Pancake day is here, and many across the country will be excited to get flipping.
The date of Pancake Day changes from year to year because it always 47 days before Easter – which this year falls falls on Sunday 9 April.
This means that Shrove Tuesday 2023 is on 21 February.
But which pancakes should you choose? Chocolate pancakes, blueberry pancakes, thin, crispy crepes, or thick, fluffy American-style?
If you’re preference is for the type most commonly associated with those across the pond, then here are some of the best recipes. Don’t forget the syrup!
Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?
Shrove Tuesday is the day that immediately precedes Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent in Christianity.
The Christian season is supposed to replicate the Biblical story of Jesus Christ’s withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.
This is why Lent is traditionally a period of abstinence, with many non-Christians still getting into the spirit of the season by giving up a particular treat.
Lent, particularly when it was adhered to more widely and strictly, marked a time to eat simpler food, and give up things like sweet, rich and dairy ingredients.
With the bleak prospect of 40 days of discipline looming, it was perhaps inevitable that Shrove Tuesday would become an occasion to gorge oneself and cram in as much frivolity as possible.
More on Pancake Day
When Lent 2024 starts and ends, and why people give things up15 February, 2024The meaning behind Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent14 February, 2024What to do with leftover pancake mix after Shrove Tuesday21 February, 2023
The day before the season started was therefore the ideal time to make pancakes as a means to use up leftover eggs, milk and sugar.
Pancake races supposedly originated back in 1445, when a woman in Buckinghamshire is said to have been caught out by the sound of church bells before she’d finished making a pancake.
Her solution, the story goes, was to sprint from her home to her local church service still carrying her frying pan, flipping the pancake within to prevent it burning.
Olney, the town where the tale is based, still holds a world-famous annual race, with female contestants battling it out over a 415-yard course, traditionally wearing an apron in honour of pancake racing’s founder.
What are the best recipes for American-style pancakes?
Jamie Oliver’s recipe
First, you will need 3 large free-range eggs, 115 g plain flour, 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder, and 140 ml milk.
Separate the eggs putting the whites and yolks into two bowls. Add the rest of the ingredients into the yolks and beat well to form a batter.
Whisk the whites to form stiff peaks – fold into the batter without beating it too much.
Heat a non-stick pan and pour in some of the batter – enough for a pancake. Cook until golden and firm on the bottom and then flip.
You can find the full recipe here.
Gordon Ramsay’s recipe
This one is a little more complicated and uses buttermilk, which is a popular pancake ingredient in the US.
You will need 2 eggs, separated, 2 tbsp sugar, ½ tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder, 60g vegetable oil, 300g buttermilk, 160g plain flour, and 1 tsp vanilla essence.
Whisk the egg whites “until foamy”. MiX all the other ingredients in a second bowl, then fold in the egg whites.
Grease a pan with butter and use a medium heat, ladle in the batter to cook until bubbles form (around 5-6 minutes) and then flip and cook for around 2 minutes.
You can find the full recipe here.
Nigella Lawson’s recipe
For this one you need 2½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon white sugar, 2 large eggs (beaten), 30 grams butter (melted and cooled), 300 millilitres milk, 225 grams plain flour, and butter for frying.
Nigella recommends putting everything in the blender and blitzing it. But, if you do not want to do this, mix all the dry ingredients together, make a well in the middle, add the eggs, melted butter and milk and beat it all together.
Transfer all of it to a jug.
Heat a pan and cook each pancake until blistering and bubbling then flip.
You can find the full recipe here.
BBC Good Food’s recipe
You will need 200gself-raising flour, 1 ½ tspbaking powder, 1 tbspgolden caster sugar, 3large eggs, 25gmelted butter,plus extra for cooking, 200mlmilk and vegetable oil,for cooking.
Mix together all of the dry ingredients as well as a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Create a well and add the eggs, milk and butter.
Use an electric whisk to beat together and pour into a jug.
Heat butter in a large pan and when it goes frothy pour in batter. Cook them for 1-2 mins or until bubbles form, then flip.
You can find the full recipe here.
