i top my pancakes with...

[umbushi plum]

i'm a little embarassed my family lived in the middle east until i was five then we went back and forth to kenya and asia all the time (parents still do but i just started uni) so i've never eaten pancakes at a restaurant till recently and had never heard of anything other than lemon and sugar on pancakes like i had had in england so tell me what do you put on pancakes i'm the cook of my student flat and am wondering what to stock up with....

[six dower]

Blueberry Cinnamon Pecan Syrup w/ Ricotta cheese. Best thing ever.....

[ClockworkOrange]

Depending on my mood, either Lyle's Golden Syrup or real maple syrup. And of course butter is a given.

[To Market To Market]

I don't love super sweet pancakes or waffles, but I love topping them with sheep's milk yogurt (which is a bit tangy) and some blueberry preserves...

yum.

[EWSflash]

I top them with nothing. I eat them with my hands tear off a piece and drag the pieces through some semisoft butter. Or not, they're pretty darn good naked.

[brooklynkoshereater]

I prepare this delicious cinnamon-honey butter when I'm really in the modd of spending a little time on the topping. Otherwise it's just powdered sugar or a simple blueberry syrup.

[juliewong]

I never liked pancakes and would avoid them until I took a summer job as a nanny and was served thin whole wheat pancakes with yogurt. I fell in love.

[visciole]

Home-made buttermilk pancakes, especially if you separate the eggs and whip the white before folding it into the batter, are delish with no topping at all.

But if forced I'll take just a little bit of maple syrup.

[RoxyB]

Sweet Chai maple syrup with ginger and cardamom (http://infusedmaple.com/sweet_chai.html). But sparingly, since this stuff is impossible to find locally. I got my bottle in Vermont.

[maplesugar]

I heart pancakes with: Warm maplesyrup & butter (ok not a big surprise with a name like mine I know). Since moving out west I've also become fond of (when maplesyrup is scarce) saskatoonberry syrup, or just plain butter depending on my mood. :)

[tomatoaday]

Over easy eggs, salt, pepper and chopped up crispy bacon. I have never liked syrup on pancakes. It sounds odd but it just makes them way to heavy to eat - they seem to expand over the next few hours while eating them with the eggs just seems to replace toast.

I know I shouldn't confess to eating at Denny's but I recently had this with their whole grain pancakes and was impressed with the pancakes themselves. Now if I could just get hot eggs and bacon with them!

[taiwanesesmalleats]

Is the "heavy" issue only with pancake syrup or also with real maple syrup as well?

[lynnlato]

Perhaps it's all the carbohydrates? Pancakes + syrup (either one) = a lot of carbs in the morning.

As a type 1 diabetic I allow myself only 15-20 carbs at breakfast because I am coming off an 8-hr fast (no food while sleeping). Your body sucks up those simple carbs quickly and leave you feeling heavy and tired.

I like the Aunt Jemima whole wheat pancake mix to whip up a batch quickly. Sadly though, I have to use sugar-free syrup and it ain't even close to the real stuff. :-(

[taiwanesesmalleats]

Perhaps. When I discovered real maple syrup, pancakes started tasting less heavy because I was using less syrup since the flavor is so much punchier, and not cloyingly sweet as is often the case with "pancake syrup".

[lynnlato]

Couldn't agree more with you on the syrup. Less, of the good stuff, is more. Yum. :-)

[EmoryJ]

Come to think of it my first favorite pancake thing was pancakes layered with over-medium eggs and Irish Bacon, salted butter and warm Grade B syrup.......

[EmoryJ]

I like bananas and roasted pecans (in the batter or on top) with Grade B syrup (or Kayro Corn syrup for that matter!)

[waddleidoer]

Whipped cream with blueberries/strawberries/raspberries (or whatever berry is available)—once I added some olallieberry syrup—yum!

[umbushi plum]

oh man that reminds me my parents live in the mountains right near a huge berry farm with the best rasberries, and strawberries next time i visit i have to try them with some gluten free pancakes!
and my brothers first job was at a bluberry farm in northern nsw i loved it when he would bring home freebies we would devour them in seconds, if any were left we made muffins which i loved so i am going to give the bluberry in the pancake batter a try (tried the banana in the batter YUM, and did a variation with buckwheat flour, banana and cottage cheese i reapeat YUM)

[Wahooty]

In our house, it was always take a pancake, apply a layer of sour cream, whatever fresh fruit was in the house (pears, cherries, peaches, berries, sometimes fried apples), top with another pancake, drizzle honey or real maple syrup on top. We'd only put the butter on the table if we had guests, because we knew most people would find our way weird. I'm still not sure why my parents always did it this way, but "normal" pancakes are still weirdly unsatisfying for me.

