We eat pancakes every week.
EVERY week. It’s a tradition that Vin brought to our little household. Well to me really…and Izzy of course, too. He grew up eating pancakes with his Grandpa Julio. I unfortunately was never able to try Grandpa’s pancakes but from what I hear the butter oozed out of them and they melted in your mouth.
Vin makes the pancakes in our house which contain a stick of butter. I make the eggs which contain…a block of cheese. Anyway…
He uses Aunt Jemima original pancake mix…nothing else. I have to say. They are darn good and buttery.
HOWEVER, one day Vin said he wanted to try and make pancakes from scratch. So we did!
This was my/our first time making homemade pancakes and it was so easy we actually made two batches, in the same morning, because we weren’t thrilled about the first. Because I’m a control freak in the kitchen, I kind of took over and made the pancakes that I wanted – a vanilla sweet pancake.
Yes, their may have been an argument or two..
The only reason I wanted sweet vanilla pancakes was because I devoured them at a breakfast joint near my old work in Oak Lawn Illinois. Now I don’t currently work in Oak Lawn…not even close, and I’m not sure I will go back to this breakfast joint any time soon so… I wanted to try and make them at home.
Vin hasn’t had these pancakes from Oak Lawn, IL so he doesn’t have the need for them like I do.
Long story short…
Ok this vanilla bean paste is my life. I use it almost every day…literally. It goes in my oatmeal in the morning and in all my baking. It’s kind of expensive, but well worth it. Like $12 off of Amazon or something. Just get some. You will not be disappointed.
The vanilla bean paste definitely made these VANILLA pancakes. Like you take a bite and you think oh yeah, vanilla! If you look real closely in the pictures you may be able to see the specks of vanilla beans…
They’re beeeautiful.
The second flavor that I tasted in these amazing Oak Lawn pancakes was sugar or some sort of “sweetness.” It reminded me of powdered sugar so I added that to the batter.
A ton of delicious vanilla bean paste and powdered sugar in pancakes is amazing…I’m tellin’ ya. You gotta try these.
It all worked…they tasted very similar to the Oak Lawn pancakes. Vin on the other hand…wanted more butter.
I…I mean WE are looking forward to creating those buttery pancakes sometime soon for you! Just like Grandpa made ’em.
Oh those beans…vanilla beans that is.
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup + ⅛ cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup milk (whole milk is the best, but low-fat works too)
- ½ stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and powdered sugar.
- Add wet ingredients: egg, milk, butter, and vanilla. Stir together with a fork or whisk.
- Spray a pancake griddle or pan with non-stick spray and turn it on to medium heat.
- Pour about ¼ cup batter onto pan and cook for a few minutes or until bubbles form on the top of the pancakes then flip with a spatula and cook until lightly golden brown.
- Serve with maple syrup and butter.

Hello, May I use vanilla extract instead?
Yes!
Hey Jessica I’ve also sent you an email regarding if you have a good yellow cake recipe. I have not seen one. I love your cakes. I cant seem to get a good yelloe cake recipe.
Hi Terri – unfortunately I don’t have a personal recipe for a good yellow cake but I have added it to my recipe list to put on the blog! Anything else you would like to see?
At this time that is all I can think of. Is there a way i can be notified when you have uploaded the yellow cake recipe? Is tbis your blog?
If you subscribe to my blog you will receive email updates when i post a new recipe! The subscribe button is on the homepage of my blog to the right.
Those are some beautiful looking pancakes Jess! Will wants them every weekend so this would be a great one to try!
Dear Jessica, These pancakes are perfect. The perfect weekend treat. The bean paste is a great idea…I have to look for that next time I order from the catalog. Pinning for later. xo, Catherine
Love me some Nielsen Massey vanilla bean paste! These look fabulous! Must needs have a stack. (And soon.)
I’m a sucker for ANY pancake. If fact I have a recipe for a just a “single pancake” for nights when I don’t feel like making dinner!
Thanks for the recipe they look yummy
Do you make them quite big? Here in SA we normally eat them as a pudding or tea though the kids will eat them any time!
Hi Amanda – I would say these are small to medium pancakes.