Shrove Tuesday – or pancake day – is a great time to get grandchildren involved in cooking. The simple pancake batter plus the variety of ingredients you can use for pancake toppings and decoration them makes the whole process of making and eating them great fun.
Pancake batter is made in the same way as batter for Yorkshire puddings so if you make too much of either, you have a second option to make sure it doesn’t go to waste. To make six large pancakes, you will need:
- 120g 4oz plain flour
- A pinch salt
- 2 large eggs
- 210ml cold milk
- 90ml cold water
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- A couple of knobs of butter, for frying
For additional decoration (optional)
- A handful of strawberries
- 3 bananas
- 2 tbsp of Nutella or chocolate spread
- 2 tbsp of peanut butter
- 25g of chocolate buttons or chips
- A squirt of chocolate or strawberry ice-cream syrup
- 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream
Method
Making the perfect pancake batter is very simple, so it’s a great starter recipe for your younger grandchildren. You can get them involved in all stages of preparation and cooking but do make sure that the hot frying pan is only handled by older, capable children.
- Sieve the flour and salt together into a large bowl
- Make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs
- Mix the milk and water together in a measuring jug or bowl
- Beat the eggs into the flour with a wooden spoon and gradually add in the milk and water mixture. You should end up with a smooth batter that’s the same consistency of single cream
- Stir in the oil and leave the mixture to stand for 30 minutes
- Heat a non-stick frying pan until very hot, then add a small knob of butter. Add a ladleful of the batter and turn the pan to coat the whole base evenly. Cook for 30-60 seconds, until the base is lightly browned and the pancake easily lifts away from the pan
- Using a fish slice or a turning spatula, gently flip the pancake over and cook on the other side for a few seconds until lightly golden. Gently lift or slide the pancake onto a plate and keep warm until the other pancakes are cooked
Pancake decoration for kids
While the traditional serving of pancakes with sugar and lemon is still a classic, cooking with kids means you can have a little bit more fun! Here are Granny’s favourite three easy pancake recipes for kids.
Strawberry and banana faces
- Remove the hulls and cut the strawberries in half
- Spoon a blob of chocolate spread onto the flat half of the strawberry and stick it in the middle of the pancake to form a nose
- Slice a banana in half lengthways to make a smile shape. Spread the flat part of the banana with chocolate spread and place underneath the nose
- Use two round slices of banana to make eyes and fix to the pancake with chocolate spread
- Put blobs of chocolate spread on the flat side of the remaining strawberries and place above the eyes to make spiky hair
Peanut butter and banana pancake rolls
- Spread the pancake with peanut butter
- Place a banana on one side and roll up so the whole banana is wrapped in the pancake
- Cut into inch thick slices and serve
Ice cream sundae pancake cones
- Roll the pancake into a cone shape and hold it tightly at one end
- Squirt your chocolate or strawberry sauce inside the cone in a spiral motion
- Spoon a ball of vanilla ice cream inside the pancake
- Sprinkle in the chocolate chips or buttons
- Add another ball of ice cream with a second sprinkling of chocolate chips or buttons
- Place on the plate folded side down
- Finish with an extra drizzle of syrup over the top
Tip: Writing your grandchildren’s names or initials on the pancakes or plates with syrup is a great way to personalise these sweet treats.
For more cooking inspiration, visit www.askgranny.com and see her NEW recipes suitable for children
