Silver Dollar Pancakes

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 07/4/21
Silver Dollar Pancakes

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 5 servings
Yield: 24 pancakes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
206 Calories
10g Fat
23g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories 206
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 54mg 18%
Sodium 288mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 147mg 11%
Iron 2mg 8%
Potassium 108mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The history of silver dollar pancakes can be traced back to the 1800s, shortly after the silver dollar coin was first produced. These small, two-bite pancakes got their name because they were roughly the size of a U.S. silver dollar coin, or about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Like most foods, silver dollar pancakes have grown slightly in size throughout the years, and now they are typically around 3 inches wide.

In terms of taste, silver dollar pancakes have the same flavor as classic American-style pancakes. They are just as light and fluffy but simply made in a smaller size. In an American diner, an order of silver dollar pancakes arrives with five or six small pancakes per serving, while an order of regular pancakes tends to be two or three.

Silver dollar pancakes can be prepared in any nonstick skillet or cast-iron pan by spooning about a 1 tablespoon measure of batter onto the skillet to form the signature small size. If you want to make sure your pancakes are exactly the same size, specialty silver dollar pancake pans are also available. They can make seven three-inch silver dollar pancakes at a time, and the small wells ensure that every pancake comes out perfectly round every time.

Serve your silver dollar pancakes topped with maple syrup and butter, berries or compote, or turn them into a savory breakfast with toppings like lox.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, for the pan

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Silver dollar pancakes ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.

    Dry ingredients in a bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, butter, egg, and vanilla extract.

    Wet ingredients in a bowl with a whisk

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  4. Add the flour mixture to the milk mixture and whisk just until moistened (the batter should have some small lumps). Heat a large nonstick pan, cast-iron skillet, or silver dollar pan over medium heat. Lightly grease the pan by brushing with oil.

    Silver dollar pancakes batter and silver dollar pancake pan

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  5. Working in batches, drop the batter by tablespoonfuls onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles appear on top and a few have burst, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the underside, about 1 minute.

    Cooked silver dollar pancakes

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  6. Repeat with more oil for greasing the pan and with the remaining batter. Be sure to wipe the pan or skillet clean between batches.

  7. Serve warm with desired sweet or savory toppings.

Recipe Variations

Silver dollar pancakes can be topped with a variety of sweet or savory toppings:

  • Besides butter and maple syrup, they are also delicious with whipped cream cheese and fruit preserves.
  • Savory pancakes can be made without vanilla extract and then topped with a layer of Swiss cheese and thinly sliced ham. They are also delicious with sour cream, smoked salmon, and chopped chives.

What Makes Pancakes Fluffy?

Perfect pancakes that are fluffy and light are made with just the right balance of wet and dry ingredients. The addition of a leavening agent like baking powder helps the pancakes puff up to become nice and fluffy in the pan. Don't overmix pancake batter or your pancakes will become tough, and use your batter soon after mixing it.