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Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Creamy Citrus Filling

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These fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes feature a moist, tender texture with a bright, creamy citrus filling that adds a fresh zing to every bite. Perfect for a quick and easy brunch that impresses.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (250g) ricotta cheese, whole milk
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for GF option)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (180ml) buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
  • Zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Butter or oil for cooking
  • For the Creamy Citrus Filling:
  • 1/2 cup (120g) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Citrus Filling: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and orange zest if using. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Cover and refrigerate.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk ricotta cheese, egg, buttermilk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Make the Batter: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently fold together with a spatula. Batter should be slightly lumpy; do not overmix.
  5. Heat the Pan: Warm a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat and brush with butter or oil. Test heat by dropping a small bit of batter; it should sizzle immediately.
  6. Cook the Pancakes: Spoon about 1/4 cup batter onto skillet. Dollop about 1 teaspoon of citrus filling in center. Cover filling with a little more batter to seal.
  7. Flip Carefully: Cook 2-3 minutes until bubbles appear and edges set. Flip gently and cook another 2 minutes until golden and cooked through. Adjust heat if browning too fast.
  8. Keep Warm and Serve: Transfer cooked pancakes to a warm plate or oven at 200°F (95°C) while finishing the batch. Serve immediately with powdered sugar, fresh berries, or maple syrup.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to keep pancakes light and fluffy. Fresh lemon zest is essential for bright flavor. Seal the citrus filling with a thin layer of batter to prevent leaks, but some leaking caramelizes nicely. Keep pancakes warm in a low oven while cooking the batch. Adjust batter consistency with buttermilk or flour as needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon ricotta pancakes, fluffy pancakes, citrus filling, easy brunch recipe, homemade pancakes, lemon breakfast

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/fluffy-lemon-ricotta-pancakes-recipe-easy-homemade-citrus-filling/