Japanese soufflé pancakes start with the same ingredients as American varieties — namely, eggs, flour and milk — but they tower above traditional diner versions thanks to the addition of extra egg whites. A meringue mixture is beaten to stiff peaks, then folded into the batter, which cooks directly in metal pastry rings to help...
For soufflé pancakes, a great place to start is about five ounces of batter and five ounces of whites. The whites from large eggs are a little more than an ounce each, so four egg whites usually works out to around five ounces. This starting point will give you about four, 3-inch pancakes.
The classic French soufflé technique is to gently fold soft-whipped egg whites or meringue (whites + sugar) into a thick egg yolk base. The lightening of the sauce with an equal portion of beaten whites or sweet meringue gives the soufflé its signature rise.
Immediately replace lid and cook until pancakes are cooked through and spring back to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer cooked pancakes to a platter, grease the skillet and pastry rings and repeat to make 4 additional pancakes. Top pancakes with a pat of butter and drizzle with maple syrup; serve immediately.