Flippin’ Fantastic Ideas For Pancake Day

What could be better than an entire day dedicated to delicious food? This year, Shrove Tuesday (more affectionately known as Pancake Day) falls on February 16th, and is the one day of the year that we can eat pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without feeling guilty!

However you decide to flip it, pancakes are a fantastic treat, whether you like them sugary sweet or on the savoury side. Sweet pancakes with ice cream and fruit? You got it. Savoury pancakes with ham and cheese? Delicious. Whatever your imagination cooks up, it’ll surely work well with these scrummy all-rounders. So, if you’re looking for some extra inspiration for making this Pancake Day the best ever, we’ve got you covered. Grab your spatula, prep those toppings, and get a snack - it’s about to get flippin’ tasty!

We all know that the first pancake is always a dud, but don’t beat yourself (or the batter) up too much! The reason why that first one flops instead of flips isn’t because you’re a bad cook - it’s actually far more likely down to your pan. Making sure you have the right equipment is essential for pulling off the perfect Pancake Day without a hitch, so kit out your kitchen well in advance to ensure you’ve got everything you need!

A good non-stick pan is an essential tool for cooking your pancakes. The smooth, slippery surface of these pans will help to prevent your cakes from sticking and can even make flipping them easier (if you dare!). Make sure your pan is warmed up thoroughly and evenly before dropping in that first spoonful of batter for the best results.

Beyond the pan, arguably the most important tool you’ll use when making pancakes is the spatula. How else will you turn and flip your cakes over to ensure an even colour? Make sure you opt for one made of wood, silicone or plastic when using a non-stick pan to preserve its protective coating.

Looking to get a bit more artistic this pancake day? Give squeezy bottles a try! Fill them with different colours of batter and use them to create amazing, edible works of art right there in the pan. What’s more, this is a great way to get the kids involved in Pancake Day beyond just eating the tasty treats!

There are plenty more tools you can use to ensure pancake perfection. Check out our full range of baking supplies to get stocked up for the big day!

Perfectly matched with all kinds of fillings, the classic French-style crêpe is the ideal, versatile pancake for enjoying on Shrove Tuesday. These thin pancakes are probably most likely to spring to mind when you think of Pancake Day treats, and are a firm favourite among the OnBuy team. Whether you opt for a full meal of pancakes or just dessert, you can’t go wrong with these lacy-edged delights.

This recipe makes about four pancakes, so double or triple the recipe for more people. Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl before making a well in the centre and adding in your eggs. Continue mixing until combined and then add your milk. Don’t over-mix the batter as it will encourage too much gluten development and will result in a rubbery pancake. Let your mixture come to room temperature for about 15 minutes. Melt your butter in a crêpe pan and add a generous spoonful of batter, tilting the pan to spread it thinly. It only takes a few moments to cook and should release with a little encouragement from your spatula. Flip over for 30 seconds and you’re done. You can make an entire batch at once or enjoy as you go - the choice is yours! 

Once you’ve made your crêpes, what do you eat them with? One of the tried and true ways to enjoy a crêpe is with a healthy squeeze of lemon juice and a naughty (but nice!) sprinkle of sugar while it’s still warm. Another favourite, especially among foodies here at OnBuy, is to eat your pancake with a dollop of Nutella and some sliced strawberries. Mmmm! Not a fan of strawberries? No problem - simply slice up a banana instead and enjoy! You can’t go wrong with these delicious combinations. 

Are you the type who enjoys a few savoury pancakes before indulging in the sweet? Why not try spreading some butter on a warm pancake, followed by Marmite and a slice of cheese? Or, if you’re a Marmite hater and can’t imagine anything worse, give ham and cheese a try for something a bit different. Once you’ve rolled or folded your pancake, pop it back in the pan for a bit to really get that cheese all ooey, gooey, and magical.

Fancy getting a bit extravagant with your Pancake Day festivities? Whip some fresh cream into soft peaks and layer between multiple crêpes to create a decadent mille-crêpe. With a name meaning “a thousand crêpes” in French, this cake is a delicious way to finish off the perfect Pancake Day - and a sure-fire way to keep your stomach satisfied!

