Orange Cloud Pancakes

For years, I never liked cottage cheese.  Or, at least, I thought that I didn't.  Over the past few months, I have started eating cottage cheese, and "yum" sums it up.  It makes such a good protein snack!  Since I have started to like it more, that also means it is a new ingredient for me in the kitchen.

Now, cottage cheese and pancakes do not sound like they go together.  But, they do!

These pancakes are light and fluffy, just like a cloud!  The cottage cheese joins the batter and makes for pillowy pancakes.  The citrus flavor adds sweetness yet a little tang.

With the cottage cheese, you are getting calcium and protein.  No pancake induced coma here!

Serve with just a little bit of butter, some fresh strawberries, or a hint of syrup.  Of course, a trio of butter, strawberries, and syrup would make for a divine breakfast to put you Cloud 9! :)  This also makes a fun breakfast-for-dinner!

Orange Cloud Pancakes
Yields 12 pancakes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup cottage cheese
3 large eggs, separated
4 tbsp. (half of a stick) butter, melted
1 tbsp. orange juice
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. orange zest
2 tsp. almond extract

Directions:
Add the cottage cheese, egg yolks, melted butter, and orange juice into a food processor.  Using the blade attachment, process until the cottage cheese is smooth, about 30 seconds.  Next, add the flour, sugar, honey, salt, and cinnamon, and process again.  Scrape the mixture into a medium bowl and add in the orange zest and almond extract.  Allow the mixture to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, whip the egg whites until they become stiff but not dry.  Use a spatula to stir in a spoonful of the whites into the batter to loosen it, and then gently fold in the rest of the whites.

For each pancake, pour 1/3 cup of the batter onto a preheated griddle.  Cook the pancakes until they become golden brown on both sides.  Serve immediately.

Source: Adapted from the Curvy Carrot, originally from King Arthur Flour