The Best Pancake in the World!

There is a new show this year featuring the actor and comedian Eugene Levy. Surprisingly, it’s a travel show, called The Reluctant Traveler. It’s not supposed to be a comedy, per se, but how could it not be, with deadpan comments and narration from Levy.

At the beginning of the show, which airs on Apple TV, Mr. Levy proceeds to basically tell us that he doesn’t like heat or cold, heights, exotic food, but more than that, he doesn’t really like to leave his house. Then the camera pans out and shows him standing in deep snow in a forest in Finland! He’s definitely challenged in the various episodes, with different, and extreme destinations, but he’s also enlightened and educated. And fortunately he stays at very nice hotels.

In the 4th episode, Mr. Levy visits Utah. His hotel is the Amangiri, a 5-star resort in Canyon Point, basically in the desert. This hotel is an Aman hotel. Based on our stay at the Amangani outside of Jackson Hole in Wyoming, I highly recommend this hotel group.

At breakfast one morning, Mr. Levy chats with the hotel’s Chef Anthony Marazita, who mentions his famous pancake, and claims that it’s known as the Best Pancake Recipe in the World. It’s round and puffed, fluffy and almost caramelized, served with fruit.

When I googled the recipe, I found an article on the online newsletter called Galavante. (More info on Galavante below.) To find out the secret ingredient in the chef’s recipe, you had to email them, which I did. I’m sharing the recipe because obviously it’s available to whomever wants it. The secret ingredient is…….. Mexican coke!

I really had no idea if this was a real thing or not, but I found this: American Coke is made with high-fructose corn syrup and Mexican Coke is crafted with cane sugar. Cane sugar is less processed than high-fructose corn syrup, so it offers a more natural — some would say purer or more clean-tasting — version of the drink.

My pancakes didn’t quite turn out like what I saw on the tv show. They weren’t dark and “almost caramelized.” Obviously my oven didn’t get as hot as the chef’s wood fire-burning oven, but I can tell you that this texture is unique and fabulous!

The Best Pancake in the World

Dry Mix
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar

Wet Mix
2 whole eggs
3 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons melted butter
2 ounces Mexican coke

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit with a small cast iron pan inside. (I used 2 – 6″ pans at a time.)

Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. Next, mix together the eggs and buttermilk, then add the melted butter in a slow stream. Continue to whisk the wet mix.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients, but be careful not to overmix. The batter should remain lumpy.

Carefully remove the cast iron from the oven and generously spray with non-stick cooking spray. Ladle the batter into the skillet, but only fill up half-way. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the pancake is brown on top. Test the center of the pancake with a toothpick, to make sure it comes out clean. Turn the cast iron skillet over onto a towel or plate to release the pancake.

Garnish with fresh berries and serve immediately.

Galavante is a travel, lifestyle, and entertainment media and e-commerce company. Think of us as your one stop shop in travel and lifestyle. At Galavante, we are your resource for the inside track on the best hotels, restaurants, experiences and destinations around the world. We introduce you to history, food, culture, and give you an inside look at some of the most extraordinary places to stay. If you’re looking for inspiration and the best of accommodations, you’ve come to the right place. We are hotel experts – with over 800+ luxury hotel reviews. Our team is passionate about bringing you the very best of what to experience when you travel.

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

40 Comments

  1. David @ Spiced May 24, 2023 at 6:37 AM - Reply

    Well you certainly got my attention with that title, Mimi – the best pancake in the world!? (It reminds me of that scene in Elf with the best coffee in the world…haha.) And Mexican Coke!? I knew the thing about cane sugar in Mexican Coke, but I didn’t think Coca-Cola would be an ingredient in a pancake. Sounds fun – I’ll have to try it out!

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2023 at 9:08 AM - Reply

      I know. I’d never dream to even cook with Coke! But it was good. I just need to find a wood fire oven!

  2. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen May 24, 2023 at 7:44 AM - Reply

    This is quite unique, I’ll have to give it a try. My husband is a Coke snob, and only wants the Mexican because he said the cane sugar tastes better. I don’t drink it, so I have no opinion. I do know that even in Vermont, many supermarkets carry the Mexican variety, but it is usually on the bottom shelf in the Mexican foods section right under the tasteless tortillas!

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2023 at 9:07 AM - Reply

      Ha! That’s funny! Well I don’t drink coke either. We had the one can leftover from a party! But the pancake itself was delicious.

  3. angiesrecipes May 24, 2023 at 12:36 PM - Reply

    I like to use sparkling water in the batter, but I guess that the coke serves the same purpose that makes the pancakes so much fluffier. They look delicious with all the berries.

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2023 at 3:22 PM - Reply

      I’ve even seen crepe recipes use sparkling water. I don’t think I ever tried it, but now I should!

  4. Healthy World Cuisine May 24, 2023 at 12:44 PM - Reply

    Love the texture of this pancake so light and fluffy. I bet Angie is right, its the carbonation in the soda pop that gives it that lovely texture. Sounds like a must try!

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2023 at 3:21 PM - Reply

      It was fun making it, but seriously, it doesn’t come out like it did in the hotel’s wood fire oven!

  5. Abbe@This is How I cook May 24, 2023 at 2:08 PM - Reply

    Oh yum! I love the sound of this! And I can’t wait to tune into tha show. I love Eugene Levy and his dry wit.

    • Chef Mimi May 24, 2023 at 3:21 PM - Reply

      He is a very funny man!

