, then smash them with the back of the spoon. Let the berries thicken and cook for 4-5 minutes, then remove the saucepan from the heat and place a lid on top to keep warm. Sauce = done!

Now onto the orange-laced pancakes! First combine 1/2 cup each skim mik and orange juice in a bowl, then let the mixture sit for a few minutes. Next whisk in 2 Tablespoons melted butter, 1 egg, and 1/2 teaspoon orange zest.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, which include flour, sugar, baking powder and the like, then whisk it all up until just combined.

Pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto a griddle heated to 350 degrees, or over medium heat, then cook until little bubbles appear on top. Flip then cook until the second side is golden brown.

Top with the warm Berry-Orange Sauce, and enjoy!

Orange Pancakes with Berry-Orange Sauce

vegetarian
5/5 (3 REVIEWS)

Description

Orange Pancakes with Berry-Orange Sauce are packed with bright, fresh flavors, and are incredibly light and fluffy.

Ingredients

Makes 12, 4" pancakes

  • 1/2 cup skim milk
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
  • For the Berry-Orange Sauce:
    • 1 cup frozen organic mixed berries
    • 2 Tablespoons orange juice
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest
    • 1-2 teaspoons sugar (depending on sweetness of berries)

Directions

  1. Combine ingredients for the Berry-Orange Sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat then bring to a bubble. Smash berries with the back of a spoon then let cook for 4-5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and place a lid on top to keep warm.
  2. Combine milk and orange juice in a bowl then let sit for a few minutes. Meanwhile, add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl then stir to combine. Whisk egg, melted butter, and orange zest into the milk and orange juice mixture, then pour into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined.
  3. Heat a griddle over medium heat (350 degrees if you have an electric griddle) then spray with non-stick spray. Scoop 1/4 cup batter onto griddle and cook until bubbles appear on top. Flip pancakes then cook until golden brown on the other side. Continue with remaining batter. Serve with warm Berry-Orange Sauce.

Notes

Pancakes adapted from AllRecipes.com

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Each bite of these pancakes made me feel like I was on a tropical trip…until I looked out the window and saw 7 inches of snow mounded on top of the tomato plants I “forgot” to rip out of my garden this fall. Oy.

Regardless, these babies are special. And beautiful!! Enjoy as a bright weekend brunch or, if you need a bit of cheer during the week, as a nice breakfast for dinner meal.

Psst! Make extra sauce to swirl into Greek yogurt or oatmeal, or top some ice cream – it’s absolutely delish!