Thick, soft, and perfect with heaping piles of delicious toppings. If you prefer your pancakes like you like your fries (loaded!), American-style pancakes are the ones for you. The ingredients are very similar to the ones that go into a batch of crêpes, except with an additional dash of raising agent to help them get all nice and fluffy - these really put the ‘cake’ in pancake.

Like with the crêpes, mix together your dry ingredients, make a well, and add in your wet ingredients, whisking together until you are left with a smooth batter. Transfer to a jug or use a ladle to pour the batter into a hot, buttered pan. Leave to cook until you can see bubbles rising and popping on the surface of the pancake and flip it over. Once cooked through, transfer to a plate and keep stacking ‘em until you create the tasty tower of your dreams! How do you enjoy your American-style pancakes? Do you like them plain with just butter melted all over or are you looking for a new way to enjoy them? Let us inspire you and get your tummy rumbling.

The classic toppings you’ll find in any American diner is crispy bacon and maple syrup - and for good reason! The crisp, chewy, and salty meat pairs irresistibly well with the sweet maple syrup. Just fry up some bacon to your preferred level of crispiness (we recommend extra-crispy, naturally!) and enjoy with a drizzle of syrup. Whether you like your bacon smoked or not doesn’t matter - it’ll be delicious no matter what. 

Mascarpone and blueberries work beautifully with American-style pancakes and, let’s face it, who doesn’t love blueberry pancakes? The slightly savoury soft cheese pairs wonderfully with the tart and sweet berries, and they both add a lovely moistness which can sometimes be lost in these thick pancakes. Simply add a dollop or two of mascarpone and a handful of blueberries into the batter before cooking them or whip up a stack and lather these scrummy additions on top.

If you’re looking for a slightly unusual topping for your pancakes, why not try grilled peaches and honey? Slice up a ripe peach and use a frying pan with a little melted butter to caramelise them on each side. Once nice and golden, pop them on top of your pancakes (don’t neglect the juice!), and top it all off with lashings of honey for a delicious treat that’s reminiscent of long summer nights. 

No animal products? No problem! American-style pancakes are super easy to make vegan. Simply replace the eggs with one mashed banana and swap out the milk and butter with a plant-based option of your preference (oat milk works very well).

Scotch pancakes are very similar to American pancakes but tend to be much smaller in size. Also known as ‘drop scones’, these mini morsels are the perfect size for when you want some fluffy pancakes for pudding. They’re also ideal for storing in the freezer and popping into the toaster for an easy breakfast - sweet!

As with all our recipes before this one, mix together the dry ingredients before adding the egg and milk into a well in the centre. Add a little butter or vegetable oil to a hot pan and drop spoonfuls of batter into the pan. You should be able to fit about three into the pan at a time. Let them cook until bubbling on top just like the American pancakes before flipping them. 

You can enjoy Scotch pancakes with all the same toppings as their American-style compadres but, if you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, we recommend stewed berries, jam, or just butter and maple syrup.

It may sound like some kind of sugar-filled nightmare you can find down the cereal aisle, but pancake cereal is actually just teeny tiny pancakes eaten from a bowl with a spoon. This trend has been taking social media by storm and is touted as being better than regular pancakes - but we’ll let you be the judge of that. Although it takes a little bit of time (and patience!) to make, if you want to put a bit of a twist on your regular pancake breakfast, you’ve simply got to give these a whirl! 

To make sure these mini pancakes keep their shape as they cook, it’s best to use a wide, flat pan, like a crêpe pan. Fill up a squeezy bottle with pancake batter and use this to portion out small, penny-sized, dollops into the pan. Let them cook until crispy before flipping over and tossing into a bowl. Keep repeating these steps right up until you have a delicious-looking bowl of tiny pancakes. Drizzle with maple syrup and enjoy with melted butter or milk, and don’t forget to post about your creation on social media!

Whether you decide to try out some of the ideas we’ve listed or prefer to go your own way, Pancake Day 2021 is bound to be just as flippin’ fantastic as all the ones before. Whip up some batter from scratch or grab yourself a pre-made mix - whichever you prefer - and cook up some tasty treats for the whole family to enjoy on this food-focused, delicious day!