On Tuesday 9th February churches across the nation will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday, but in homes throughout the UK everyone will be celebrating Pancake Day!

Shrove Tuesday is observed as the last day before lent by Christians. This means that is the last day before 40 days of fasting to honour the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Pancakes were made to use up what was left in the cupboard before the fast and so Pancake Day became a national celebration and a delicious one at that!

Pancake Day may not be a bank holiday, but that doesn’t stop us celebrating it in style! Pancakes races can be dated back almost 500 years in which people would run while carrying or flipping pancakes. The most famous one still held in the UK is the Olney Pancake Race where participants have to wear traditional aprons and mop caps to take part in the 379 metre course.

Pancakes are delicious; this is a well known fact, so having a day where it is acceptable to eat them as a main meal is a dream come true! Everyone enjoys pancakes differently, some like traditional sugar and lemon crêpes, some like fluffy scotch pancakes with syrup so we’ve picked some of the yummiest recipes we could find to inspire your pancake making! Click on the pictures for full recipes and cooking methods.

The Perfect PancakePancake

The BBC is always there to help us when we need a recipe or two and they have some great pancake offerings including this ‘Perfect Pancake’. They even tell you how to execute the perfect flip! These tasty crepes serve 8 and go perfectly with any topping. Add a handful of mixed berries or a big scoop of ice cream for something a little more decadent.

Ingredients

  • 100g plain flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 300ml semi-skimmed milk
  • 1tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil plus extra for frying
  • pinch of salt

 

The Red Velvet Pancake

Now this is one to impress your friends and family with as it tastes amazing and looks so pretty! You will need a lot of different ingredient to pull this one off, but trust me, it’s worth it! The red hue makes them perfect for Christmas and even the upcoming Valentine’s Day too! You won’t need anything extra to top these delicious delights so roll up your sleeves and get cooking.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 Tbsp white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp red food coloring
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup salted butter, melted
  • fresh raspberries and mint leaves, for garnish (optional)

Cream Cheese Glaze

  • 6 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 6 Tbsp butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk, plus more if desired
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

 

The Vegan Pancake

Vegan eating is on the rise so I absolutely had to include these fantastic flapjacks from Kansas cutie Kate and her dog Cookie! Check out her mixing methods on her blog by clicking on the image. Don’t forget to add a yummy drizzle of syrup for a tasty treat!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Bob's Red Mill Organic Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup almond milk or dairy-free milk of choice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or sugar of choice
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • More oil to grease your pan/skillet, if necessary

 

The Savoury Pancake

Now we’ve all enjoy a sweet pancake treat, but the savoury pancake remains a mystery to most. Well why not try something different this Pancake Day and try your hand at these simple savoury cakes! They even make use of leftovers, what more could you want?

  • 425g leftover mashed potatoes (prepared with milk and butter)
  • 4 tablespoons plain flour
  • 75g sweet corn kernels
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

We hope you enjoy your yummy pancakes whether you buy them, make them or get someone else to make them for you!