6 pancakes to try this Shrove Tuesday

Everyone’s favourite annual celebration finally comes around next week. Shrove Tuesday, or in other words Pancake Day, is on Tuesday February 28. It is the perfect opportunity to forget about boring dinners for the evening and get creating a masterpiece all in the name of tradition. Don’t forget to use a non-stick pan and stock up on enough eggs, milk and flour for the whole family to enjoy, as well as few different ingredients with these recipes, says Bethan Tolley.

Chocolate pancakes
If you fancy creating something super sweet this Shrove Tuesday, it really isn’t that much hard work. Simply whisk 160g of plain flour, three tablespoons of caster sugar, a pinch of salt and 20g of cocoa powder in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat two eggs, 300ml of milk and a dashing of vanilla extract before mixing with melted butter. Add the second bowl to the first bowl, mix and stir in chocolate chips. Add half a ladle of mixture into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Finish with whatever topping you like.

Bacon pancakes
If you want to make your pancakes a bit more substantial, you can always add bacon to them. Beat flour, milk, egg and a pinch of salt until the batter is smooth. Then, add a small knob of butter and bacon slices in a pan on medium heat before adding the pancake mixture on top. Brown each sides of the pancake by occasionally flipping it over with a spatula and enjoy with a dashing of maple syrup.

Fruit pancakes
Pancake’s don’t have to be covered in chocolate and sweet to enjoy. If you would prefer your pancakes to be stacked with delicious fruits, add 140g of self-raising flour, two tablespoons of caster sugar, one egg and 175ml of milk to a bowl and mix. Mash together fruits of your choice, like bananas and blueberries, and stir into the pancake batter. Heat light butter in the pan on medium heat before adding the mixture. Flip occasionally to make them golden brown and serve stacked on top of each other with more of your chosen fruit.

Gluten free pancakes
Just because you need gluten free doesn’t mean you can’t join in on Pancake Day. Whisk 125g of almond flour, half a teaspoon bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of ground cinnamon in a bowl before mixing one egg, one egg white, on tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture whilst adding water and heat a lightly oiled pan on medium heat before adding the mixture to the pan, cooking for 3-4 minutes.

Blini pancakes
If you fancy doing something different for Shrove Tuesday, you could always try making a Blini. The Russian dish is a thin pancake and you can enjoy them with sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon. Mix one cup of self-raising flour, one egg, one tablespoon of olive oil and a dashing of milk in a bowl. Add one small knob of butter to a pan on medium heat before cooking for around one minute on each side. Top with soured scream or cream cheese, cucumber and smoked salmon.

Traditional pancakes
Alternatively, stick to what you know works and enjoy traditional pancakes. To make around 8-10 pancakes, you will need to add 150g of plain flour, one and a half teaspoons of baking powder, one egg, two tablespoons of butter, a pinch of salt and 240ml of milk to a bowl and mix. Add the mixture one ladle at a time to a pre-heated pan and cook for around 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar and lemon or golden syrup and enjoy.