In Season

Fluffy & Festive Brunch Bites

​by Sarah Harper

Mini Sweet Cream Kefir Pancakes with Maple Peanut Butter Sauce

Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with these festive brunch bites. At this time of year, families gather for brunch in their festive PJs and fuzzy slippers. It's a time for shared warmth, joy, and nourishing foods.

Enjoy this winter's festivities with Mini Sweet Cream Kefir Pancakes ornamented with crispy apples, succulent Maple Peanut Butter Sauce, and your favorite brunch beverages. The Sweet Cream Pancakes are slightly sweet, satisfyingly fluffy, and the perfect base to drizzle a sweet yet nutty Maple Peanut Butter Sauce.

Pair the pancakes with vibrant sliced apples to add nutritional value. Moreover, apples are an excellent vessel for the Maple Peanut Butter Sauce. Adjust the sauce's sweetness with more or less maple syrup to suit your taste.

​Mini Sweet Cream Kefir Pancakes with Maple Peanut Butter SauceTime: approx. 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6 servings
Ingredients:
Mini Sweet Cream Kefir Pancakes

• 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour - option to use 100% whole wheat flour or a combination of the two for more nutty flavor and fiber
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ¼ cup kefir
• ½ cup whipping cream - option to use ½ and ½ or whole milk
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Maple Peanut Butter Sauce

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• ½ cup maple syrup

Optional additions - 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1-4 tbsp of milk (adjust for consistency and taste preference)

Directions:
Sweet Cream Kefir Pancakes
Preheat Griddle: Preheat a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Lightly grease with butter, avocado oil, or cooking spray. I like to use a combination of a bit of butter and avocado oil.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and kosher salt.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In another mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, kefir, whipping cream, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
Mix the Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Take care to not overmix; it's okay if there are a few lumps in the batter.
Cook the Pancakes: Pour 2 tbsp of the batter for each pancake onto the griddle (I used a ¼ cup measuring cup and filled it ~½ way. Cook until bubbles form on the surface. Flip the pancakes and cook the other side until the pancakes are golden brown.

Maple Peanut Butter Sauce
Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the peanut butter and maple syrup.
Warm and Serve: Gently heat the mixture, stirring continuously until the ingredients are combined. Drizzle the Maple Peanut Butter Sauce over the Mini Sweet Cream Pancakes.

Serve them with sliced apples, fresh berries, whipped cream, nuts, or any of your other favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes:
To make normal-sized pancakes, use a full ¼ cup of batter when cooking.

This recipe makes a delicious waffle batter, too. Pour ¾ cups batter into the entire lower grid of your waffle maker. For cooking waffles in a waffle iron, cook for about 2 minutes on each side.

Sarah Harper is a Registered Dietitian, creator, and one of many eaters behind The Addy Bean. She is also an avid hiker, a registered yoga instructor, and a former nursing home dietitian. Based in Hood River, Oregon, Sarah lives with her husband Jacob, her dog Huey and her blog’s namesake – her cat Adeline.