[steakman55]

Butter and cane syrup. Haven't any of ya'll been in the South and tasted that delicacy?
If not, you are missing something good. (I also like maple)

[umbushi plum]

interesting never heard of it but reminds be of when i was little and up in northern NSW Australia we would suck on cane sugar from the feilds is it made with thats kind of sugar cane?

[vvvindaloo]

now that sounds good.

[vvvindaloo]

salted butter and real maple syrup. i am not a fan of fresh fruit on top of pancakes, though its a very common preparation. I do, however, love sliced banana *in* the pancakes!

As a kid, I was more likely to eat them Swedish style: rolled up with the filling inside (either butter and syrup or jam).

[Soop]

blueberries in the pancake as it cooks. I know it's a cliché, but it's for a good reason.

[vvvindaloo]

I can see why people like this, but there's just something about blueberries and syrup together that doesn't jibe with me...i know, i'm weird.

[lynnlato]

Me too, vvvindaloo, I don't get it. Guess I'm weird too.

[atheorist]

Me three, about blueberries and syrup.

On Blueberry pancakes: Butter and a little plain sugar. Can't wait to try lemon juice and brown sugar.

On plain pancakes, when the maple syrup runs out: canned peaches or other fruit, in "heavy syrup."

Try this: Heat a blend of honey and frozen orange juice concentrate until it pours.

[chef24]

Chocolate chips semi sweet:or fresh berries frozen can work too;;maple butter and good syrup is a must

[Soop]

Maple syrup!

I make american style pancakes though for desert.

[mrbigshotno.1]

Texas sorghum.

[staarlite]

Crunchy peanut butter!! It melts just a bit and is oh so yummy! You could probably top it with a little marshmallow fluff for a "pancake fluffernutter"! Oh baby!

[Plano Rose]

Usually I have maple syrup. Bot my absolute favorite pancake topping is peaches cooked like a thin peach cobbler filling.

[umbushi plum]

one of my friends had an interesting topping, butter and vegemite it was nice if you like vegemite that is but my favourite is pure lemon juice and nothing else, no sugar anymore just lemon juice mmmm tangy

[Rasam]

Hi: I like to make pancakes with almost no sugar, but with salt, corn kernels and scallions added in.
Topping: roasted red pepper dip.

This is about my favourite combo, since trying it at the Cafe de la Paz (pan-Andean restaurant IIRC) in Berkeley years and years ago......

Other than that, real maple syrup, and various fresh fruit and a smidgen of butter ......

[piccola]

When I was a kid, we only made French-style crepes. I ate them with butter and brown sugar, rolled up, with the sugar still crunchy.

Now, of course, that's way too sweet for me. Crepes or pancakes, I like them totally plain, preferably with Greek yogurt and sliced bananas on the side.

[catrn]

Pork gravy. My father made this for us as kids when he had to cook dinner. Makes my husband gag, but I love it!

[Kari]

normally maple syrup, but sometimes I like to spread cream cheese on it.

[alixium]

yes! cream cheese AND maple syrup is a great combo!

[bulavinaka]

Warmed maple syrup, bacon pieces and labneh or creme fraiche between the layers.

[JudiAU]

Warm grade B maple syrup.

And when pregnant or nursing, a large slab of butter.

[bulavinaka]

I'll have to take your word on the urge for butter while pregnant or nursing part (uttered in a deep throaty voice while chewin' on tobacco).

[EmoryJ]

yes! thank you for that thought. and BACON is a must.

[KayceeK]

Usually maple syrup or powdered sugar and butter, but occasionally molasses. For a more savoury breakfast, I have them with a side of fried trout! YUM!

[BonnieB.]

mmmmmm, now that sounds good. my mom used to make scotch kippers with eggs or pancakes. I remember they used to taste almost like bacon,smokey kind of. So long ago, I haven't had them for many years. Kayceek you brought back memories with your fried trout :)

[KayceeK]

Pleasant memories for me too! Dad and my uncles and grandfather would go fishing early in the morning and bring back their fresh catch, while Grammy would set to work with her homemade batter. Yum!

