These Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes with Cherry Compote are a summer favorite! They’re the perfect breakfast to take advantage of all those beautiful, juicy summer cherries.
Well hello there friends! How was your weekend? Summer’s just flying by isn’t it? I can tell because the other day I actually heard someone say those dreaded three words…back to school! UGH! Really? I also heard the word pumpkin being tossed around in conversation! Double UGH! I mean I love pumpkin recipes, but let’s face it friends, there’s a time and a place for everything, and the middle of summer is NOT the time or the place! Agreed?
Summer is time for enjoying gorgeous produce like plump, juicy, red cherries. And let me tell you, I’ve been on sort of a cherry binge lately. I decided to treat myself to a cherry pitter and now there’s no stopping me! It was money well spent!
The first thing I decided to make, now that I’m the queen of cherry pitting, was this delicious cherry compote. And while I was whipping up the compote I thought, hmmmm, what should I serve it with? The first thing that came to mind was something breakfasty. Bingo…pancakes. And not just any old pancakes, but some deliciously lemony Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes. What a combo guys. You’ve got to give these pancakes and compote a try. They’ve got summer flavors written all over them!
I’ve used my go-to buttermilk pancake recipe adding 2 tablespoons of lemon zest and lemon juice along with 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds. And the compote is so incredibly easy you could make it with your eyes closed. Well, not really but take it from me, it’s easy peasy lemon squeezy. You’ll only need a handful of ingredients and a few minutes time before you’ll be sitting at the breakfast table enjoying these beauties! And if you have some extra compote left over it’s perfect over some vanilla bean ice cream too. Enjoy friends and have a great week!
Ingredients
- Cherry Compote:
- 3 cups cherries pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tsp. corn starch plus 2 Tbsp. water
- Pancakes:
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 1/4 cups buttermilk room temperature
- 4 Tbsp. butter melted and cooled
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon zest
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
- 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Instructions
- Cherry Compote: Place cherries, sugar, water and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until sugar dissolves and fruit begins to soften, about 3 minutes.In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and the 2 Tbsp. water. Add to the cherry mixture and stir for an additional 1-2 minutes until mixture begins to thicken. Remove from the heat. Set aside.
- Pancakes: In a small bowl lightly beat the eggs. Set aside.
- In a large bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking soda and baking powder. To the flour mixture add the eggs, buttermilk, butter, lemon zest, lemon juice and poppy seeds Stir all ingredients together. You do not want to over mix. The batter should still have some lumps visible. If you over mix you will have a tough pancake.
- Heat a griddle to medium-high (375 degrees). Lightly grease the griddle with the vegetable oil. Spoon 1/4 cup scoops onto the griddle spacing about 2 inches apart. Cook until you see some bubbles on the top of the pancake (about 2 - 2 1/2 minutes). Carefully flip the pancake with a spatula. Continue to cook until the other side is lightly browned, about 1 minute. Repeat with remaining batter.
- Serve pancakes topped with cherry compote.
I literally got so excited when I read this post’s title! I got even happier when I saw these pancakes! They are all sorts of amazing! & I agree – let’s definitely not rush summer because that will mean all this fabulous produce is gone until next year :( Until then, I’m going to celebrate with lots of these pancakes and cherries!
Yay Megan!! So glad you’re lovin’ these! That compote is just delish! Perfect for pancakes or ice cream!!
Oh my gawd, stacks of hunk-a-hunk-a-pancake-love going on here, Mary Ann!!! You have managed to use some of my favorite things in one breakfast! Lemon, poppy seeds and cherries allllll in, or with, some fluffy pancakes?? Swoon!! This is definitely a breakfast of champions! Pinned! Cheers!
P.s. you heard someone mention pumpkin already?! That person needs to be on a time out! Wayyyyyyy too early for such talk! ;) Boo to them. Lol
You are so funny Cheyanne! I’m so glad I’ve included some of your favorites! I know, pumpkin? Say what?! Too early for that! Have a great week!
These pancakes put my breakfast to shame right now! I could definitely go for a BIG stack to start my week off. That cherry compote sounds to die for. Also I can’t believe people are talking about school and pumpkins already – NOT the time! Let’s enjoy the rest of summer first!
I agree Michelle! Let’s all enjoy summer! No talk about fall here! Hope you enjoy these pancakes and compote if you give it a go!
These pancakes look crazy good Mary Ann! LOVE the look of that cherry compote.
Thanks so much Alida! I made these for my mom when I was with her! She loved them and the compote! Have a great week!
I agree completely….let’s just be in summer for a while and totally enjoy it! This cherry compote looks fabulous. I never would have thought to pair it with pancakes, but I love it! Enjoy the summer!
Thanks Kathy. These pancakes and the compote went really well together. Give it a go! Happy summer!
