The festive season has a wonderful way of upending our routines, where breakfast might just consist of chocolate from an Advent calendar. If you're seeking a more wholesome yet equally joyful start to your December days, look no further than Christmas-themed pancakes.
Festive Fun on a Plate
Inspired by the need for a creative and nourishing treat, Samantha Bartlett, Assistant Editor for Social News, took to Instagram on a mission. Her goal was to find viral festive pancake designs that were both impressive and simple enough to recreate at home. She discovered four standout concepts that promise to delight children and adults alike throughout the holiday period.
1. The Jolly Santa Pancake
This design starts with a simple Scotch pancake, a budget-friendly option available for under £1 and ready in a minute from the toaster. The festive transformation is achieved with fresh berries and squirty cream. Use two blueberries for eyes, a raspberry or strawberry tip for the nose, and arrange strawberries and raspberries to form a hat. A dollop of cream creates the hat's bobble, while generous swirls of cream complete Santa's iconic beard and hair.
2. Adorable Snowman Pancakes
For this charming creation, making your own pancakes is recommended to achieve different-sized circles for the snowman's head and body. Simply vary the amount of batter in the pan or use circular cutters. Stack a smaller pancake on a larger one. Then, employ chocolate chips for the eyes, mouth, and buttons, and a dab of orange food gel for the carrot nose. Sliced strawberries make a perfect scarf, with banana circles scattered as snowballs around the plate.
3. Super Simple Reindeer Design
This particularly cute design is sure to impress any festive guests. Again using a Scotch pancake as the base, you'll need strawberries, banana, blueberries, squirty cream, and black food gel. Create eyes with banana circles topped with blueberries. A strawberry tip forms the nose, while halved banana circles become ears. Draw antlers and a smile with the black gel, and finish with a scarf made from alternating strawberry pieces and cream.
4. The Cheeky Elf Pancake
A new addition for many this year, the elf is simple yet effective. Start with edible eyes or draw them on with black food gel. Use strawberry ends for rosy cheeks and draw a smile. Banana halves create the ears. Fashion a hat from strawberries, adding a cream bobble and trim. A final squirt of cream makes a cheerful collar, completing the festive helper.
The Perfect Pancake Base
For those designs requiring a homemade base, American-style pancakes are ideal due to their thicker, fluffier texture. Samantha Bartlett recommends the following recipe, which serves 2-3 people.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (180 ml) milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp melted butter (plus extra for cooking)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Method:
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and gently mix until just combined. A few lumps are fine.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and lightly butter it. Pour about ¼ cup of batter per pancake.
- Cook until bubbles form on the surface (about 2–3 minutes), then flip and cook for another 1–2 minutes until golden.
- Serve hot and decorate for your festive feast.
These four viral Christmas pancake designs offer a delightful way to bring festive cheer to the breakfast table. They prove that with a few simple ingredients and a bit of creativity, you can create memorable, fun-filled meals that capture the magic of the season for the whole family.
