Who doesn’t love pancakes? They’re a firm favourite for weekend breakfasts, a fun weekday treat, or a lovely surprise when friends come to visit. But once you’ve got the basics down, why not take your pancake game up a level and turn breakfast into a shape-making adventure? Here’s how to make pancakes in fun shapes for kids, guaranteed to put a smile on any face.
Pancake batter can vary just as much as the toppings, but a simple flour, egg and milk pancake recipe works well as a starting point. For shape-making, a slightly thicker American-style batter holds its form better than a thin crepe batter, so it’s worth adjusting your usual mix a touch if you’re planning something ambitious.
You’ll need a heavy non-stick pan or a griddle, well greased, and a bit of patience for your first attempt. Once you’ve got the technique, you can create almost anything — letters, numbers, animals, or your child’s own invented creatures.
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Making Fun Shaped Pancakes
The secret to shaped pancakes is a squeezy bottle — an old, thoroughly cleaned ketchup or sauce bottle works perfectly. Fill it with your pancake batter and pop the nozzle back on. This gives you much finer control over the flow of the batter than pouring from a jug, which makes it far easier to draw clean outlines and details.
For extra fun, try adding a few drops of food colouring to a portion of the batter, or scatter in some sprinkles before cooking. Coloured batter is especially handy for outlining a shape before filling it in.
X’s & O’s & Pigs
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Ghost Pancake
These little spooky ghost pancakes are perfect for a Halloween breakfast or lunch, and are simply made using a squeezy bottle for the shape, with a couple of raisins for eyes.
Centipede
Create a centipede by making a row of small circular pancakes, each slightly bigger than the last, overlapping them along the plate. Decorate the final, largest pancake as a face using fruit or a few small sweets.
Pancake Bear
Make one circle for the face, then two smaller semi-circles for the ears. Decorate with pieces of fruit for the eyes, nose and eyebrows.
Owl Pancakes
This owl is simply a medium pancake with a smaller round pancake on top, decorated with grapes, strawberries and kiwi.
Image courtesy of Little Nummies
Pumpkin Pancakes
For a seasonal treat, try pumpkin pancakes — either made with real pumpkin, or simply pumpkin-shaped and coloured with a little food colouring.
Image courtesy of the Idea Room
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Heart Shaped Pancakes
These heart-shaped pancakes make a lovely breakfast for your little ones on Valentine’s Day, or any day you want to say “I love you!”
Image courtesy of Creative Kid Snacks
Flower Pancake
Slice strawberries vertically and arrange them around a circular pancake to create pretty flower petals.
Image courtesy of Being Alison
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best batter for shaped pancakes?
A thicker American-style batter holds its shape better than a thin crepe batter, so it’s easier to draw and fill in outlines without the mixture spreading too much.
Do I need special equipment to make shaped pancakes?
Not really — a clean, empty squeezy bottle (an old ketchup or sauce bottle works well) is the simplest way to control the batter and draw shapes. A heavy non-stick pan or griddle helps too.
How do I stop the batter from spreading before it sets its shape?
Make sure your pan isn’t too hot, use a slightly thicker batter, and give each part of the shape a few seconds to set before adding the next section on top.
Can I make shaped pancakes ahead of time?
Pancakes are best cooked fresh, but you can mix the batter in advance and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to cook. Reheat plain pancakes gently if needed, though decorated ones are nicest served straight away.
What can I use to decorate shaped pancakes?
Fresh fruit like strawberries, kiwi and grapes works well for facial features and details, and is a nice way to add natural sweetness alongside the fun shapes.
Related Articles
- 4 of the Best Simple Recipes for Homemade Pancakes
- 10 Quick & Healthy Breakfast Ideas that Aren’t Porridge
- Halloween Ghost Pancakes
- Magical Unicorn Pancakes – The Recipe You Never Knew You Needed!
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