[lemons]

I like to warm maple syrup and put fresh fruit in it, particularly blueberries or peaches so they give up a little of their juices. As much as I love butter, I've managed to give it up on pancakes, but either syrup in the American style, or jam or lemon/sugar in the European style are my style.

[umbushi plum]

hey lemons, given your name i was hoping you would like the lemon sugar combo like me!

[chilihead]

I top my pancakes with more pancakes.

And even though I live in Vermont I put maple syrup in a "non-food" category. Perhaps having made it as a child has turned me off of it forever.

[BaltoPhilFood]

-An egg poached soft, using the yolk as my 'syrup'
-Coconut milk with spiced pancakes
-The classic butter/syrup
-Occasionally yogurt (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry)

All depends on the mood but i do love pancakes!

[lynnlato]

Amen on the egg yolk! This is my favorite breakfast (or at least tied w/ eggs benedict). I butter the pancake, add syrup and then top it off w/ a sunny side up egg, salt & pepper too. I love breaking the yolk and letting the gooey sunshine ooze all over the pancake. Mmmmmmm.

[jmckee]

Butter and honey, or occasionally good jam. I detest the flavor of maple.

[Demented]

Butter and homemade pomegranate syrup.

[NellyNel]

Oh - it has to be butter and syrup
that's it.

same for waffles!
Oh! except for waffles and ice cream!! Yummmm

[Ruth Lafler]

Yummm ... waffles and ice cream! Since I only cook for myself, even a half batch of waffles is more than I can eat for breakfast, so I sometimes make ice cream sandwiches with the leftovers!

As for pancakes, it really depends on what kind of pancakes. The lemon and sugar the op mentioned is good only on very thin pancakes. For fluffy American style pancakes you need something more -- I'm personally a butter and maple syrup person as well, and yes, they go on top of each pancake, which means between pancakes in a stack.

[NellyNel]

Gosh I have to stop reading these posts at work!
By lunchtime - I am STARVING and salivating and usually craving something I've been reading about....Lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, creme brulee...and today - PANCAKES with butter and syrup (and a side of sausage of course!)....maybe some waffles and ice cream for dessert!!

[six dower]

warm maple syrup in pan w/ tosted pecans, mango and blueberries....delish!!!

[MattInNJ]

ganjbutter

[DarkRose]

Lately my topping of choice has been Nutella.

[umbushi plum]

just tried nutella crepes from nigellas express book. RULE you rule nutella lover (i still love my lemon juice more though)

[ipsedixit]

I don't put anything on "top" of my pancakes.

I prefer to dress the pancakes with stuff "between" each pancake.

I like to make a peanut butter jelly and banana pancake sandwich.

Take one pancake, spread some peanut butter and fruit jam of your choice (I prefer blueberry), top with sliced bananas, and then place a pancake on top of it all. Then eat.

[tracylee]

peanut butter and maple syrup, of course!

[DiningDiva]

Woo-Hoo, me too. Peanut butter and syrup is the best :-)!!

[Suzy Q]

You guys rock. To date, my dad and I have been the only people I know who do the PB and syrup combo...but I try to convert everyone I meet!

[DiningDiva]

I can't even imagine pancakes without PB and syrup:-)

[boogiebaby]

Same here -- love the PB and syrup combo! Otherwise I like blueberry syrup and lots of butter!

[mojoeater]

I actually dislike fruit on my pancakes. To me, it's all about butter and maple syrup. I'll take the fruit fresh (no added sugar) and on the side, please!

[umbushi plum]

funny i hate butter on anything but maple syrup apart from lemon and sugar is the only other topping i've ever had and it was accompanied by fresh fruit salad and yoghurt on the side

[OverTheHill]

Real maple syrup-grade A dark amber.....yum

[goodhealthgourmet]

http://www.chow.com/home_cooking_digest/3838
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/444130
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/596962
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/324623

oh, and there's no need to be embarrassed!

[umbushi plum]

thanks for the links i searched but obviously not hard enough! woops ;-)

[goodhealthgourmet]

no worries :) for some reason i seem to have a skill for digging up CH & Google search results that no one else can find!

[umbushi plum]

your a valuable resource thanks