If you are looking for a basic pancake recipe then check out either my classic thin or fluffy pancakes. If you are looking for some inspiration then read on.
Did you know?
- Pancakes have been around for a long time, know as Tagenites they were eaten by the Ancient Greeks for breakfast made with wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and curdled milk.
- Olney in Buckinghamshire has been hosting annual pancake races since 1445. According to the story it stared after a woman was late for church and ran still clutching the pan containing a pancake in her hand.
- In 1994 the largest pancake ever was made in Rochdale, Manchester it was 15 metres across!
- Professional pancake art is actually a thing!
Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day 2021, Tuesday 16th February
Traditionally Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter was a time of fasting. During the Middle Ages Christians were prohibited from eating eggs during Lent because of their richness.
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. It was the day to use up all the goodies in your cupboards and pancakes are a great way to do that hence pancake day!
Store cupboard ingredients
The main differences between types of pancakes is the ingredients. Traditionally pancakes in the UK are thin and don’t use any raising agent. Similar to the continental crêpes which are usually a little larger and with richer ingredients. Whilst the traditional American pancake does include raising agents to create a fluffy thicker pancake.
Pancakes a world of possibilities
Every country has their own version of pancakes from French crêpes and Dutch Poffertjes to Korean Hotteok and fluffy Japanese pancakes. Even in the UK we have variations like scotch pancakes / drop scones.
The best thing about pancakes is almost anything goes sweet or savoury, filling or light.
I am a big fan of fruit with pancakes from piles of berries on top or grilled pineapples. A great winter option is my Apple Pancakes where grated apple is mixed into the batter.
Buckwheat flour is great for savoury pancakes and you can also replace the milk with fizzy water which gives you holes in the pancake and goes great with ham and cheese. Using buttermilk provides a richer taste.
Blinis are perfect for smoked salmon and cream cheese for special occasions. Ricotta Hotcakes are another great savoury option.
One of my personal favourites is classic pancakes with bacon and egg. Another favourite is blueberry pancakes, I like to use frozen blueberries as they hold their shape a bit better when cooked.
You can’t beat a sweet pancake, ice cream, Nutella, cream, chocolate sauce.
Pancake Toppings
The classic combo in my house is always lemon and sugar. However for those weekend treats then the syrup comes out. I am a golden syrup girl but my husband is maple syrup all the way. Other syrup options are agave syrup, treacle or honey.
Golden syrup is a popular topping in the UK tastes a bit like caramel and is essentially white sugar in a different form. Over in the US maple syrup is more common – an amber syrup with some similarities to honey is made from the sap of the maple tree.
Agave syrup, treacle, maple syrup or golden syrup. You can add whatever you like to a pancake so have a dig around and use up whatever is in your cupboard.
When going out for breakfast or brunch I love to have pancakes from stacks at Ironworks to proper American pancakes at Dimond Jim’s and delicious pancakes at The Pancake Bakery in Amsterdam.
If you are planning to make these with your kids you may want to use my printable step by step guide over at The Autism Page.
What are your favourite type of pancakes?
Wow, I didn’t know pancakes had such a rich history. Personally, I’m not picky on what kind of pancake, but I would like to try crepes at least once. I’m in the US, so it’s always fluffy pancakes. 🙂
Author
Thin pancakes are good so definitely worth a try. I love fluffy US style pancakes too but always nice to change it up
Oh man yum! My favorite type of pancakes are Apple cinnamon pancakes. Reminds me of my childhood in rural Pennsylvania.
Author
Apple pancakes are great, I only discovered them as an adult but they are delicious.
Those pancakes look soo tempting!
Author
❤️
These pancakes look divine.I keep trying to make a decent pancake for my kids but I haven’t mastered them yet. I didn’t know about Olney’s historical pancake race, we live so close to Olney x x #MischiefAndMemories
Author
You will have to look out for their pancake races in the future then! Well practice makes perfect so the more you make the better your pancakes will get 😃
These look yummy! I love blueberry pancakes with syrup and whipped cream! 🙂
Author
Sounds good I will have to try that combo myself
Oh yum! I do love a good pancake – I love the thick fluffy ones with maple syrup – you can’t go wrong with those. The 15 metre across pancake sounds completely epic. Thank you for joining us for #MischiefAndMemories 🙂
I LOVE pancakes. Theye are a taste of my childhood, my mum got her recipe from my nan. Now I am vegan I have adapted the recipe to suit me and have tried some other recipes for scotch pancakes and chocolate versions. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories
Author
Chocolate pancakes is something I haven’t tried will have to give it a go x
I love the simplicity of pancakes. In my childhood home we had them all the time savoury and sweet. I preferred sweet. Just back from years in France where they are an art form. Remember my son refusing to eat pancakes as he grieved for my mum and then eating his first one years after her death and how happy it made me. I am useless at making them so tend to do drop scones instead. I liked your post as learned new things. #MischiefandMemories
Author
I love foods that remind us of loved ones, nothing better. So pleased your son will now eat them. I love a good drop scone, remember pancakes don’t have to look pretty just be tasty 😋
I love classic pancakes with lemon juice and sugar, but my husband has recently started making American style pancakes too, which I love covered with golden syrup! x #KCACOLS
Author
I make more American style these days easier to hold for the kids eating with their hands!
We went for a savoury pancake with cheese sauce and bits of ham followed by sweet pancakes topped with squirty cream and fruit today. #KCACOLS
Author
That sounds good. I love savoury ham and cheese sauce so tasty.
We love pancakes in my house. This year we opted for American pancakes because I’d only made crepe-style ones a couple of weeks ago. I’m more of a savoury topping person but of course my kids love the sweet stuff! KCACOLS
Author
I find the American style a bit easier with the kids sometimes. I find myself torn between sweet and savory.
I love pancakes, and blueberries go so well with them, either as part of the mix or added on top. Penguin likes frozen blueberries with his! The apple pancakes you mention sound good too. I’ve tried pancakes made with grated carrots or finely chooped spinach, and banana pancakes, but not apple ones – yet! x #KCACOLS
Author
Carrot and spinach sound great I will try that. I love blueberries in them delicious.
Popping back from #KCACOLS
We made lemon & sugar pancakes this year – delicious! Chocolate spread is also a hit in our house #KCACOLS
Author
Yum, chocolate spread is always a winner