Cornmeal Blueberry Pancakes with Spiced Maple Butter

While cornmeal gives these pancakes a hearty texture and blueberries offer a fresh tartness, the spicy sweet butter puts them over the top. Add warmed maple syrup for a little more sweetness.

For the maple butter

• 4 oz. (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

For the pancakes

• 7-3/4 oz. (1-3/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 2-1/4 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 pint blueberries (3/4 lb.), rinsed and picked through
• Unsalted butter, for cooking

Make the maple butter

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and process, scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary, until the mixture becomes smooth and uniform. Transfer to a large piece of plastic wrap, wrap it, roll it into a log and secure the ends as if it were a sausage. Refrigerate for at least an hour to a couple of days before serving.

Make the pancakes

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Gently whisk the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture until it’s mostly uniform (a few lumps are fine).

Heat a large stovetop griddle or large (12-inch) heavy-duty pan (like a cast-iron skillet) over medium heat until a droplet of water immediately evaporates upon hitting the pan. Melt a small pat of butter in the pan, pour in the batter (about 1/3 cup for each pancake), and then sprinkle with the blueberries. Leave space between each pancake so flipping them isn’t a problem. Cook the pancakes until bubbles form on top, the cakes set around the edges, and the bottoms brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side until they brown and the cakes become just firm to the touch, about 2 more minutes. Serve immediately topped with a pat of the maple butter.