Pumpkin Pancakes

Pumpkin Pancakes

1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup molasses or maple syrup
3-4 tablespoons buttermilk or milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup chopped pecans or hazelnuts, optional
Powdered sugar for dusting
1. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.

2. In another bowl, beat egg slightly. Add pumpkin or squash puree, molasses or syrup, milk or buttermilk and melted butter or margarine. Mix until smooth.

3. Blend in the dry ingredients all at once. Mix until batter is smooth. Allow batter to rest for 30 minutes or more.

4. Stir nuts into batter, and add additional tablespoon of buttermilk or milk if batter is too thick.

5. To make pancakes, spoon a heaping tablespoon of batter onto a lightly greased preheated griddle or heavy skillet. With the back of the spoon, flatten batter to about 1/2-inch thickness. Cook slowly until bubbles appear on top and bottom is golden brown. Lift edge to check. Turn and cook until other side is golden brown.

6. Place on a platter and set platter in a warm oven. Continue making pancakes until all batter is used. Makes about 24, 3-inch pancakes. Serves 4 to 6 people. Garnish with powdered sugar or serve with corn syrup, maple syrup or your favorite pancake syrup.