Top Tips for Making Pancakes

Pancake Day is next week - hurrah! Our family has a long history with pancakes with varying levels of success. I initially tried making pancakes with E when she was quite small and I think disaster is the only way to describe it. You can read all about it over on my baking blog which has been dormant for  few years now. I notice I titled the post Pancake Apocalpse which sums it up perfectly...

​One thing we all agree on though is how much we love pancakes and we've had some great pancake successes too including these epic German pancakes which are crazy simple to make because you whisk up the batter then stick it in a pan in the oven and leave it to cook. And we've perfected this quick and fluffy American pancake recipe (so easy we can even make them before school).

But it is the traditional thin pancakes which we love to eat with sugar and lemon which seem to cause all the drama. Too thin and they won't flip, too thick and they don't taste right. Plus I always end up throwing the first one in the bin - Is that just me?

​So this year to ensure perfect pancakes on Shrove Tuesday I've teamed up with the experts at recipe box service Gousto to get Senior Chef Jordan Moore's top tips for making pancakes:

1. Use a non-stick pan.
2. Add the mixture to a really hot frying pan.
3. Add a little more oil between cooking each pancake.
4. Use butter, coconut or rapeseed oil for frying.
5. Spread the mixture out in the pan as quickly as possible.
6. Always add the liquid to the flour gradually, and keep whisking to avoid lumps.
7. When it comes to gluten-free flour, the best ones to use are rice, buckwheat or coconut flour.
8. For dairy alternatives for milk you can use almond, rice, soya or coconut milk.
9. If age-appropriate, adding protein like nuts and seeds to your pancake will help to maintain your blood sugar, keeping you fuller for longer.

I shall be following this advice next week and now you have been armed with the top tips to ensure pancake success and two super easy pancake recipes I will leave you with a picture illustrating the sheer despair of a child who asks for an omelette for dinner then as it is served realises she meant a pancake...