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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Delicious Fluffy Pikelets

    October 25, 2021 By Sara McCleary Updated October 25, 2021 - This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    My Mum's pikelet recipe. Every Aussie and Kiwi knows about pikelets. They resemble mini pancakes and are served for breakfast or afternoon tea. This easy recipe made with pantry staples will have you enjoying these rounds of joy in no time.

    pikelets on a serving palte with strawberry jam and cream

    Your mother's recipes are always the best, no matter who you are or how good a cook your mum was. Luckily my mother was an amazing cook. Therefore with a good dose of sentiment as well as a classic recipe, this has to be the best pikelet recipe on the internet.

    What makes this pikelet recipe a little different from the others floating around, is it is old school. Mum used bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and cream of tartar to create incredible fluffy pikelets every time.

    Easier and quicker to make for breakfast than traditional pancakes. Simply top them with your favourite jam or breakfast spread. They are also a perfect scone substitute for an afternoon or high tea served with strawberry jam and whipped cream.

    Sara xxx

    Ingredients

    pikelet ingredients
    1. Self-Raising Flour: Can be substituted with the same amount of plain flour (all-purpose) and 3 teaspoons of baking powder.
    2. Sugar: Normal sugar, not caster sugar/superfine sugar.
    3. Egg: Free-range if you can, happy cooks equal happy eggs.
    4. Milk: Use the milk you have on hand. Originally this recipe would have been made with full cream milk. I use reduced fat milk as that is what I buy for general use.
    5. Cream of Tartar: Acts as a leavening agent in the pikelet recipe. Cream of tartar can be subsituted with white vinegar or lemon juice. I don't recommend subsituting it in this recipe due to the flavour impact both of those ingredients would have on the pikelets.
    6. Bicarbonate of Soda: Also known as baking soda, works in conjunction with the cream of tartar to make the pikelets rise.
    pikelets

    More Australian Favourites

    Below are more of my favourite Australian recipes. Some are my take on iconic Aussie recipes, others are my creations, like Vegemite Ice Cream and Tim Tam Slam Cake

    • 4 Ingredient Cheese and Bacon Rolls
    • Aussie Burgers
    • Sausage Rolls
    • Australian BBQ Prawns
    • Corned Beef
    • Tim Tam Slam Cake
    • Vegemite Ice Cream
    • Lemon Myrtle Cheesecake
    • Milo Slice
    • Coconut Slice

    Recipe Instructions

    Scroll to the bottom of the page for a printable version of this recipe.

    whisk flour and sugar

    Place flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using a whisk, whisk the ingredients together. Whisking also removes any lumps in the flour.

    egg added to bowl with flour

    Make a well in the flour mixture. Add egg.

    whisking milk with bicarb and cream or tartar

    In a small bowl or jug whisk milk, cream of tartar, and bicarbonate of soda.

    whisking egg and milk into dry ingredients
    pikelet batter

    Pour in the milk mixture and whisk ingredients until combined. It's okay if there are a few lumps in the batter. Be careful not to overmix or your pikelets will turn out rubbery.

    cooking pikelets in frying pan

    Melt a teaspoon of butter in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat. Drop tablespoons of mixture into the pan, leaving room between each spoonful of mixture.

    When the tops of the pikelets form bubbles on their tops and the bubbles start to pop it is time to turn them over. use a spatular to flip the pikelets over in the pan and continue to cook.

    Once golden on both sides and cooked through remove from the pan and place on a plate. Repeat with the remainder of the pikelet batter.

    Helpful Pikelets FAQs

    Are Pikelets the same as Pancakes?

    Pikelets do resemble mini pancakes and do taste similar, but they are different. Pikelets are denser than pancakes, pancakes are fluffier in texture. Think of them as sturdy mini pancakes.

    What is the difference between Pikelets and Drop Scones?

    Pikelets and drop scones are the same things. You may also know them as Scottish pancakes.

    Can I freeze Pikelets?

    Yes you can freeze pikelets, not that there will be any left! Once pikelets are cool place them in a single layer in a zip-lock bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
    When ready to eat thaw at room temperature.

    Why are my pikelets rubbery?