I love the flavor of cherries and lemon together. These look so light and fluffy which is my favorite way to make pancakes. Please do not speak of {back to school} yet.
I agree! No school talk!! I love the cherry-lemon combo too Karen! Enjoy!
Oh, Mary Ann….what a beautiful site to see on Monday morning! I agree….the Summer is flying by way to fast. I just can’t believe it, actually and totally not ready for Fall just yet. Lemon poppy seed is one of my all time favourite combos so I’m loving this pancakes right now. And that cherry compote? You have me inspired to get a cherry pitter just so I can make this. The suggestion of putting on ice-cream is brilliant. I bet this would also be lovely on greek yogurt with granola. Now, I’m getting hungry, lol. Pinning, of course :) Have a great week, friend. Cheers!
Yes, perfect with Greek yogurt and granola too Dawn! That cherry pitter is my new favorite kitchen tool! So easy! You enjoy your week too my friend!
I usually can’t stop myself when I’m eating cherries – they are soo good. I’ll have to splurge on a cherry pitter because this compote looks so good. I bet it would be delicious served over ice cream. I’m not too worried about Summer being over yet – it’s not even August yet – so enjoy the beach and all the summer fun!
I have the same problem when cherries are around Geraldine! And now that I’ve got my handy dandy cherry pitter I really can’t stop eating them!! Enjoy!
Oh wow, these pancakes have my stomach rumbling! I love that cherry compote.. it looks like the perfect accompaniment to those beautiful cakes :) Have a great week!
Thanks Sarah! I’ve been eating so many cherries lately, I’m amazed I don’t look like one! Hope you enjoy if you try! Have a wonderful week too!
Agreed! I do not want to think about fall or back to school in the middle of July! I want ice cream, popsicles, and these delicious summer cherry lemon poppy seed pancakes! I bought a cherry pitter last summer and have been going crazy with it again this year too!
It’s one of my favorite kitchen tools! Yes, let’s keep summer going as long as possible Rachelle!
I was just thinking how crazy it was that I’m seeing all these back to school ads and it’s not even August! This looks like the perfect summer breakfast and you’re making me want a cherry pitter :) Lemon + fresh cherries? Yes, please!
Get the cherry pitter Jessica! It’s my new favorite kitchen tool! This breakfast is definitely a favorite!
Your cherry compote looks so good and it is just the right thing to put over pancakes. Have a great week Mary Ann!
Thanks so much Gerlinde! Delicious over vanilla bean ice cream too!
Oh my! I wondered where those beautiful cherries were destined and you have definitely done a dish that is perfect for them! I love lemon poppyseed and have never had that flavour in pancakes. Yet! :) Will definitely try this.
I think you’re going to love these Jennifer! And the compote! Enjoy!
No! I’m totally not ready yet for pumpkin season when there is still so much good summer produce waiting to be made into pie’s and so forth.
These pancakes are exactly what I want to be eating from now till September.
I’m glad you’re on board Nicole! I’ll swap a few of these for a few of those yummy chocolate chip blueberry muffins from your blog! Deal?
What a gorgeous stack of pancakes! Your cherry topping is just beautiful! :)
Thanks Laura! It’s so easy and delicious!
OMGeee… I saw that too… BTS. It seems to get earlier every year! Perhaps it’s the commercialization of it? Crazy… pumpkin too! YIKES! The farm out here is growing a very large field of pumpkins and on my walks I see the plants getting larger by the day! We’ll blink and it’ll be Fall, Mary Ann! What’s one to do? LOL!? Eat more cherries and pancakes! How about that? These look over the top. I rarely have pancakes, but oh how I love them so! And these.. THESE!! That lemon poppyseed combo with the cherries is just perfect. I need to make up some cherry compote and freeze it. It will be a delight come winter! Thank you for this, Mary Ann! It’s on the list! xo
Thanks Traci! I bet I run in to Home Goods next week and Halloween decorations are out. Yikes! I’m savoring summer as long as I can! Yes, definitely freeze some for winter. What a welcome treat that compote would be. It’ll remind you of the warm, sunny days of summer!
I know, those dreaded words! I have to go back to work in two weeks – too soon!!
I love this flavor combination. What a perfect summery breakfast. Love it!
Oh no Tessa! Two weeks? Ugh! I pray it the next two weeks go very slowly!
I am so with you Mary Ann. I can’t even hear the words “back to school” until they are literally going back to school. I love the summer so much that I feel like I begin mourning the end of it on the 4th of July! I have to remind myself we’re only half way through! I also adore cherries and this compote sounds perfect slathered over these yummy pancakes. Or on a biscuit, toast or a scone. PINNED!
I remember when my boys were around the ages of your boys. We were all so sad when summer came to an end! The thought of going back to school for them and me missing them everyday was tough! I’m glad you also have a love for cherries. It would be perfect with biscuits or a scone too!