Best Sweet Cream Pancakes: Fluffy homemade recipe & easy cooking tips

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Black Bear Diner Pancake Recipe Inspiration

The Black Bear Diner restaurant chain has some of the best breakfast food. It’s the first place many people experience amazing melt in your mouth sweet cream pancakes for the first time. It’s one of the most popular items on their Sunday morning breakfast menu.

I don’t have their secret recipe but I do have my own copy cat version of those pancakes which I’ve made easy for campsite cooking.

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What Is A Sweet Cream?

The simple explanation is that butterfat rises to the top of unhomogenized milk … that butterfat is also called cream.

You’ve probably noticed a “sweet cream butter” label on the package when you buy butter at your local grocery store. That means it is produced from fresh sweet cream which is different than butter made with cultured or soured cream. Most butter produced in the United States is sweet cream butter.

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Regular vs. Sweet Cream Pancake Recipes

The main difference between sweet cream and standard pancakes is the dairy product used in the wet ingredients. With the exception of the liquid ingredient, the basic pancake recipe is virtually identical.

Traditional pancakes use regular milk (or buttermilk for buttermilk pancakes) while sweet cream pancakes recipes call for heavy cream, which is also referred to as heavy whipping cream.

So, they’re basically pancakes with heavy cream instead of milk … there is no extra sugar added. That’s why they’re also called heavy cream pancakes or pancakes with whipping cream.

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Why Are Restaurant Pancakes So Fluffy?

Leavening agents are the secret ingredients to make fluffy pancakes. As soon as the baking soda comes in contact with the wet ingredients, the chemical reaction begins. The longer you wait to cook your hot cakes, the less fluffy and more dense they become.

Many campers mix their pancake batter at home, store in the fridge and transport to the campsite in a squeezable container. Then, just squirt a quarter cup of pancake batter on a hot griddle and call it a day. That’s super handy BUT you’ll end up with dense pancakes instead of light, fluffy cakes. If you’re going for ease, by all means, do it.

The whole reason to make homemade pancake batter is to enjoy fluffy, golden pancakes. If you’re going for perfect pancakes, make this easy homemade batter and follow a few simple rules for best results.

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Cooking Methods & Equipment

Making this as one of our camp stove recipes is a great option too. You’ll want to make sure your stove is on a level surface. If your stove is large enough with even heat, you can use a cast iron griddle, if you prefer a non-stick skillet, that works too.

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Recipe Steps

Step 1. Prepare your ingredients, heat source and equipment as directed. Heat griddle (or skillet) over medium heat of campfire, camp stove or RV stove (you may need a medium-high heat if you are cooking in windy conditions.)

Step 2. Combine dry ingredients. Measure and whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. (I recommend measuring and mixing at home so you don’t have to carry all the individual ingredients to the campsite. Then, transfer to your mixing bowl when ready to cook.)

Step 3. Combine wet ingredients. Using a small separate mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla extract and heavy cream.

Step 4. Mix wet and dry. Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients being careful not to overmix.

Step 5. Prepare the pan. Coat your griddle (or skillet) with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 6. Cook the cakes & serve hot. It is easiest to use a dry measuring cup to scoop batter out of the mixing bowl. You’ll want to use about 1/4 cup of pancake batter for smaller cakes and about 1/2 cup batter if you like larger cakes. Thin with a little milk or water if the consistency is too thick. Cook till golden brown and serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Camp Cooking Tip: Little bubbles will form then they will pop and form little holes, that means it’s time to flip to cook the second side.

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What To Serve With This Recipe

We like to serve a side of crispy bacon with our sweet breakfast meals. If serving as one of our vegetarian camping recipes, serve a plant-based savory breakfast meat substitute on the side.

And, of course, don’t forget a nice, cold glass of milk and hot cup of camp coffee!

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Similar Recipes

The next time you want to make a ridiculously fast meal, try these Camping Pancakes Just Add Water. The topping makes them yummy, it’s just fresh strawberries tossed in a small bowl with sugar and set aside to macerate a bit to soften the berries and create a simple syrup.

These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes use a just-add-water pancake mix which is nothing special until they are dotted with chocolate chips and topped with a simple topping made with milk, powdered sugar, peanut butter and vanilla extract.

When you’re short on cold storage space, consider camping food ideas no refrigeration required. These Peachy Nutty Pancakes are made using only pantry items.

This is the best pancake recipe for fall camping trips … you know … pumpkin season! This option is a little more labor intensive than our typical recipes but these Pumpkin Walnut Pancakes With Mascarpone Drizzle are totally worth the effort for the gourmet-taste.

You don’t have to make individual servings of French toast if you make my family-style casserole Dutch Oven French Toast.

This Dutch Oven Coffee Cake is one of my favorite recipes to serve for breakfast because leftovers make a great snack or dessert later in the trip.

These delicious, easy, healthy, vegan-friendly 4 Ingredient Banana Pancakes are quick to prepare and sweetened without refined sugar.

These Campfire Dutch Oven Donuts are fast and yummy. 3 ingredients are all you need to make these fun treats.

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More Yummy Meal Ideas

Enjoy different foods on your next trip.