Apple Butter Hotcakes

Ingredients

• 1/2cup butter, softened

• 1/4cup honey

• 1/4teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 112 ounce package frozen pitted light or dark sweet cherries

• 1/2cup cherry jam or cherry preserves

• 1teaspoon finely shredded orange peel

• 1 1/2cups packaged regular or buttermilk pancake mix (not complete pancake mix)

• 3/4cup milk

• 2tablespoons cooking oil

• 2eggs, lightly beaten

• 1/2cup purchased apple butter

• Directions

  1. For flavored butter, in a small mixing bowl, use a small whisk to combine butter, honey, and cinnamon. Whisk until well combined; set aside.
  2. For cherry sauce, in a medium saucepan, combine frozen cherries, cherry jam, and orange peel. Bring to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until sauce has thickened slightly. Cover and set aside; keep warm.
  3. In a medium bowl, stir together pancake mix, milk, oil, eggs, and apple butter. Stir just until moistened (batter should still be lumpy). For mini-size hot cakes, spread about 1 tablespoon batter into a 1-1/2-inch circle onto a hot lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet. (For standard-size hot cakes, spread about 1/4 cup batter into a 4-inch circle.) Cook over medium heat about 2 minutes on each side or until hot cakes are golden brown, turning to second sides when hot cakes have bubbly surfaces and edges are slightly dry. Serve warm with flavored butter and cherry sauce. Makes 32 to 40 mini-size or 8 to 10 standard-size hot cakes.
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