Yogurt transforms a simple whisk-up batter into the lightest, fluffiest, tenderest, and most magical pancakes imaginable. These Tenderest Cardamom Pancakes are delicious. Any extra batter keeps nicely in a covered jar in the fridge for 2 or 3 days.

TENDEREST CARDAMOM PANCAKES

Yogurt has been a staple in my house since I was a child.  I grew up eating plain yogurt with nothing in it.

Yes, you heard right, no added fruit, added sugar or honey.

My Mom had a yogurt maker when I was little and each week she would make little glass jars of white, creamy, delicious yogurt.

 I grew to love yogurt in its plainest form, which many people are not fond of.

I am not alone in my love for plain yogurt.  

When my Mom’s side of the family gets together and has a meal there is always a side of plain yogurt.

 We dip everything in it including pita bread, kibbeh, grape leaves.  

We use as a dressing for salads, as marinades, in baked goods, and the list goes on.

 Yogurt is such a versatile food and the fact it has health benefits is an added bonus.

When I was given the opportunity to review Yogurt Culture: A Global Look at How to Make, Bake, Sip, and Chill the World’s Creamiest, Healthiest Food by Cheryl Sternman Rule, I was more than excited.  

She shares 115 flavorful recipes, taking yogurt farther than the breakfast table, farther than the lunchbox, farther than the gym bag.

A whole cookbook devoted to recipes using yogurt as an ingredient makes this girl happy.

The cookbook is not only beautiful, but it has a variety of recipes from a Folded Omelet for One with Lox, Shallot, and Yogurt, to a Sausage, Spinach, and Apple Pot Pie, to Ultimate Strawberry Frozen Yogurt.  There is enough to keep you busy cooking with yogurt for a long time.

When I received the cookbook I flipped through it and knew I had to make the Tenderest Cardamom Pancakes.  

In my household every weekend involves pancakes.  

Before I had kids I wasn’t into making pancakes and only ate them on occasion at brunch.  

Once Will came into the picture that all changed.

 In our house making pancakes is a fun ritual that the whole family does.  

Will pulls up a chair and helps measure and pour the ingredients into the bowl.

A lot of the time pancake making is a daddy and son activity, which is pretty cute to watch.

Will and Drew love their pancakes.  I typically make a large batch and freeze some for the week.  

The nice thing about pancakes is they are easy to make, and unless you are feeding a big crowd, you are going to have some leftovers to freeze.  

Today’s Tenderest Cardamom Pancakes made about 35 pancakes for me, which meant we got to freeze a big batch for later.

These Tenderest Cardamom Pancakes really are tender, just like the title says.

The yogurt helps to add that tender texture when you cook the pancakes and also calcium that we all need.  

The Cardamom in the title also intrigued me.  

I had it in a few things over the years but never actually used it myself.

 When I bought the bottle and opened it up, the smell was so warming and I knew it would add a delicious flavor to the pancakes.

To make these pancakes you will need a whisk, a couple of big mixing bowls, and the ingredients listed below.

 Once you mix together your batter the pancake making process is easy.

You can use a large skillet, griddle or a cast iron skillet, heat a little dollop of butter over medium heat, and when it starts to sizzle pour the pancake mix on.

Next get out your handy spatula, or in my case this  Mini Silicone Flexible Pancake Turner that OXO sent me, and start flipping.

If you have a chance to get your hands on a flexible pancake turner they are a big help when doing a perfect flip.

 It is just flexible enough to get under the pancake and not loose any batter as you flip the pancake.

The actual pancakes only take about 4-5 minutes to cook and depending on the size of your skillet you can cook a few at a time.  

Pull them off the griddle hot and serve them with syrup, a dollop of yogurt or butter and some fresh fruit. Breakfast {or how about dinner} never tasted so good.

Recipe shared with permission from Yogurt Culture: A Global Look at How to Make, Bake, Sip, and Chill the World’s Creamiest, Healthiest Food by Cheryl Sternman Rule

*Disclosure: Stonyfield Organic provided me with samples of their Greek yogurt and a copy of Yogurt Culture as part of their Clean Plate Club. OXO provided me with the mini silicone flexible pancake turner and butter dish as part of this month’s campaign. All opinions are 100% my own.