  6. Angela May 24, 2023 at 5:44 PM - Reply

    You remind me that I have more in this series to watch. Love that man. I’m going to try to find some Mexican Coke. Of course, one can never go wrong with buttermilk. I’m thinking about making the dry mix and refrigerating it for later. Great job, Chef Mimi!

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2023 at 8:35 AM - Reply

      thanks so much Angela! It’s a great show, isn’t it?!!

  7. Gary May 24, 2023 at 9:07 PM - Reply

    Those pancakes look fabulous.

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2023 at 8:35 AM - Reply

      Thanks, Gary! I just wish I could have gotten some of that caramelization on them!

  8. Sherry Mackay May 24, 2023 at 9:24 PM - Reply

    yes I had read about Mexican coke before. We are lucky enough to have ‘real’ Coke here in australia as they use sugar not corn syrup. thank goodness. I was having a japanese soft drink the other day and i realised that it must be made with corn syrup too as it had a weirdly thick and odd taste. Thank heavens we grow a lot of cane sugar here! What an interesting idea to put it in pancakes tho :) Love Eugene Levy too.

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2023 at 8:34 AM - Reply

      I hope you can find this show. You’ll love him in it!

  9. BERNADETTE May 25, 2023 at 6:19 AM - Reply

    I don’t know Mimi, I think your pancake looks pretty darn good. I knew about Mexican Coke, which is pretty darn funny – an American product made better in another country. What I never thought of was using it as an ingredient in pancakes.

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2023 at 8:33 AM - Reply

      Right! Very ironic. It works, but like someone pointed out, so would anything bubbly!

  10. Carrie C. Tyler May 25, 2023 at 8:40 AM - Reply

    Mimi! First, this pancake is so wonderfully thick!!! And I’m so intrigued by the addition of Mexican coke! Wow, totally making this for the family this weekend! Thanks

    • Chef Mimi May 25, 2023 at 9:29 AM - Reply

      Hopefully you can get the pancake more caramelized!

  11. Charlie DeSando May 25, 2023 at 6:15 PM - Reply

    I’ve always liked fruit on pancakes, it makes you think you are actually eating something healthy

    • Chef Mimi May 26, 2023 at 7:24 PM - Reply

      Right!!!

  12. Ann Coleman May 25, 2023 at 6:43 PM - Reply

    I’ll have to check out that show. The pancakes sound great! I tried Mexican Coca Cola when we traveled there, and it does taste different. Personally, I like the version I grew up with better, but that’s probably just because I’m used to it.

    • Chef Mimi May 26, 2023 at 7:24 PM - Reply

      The show is hysterical! And informative.

  13. David Scott Allen May 26, 2023 at 7:46 AM - Reply

    We have only watched a couple of episodes before leaving for Morocco — love the show! Thanks for doing the legwork for this recipe. I definitely want to try them and, being just a hop, skip, and jump from Mexico, Mexican Coke is easy to find for us.

    • Chef Mimi May 26, 2023 at 7:24 PM - Reply

      Oh, of course! If you plan on making this pancake, do try using a wood fire!!!

  14. neil@neilshealthymeals.com May 28, 2023 at 9:49 AM - Reply

    A caramelized pancake? Well I’m certainly interested in this!

    • Chef Mimi May 28, 2023 at 2:00 PM - Reply

      Mine wasn’t caramelized. Try it in a wood-fire oven!

  15. 2pots2cook May 29, 2023 at 6:14 AM - Reply

    So agree to what Angie writes; sparkling water supports baking powder and soda so these are sooo puffed up and I love using it! Beautiful “must try” recipe!

    • Chef Mimi May 29, 2023 at 8:29 AM - Reply

      It was very good!! It just didn’t caramelized without the extreme heat.

  16. thatskinnychickcanbake May 29, 2023 at 2:17 PM - Reply

    YUM! I have to go to our international market to find that Coke, but it’s a good excuse to browse all the exotic produce, etc.

    • Chef Mimi May 30, 2023 at 7:32 AM - Reply

      Sounds like a wonderful market to have nearby!

  17. Raymund May 31, 2023 at 4:48 PM - Reply

    Mexican coke, I am intrigued, will definitey use that next time I make one

    • Chef Mimi June 1, 2023 at 7:24 AM - Reply

      It will be a fun experiment!

  18. Valentina May 31, 2023 at 7:11 PM - Reply

    I’m a huge pancake fan and likely a bigger Eugene Levy fan. He’s the current honorary mayor of my town! I’ve been meaning to watch the show — thank you for reminding me. This pancake looks absolutely incredibly and I’ll be trying it for sure. I’ve never used coke in a batter before – it’ll be fun. :-) ~Valentina

    • Chef Mimi June 1, 2023 at 7:24 AM - Reply

      Oh that’s incredible! How fun! I’m a big fan, too.

  19. Thao @ In Good Flavor June 4, 2023 at 9:43 PM - Reply

    I want to try the Mexican Coke to experience the difference for myself. These pancakes really do look super fluffy and tender!!

    • Chef Mimi June 5, 2023 at 7:30 AM - Reply

      Thanks. It was a great texture.

  20. StefanGourmet June 16, 2023 at 6:27 AM - Reply

    Don’t think I can get Mexican coke here. I wonder if I could subtitute with cane sugar caramel, carbonated water and a bit of lemon or lime juice. Or just use our coke, which is less sweet than the US version. I think your pancake looks nicer with the browned side up.

    • Chef Mimi June 16, 2023 at 6:20 PM - Reply

      I just wish it had caramelized. But still a fun experiment!

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