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Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Tender stovetop pancakes get lift from ricotta and bright lemon zest. A quick blueberry-maple sauce goes over the stack for an easy brunch plate.

Prep
10 min
Cook
20 min
Total
30 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
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stack of golden lemon ricotta pancakes topped with warm blueberry sauce

Photo: emmadiscovery (CC BY). Source

Why you’ll love it

  • Ricotta keeps the crumb soft without extra oil.
  • Lemon zest cuts through the mild cheese.
  • A lightly buttered skillet browns the cakes evenly.
  • Leftover cakes reheat without turning rubbery.

Ingredients

Servings4

Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.

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Instructions

  1. 1

    Whisk ricotta, eggs, milk, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a medium bowl until smooth.

  2. 2

    Add flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; stir just until no dry streaks remain.

  3. 3

    Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.

  4. 4

    Drop 1/4-cup scoops of batter; cook 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and set.

  5. 5

    While cakes cook, simmer blueberries, maple syrup, and remaining lemon juice in a small saucepan 4 to 5 minutes until saucy.

  6. 6

    Add remaining butter to the skillet as needed between batches.

  7. 7

    Plate the pancakes and spoon warm blueberry sauce over the top.

Pro tips

  • Do not overmix the batter or the pancakes toughen.
  • Keep finished cakes on a plate tented with foil while you finish the batch.
  • If the skillet runs dry, wipe it and add a thin film of fresh butter.

Easy substitutions

whole-milk ricotta
low-fat ricotta plus 1 tbsp milk
fresh blueberries
frozen blueberries, not thawed
maple syrup
honey

Storage and reheating

Storage

Cool completely, then refrigerate pancakes and sauce separately in airtight containers up to 3 days.

Reheating

Warm pancakes in a skillet over low heat or microwave 30 to 45 seconds; reheat sauce gently on the stovetop.

Nutrition

Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.

Calories
385
Protein
15 g
Carbs
43 g
Fat
16 g
Fiber
2 g

Moderate · Stovetop · Vegetarian

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From the kitchen

Kitchen tools we love

Practical tools these recipes actually use. This is not a review roundup, and these are not paid placements. If affiliate links are added later, they will be labeled and disclosed.

  • A heavy 12-inch skillet

    Most of the chicken and steak recipes are written for one pan that holds heat. Stainless or cast iron both work.

  • An air fryer with a real basket

    The air-fryer recipes expect a single layer. A crowded basket steams instead of browning.

  • A half-sheet pan

    Drumsticks, potatoes, sausage, and carrots all use one. A dark pan browns faster than a very shiny one.

  • A sharp chef’s knife

    These recipes do not need a specialty blade. A sharp 8-inch knife is faster and safer than a dull one.

  • A large cutting board

    Big enough that the onion and the raw chicken are not sharing the same puddle.

  • Dry cups and a liquid cup

    Desserts in particular expect level dry measures and a separate cup for milk.

  • An instant-read thermometer

    Use it for poultry, pork chops, and meatloaf. Color is a weak guide.

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Ingredients