Campfire Star-Spangled Berry Griddle Cakes with Whipped Maple Cream

Build a steady campfire and let it burn down to glowing coals, then set a cast-iron skillet over a grate to preheat.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for the skillet
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup, plus more for serving
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Build a steady campfire and let it burn down to glowing coals, then set a cast-iron skillet over a grate to preheat.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, eggs and melted butter, then pour into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined; a few lumps are fine.
4. Whip the heavy cream with the maple syrup and vanilla in a chilled bowl until soft peaks form, then keep cool in the cooler.
5. Grease the hot skillet with butter and ladle in batter to form 4-inch cakes; cook until bubbles break the surface and the edges set, about 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Flip and cook the other side until golden and cooked through, about 2 minutes more, adjusting the skillet's position over the coals to control the heat.
7. Stack the griddle cakes on plates and pile on the strawberries and blueberries for a red, white and blue finish.
8. Crown each stack with a generous spoon of whipped maple cream and a final drizzle of syrup.
9. There is something deeply American about flipping pancakes over an open fire on a holiday morning, and this patriotic stack turns a simple camp breakfast into a celebration. The griddle cake itself descends from the hoecakes and flapjacks early settlers cooked on cast iron, while the berry topping nods to the red-white-and-blue spreads that define July 4th tables from backyards to lakeside campsites.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 540 kcal
• Protein: 12g
• Fat: 27g
• Carbohydrates: 62g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 24g
• Sodium: 560mg