When strawberry season comes around, one of my favorite ways to use them is in Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes! Yum! And it’s hard to believe that there is no cream cheese in the recipe at all. It’s a bit more complicated than your standard pancake recipe, because there are four components. I think it’s worth it!
What are those components? The pancake itself, which has cottage cheese and lemon zest is the base. Next is the strawberry sauce–fresh strawberries slightly sweetened, with a hint of orange. Third is sweetened sour cream, which tastes like cream cheese! And finally for crunch, are toasted cinnamon graham cracker crumbs. You can make the Sour Cream and Graham Cracker Crumbs the night before.
Here is the recipe:
Strawberry Cheese Cake Pancakes (makes 8 pancakes)
Pancakes:
1/2 C milk Whisk milk, sugar, egg, butter and vanilla in bowl.
1/2 C sugar Combine flour, baking powder, salt in small bowl.
1 Egg Add dry to wet, stir just until incorporated.
2 T unsalted butter, melted Blend in cottage cheese and zest.
1 C all-purpose flour Heat griddle to 350 degrees.
1 tsp baking powder Spray with nonstick spray, pour by 1/3 cup.
1/4 tsp salt Cook until bubbles show on top, about 3 minutes.
1/2 C cottage cheese Flip and cook another 2 minutes.
1 tsp lemon zest, minced
You can keep the pancakes warm in a 200 degree oven.
Fresh Strawberry Sauce
4 C strawberries, hulled, halved Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan.
1/4 C sugar Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer.
1/4 C water Simmer 7 minutes, or until fruit softens.
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp orange zest, minced
Candied Graham Cracker Crumbs
4T unsalted butter Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat.
1 C graham crackers, crushed Add remaining ingredients.
2 T sugar Cook until toasted, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
Sweetened Sour Cream
1 C sour cream Whisk together sour cream and powdered sugar.
1/4 C powdered sugar Chill overnight.
Finishing:
Plate two or more pancakes. Top with strawberry sauce. Put a large dollop of the sweetened sour cream on top. Sprinkle with candied graham cracker crumbs and enjoy!