    Rubbery pikelets are due to overmixing the batter. Mix batter until it has just come together. It's okay if there are a few lump in the batter.

    How to store leftover Pikelets.

    Simply place them in an airtight container and consume them within 2 days. They can be stored at room temperature. If the weather is particularly hot store them in the fridge.

    close up of fluffy pikelets on a serving plate

    Printable Recipe

    pikelet recipe

    Pikelets

    Recipe Author: Sara McCleary
    Pikelets are fluffy mini pancakes, but easier and quicker to make. This easy Australian pikelet recipe is perfect topped with jam and cream.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Afternoon Tea, Breakfast, High Tea
    Cuisine Australian, New Zealand
    Servings 20
    Calories 66 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 225 grams (1½ cups) self-raising flour
    • 75 grams (? cup) sugar
    • 250 mls (1 cup) milk
    • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
    • ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
    • 1 egg
    • butter | for cooking pikelets

    Instructions
     

    • Place flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using a whisk, whisk the ingredients together. Whisking also removes any lumps in the flour.
    • Make a well in the flour mixture.
    • Add egg.
    • In a small bowl or jug whisk milk, cream of tartar, and bicarbonate of soda.
    • Pour in the milk mixture and whisk ingredients until combined. It's okay if there are a few lumps in the batter. Be careful not to overmix or your pikelets will turn out rubbery.
    • Melt a teaspoon of butter in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat.
    • Drop tablespoons of mixture into the pan, leaving room between each spoonful of mixture.
    • When the tops of the pikelets form bubbles on their tops and the bubbles start to pop it is time to turn them over. use a spatular to flip the pikelets over in the pan and continue to cook.
    • Once golden on both sides and cooked through remove from the pan and place on a plate. Repeat with the remainder of the pikelet batter.
    • Serve with your favourite spreads, or with jam and whipped cream.

    Notes

    CAN I FREEZE PIKELETS?
    Yes you can freeze pikelets, not that there will be any left! Once pikelets are cool place them in a single layer in a zip-lock bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
    When ready to eat thaw at room temperature.
     
    HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER PIKELETS.
    Simply place them in an airtight container and consume them within 2 days. They can be stored at room temperature. If the weather is particularly hot store them in the fridge.
     
    GENERAL COOK'S NOTES
    All oven temperatures are fan-forced, increase the temperature by 20 Deg C (70 Deg F) for convection ovens.
    All measurements are Australian tablespoons and cups. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified.
    • 1 teaspoon equals 5ml
    • 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml (Nth America, NZ & UK use 15ml tablespoons)
    • 1 cup equals 250ml (Nth America use 237ml)
    • 4 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon
    • I use the below unless specified in my recipes.
    Herbs are fresh | Vegetables are of a medium size | Eggs are roughly 60 grams in weight (large) 
     
    NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW IS A GUIDE ONLY

    Nutrition

    Calories: 66kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 37mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 32IUCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword mini pancakes
    Did You Make This Recipe?I do a happy dance when people share how they went. Tag me on Instagram or Twitter @bellyrumbles & #bellyrumbles
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jade

      September 13, 2022 at 8:30 pm

      Mine were rubbery, I barely mixed the mixture and there were heaps of lumps in it. I mixed the mixture a little bit and then added a bit more milk because it looked as though it wouldn't be wet enough. The only other thing I thought it could have been is I mixed the cream of tartar and bi-carb into the milk and left it for an hour. I do that with bi-carb when I make muffins so I can't see that to be the problem.

      Help!

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        October 17, 2022 at 5:46 pm

        Hi Jade
        Sorry to hear that the recipe wasn't successful for you. Without being in the kitchen with you it is very hard to know what went wrong. I've never mixed the cream of tartar and bi-carb into the milk and let it sit before, so not sure if this was the cause.
        Cheers, Sara

        Reply
    2. Margaret Smith

      July 02, 2022 at 5:19 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely beautiful took a plate full to our seniors Bingo with jam and cream they were all gone in a few minutes thank you

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        July 06, 2022 at 10:45 am

        Hi Margaret
        I am so happy to hear that your plate of pikelets was a big hit at Bingo. They would have gone down a treat with jam and cream.
        Cheers, Sara

        Reply

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