Pancake recipes for kids (2024)

Pancakes are a lovely recipe for kids to have a go at making, whether you're celebrating Shrove Tuesday or having a breakfast treat. There are different tasks each age group can get involved with until eventually they have the confidence and skills to be able to make them from start to finish – just be prepared for some sticky ceilings. Once your pancakes are made, the options for fillings and toppings are endless, from cheese and spinach to chocolate and banana.

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Check out our collection of kids' pancake recipes for more fun, flippable inspiration.

Safety tips for making pancakes with kids

Cooking pancakes obviously requires handling a pan, and our food editor Barney found that with children from the age of seven upwards, the safest way is to heat the pan yourself, then take it over to the child – away from the heat – and let them add the batter. You should then cook it on the stove until it’s ready for flipping, at which point, you can return the pan to the child – again, away from the heat – and allow them the joy of tossing the pancake.

Our top 10 kids' pancake recipes

1. Blueberry & lemon pancakes

It couldn’t be easier to make these moreish little beauties, and there are plenty of tasks for the kids to get stuck into. Try serving with a variety of chopped fruit, from blueberries, strawberries and bananas, and you’ll be adding to their five-a-day too. Delish!

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2. Easiest ever pancakes

If you are working with quite young children this simple batter is based on equal volumes of eggs, milk and flour so they can easily measure out the ingredients for themselves, and there is no need for scales. It also produces thick, beautiful pancakes that the kids can quickly get busy filling with all kinds of delicious things. Try laying out pots of treats so little hands can have free reign – though it's always worth keeping an eye on those sprinkles to make sure they don't end up in their bellies first!

Easiest ever pancakes

3. Cheese & ham pancake roll-ups

This savoury pancake recipe has been designed especially for kids, from cracking, whisking, pouring and rolling, there are plenty of jobs to keep small hands busy. It’s also a brilliant way of sneaking all sorts of hidden veg inside. We’d make a bet on clean plates all round.

4. Three-minute blender banana pancakes

Need some inspiration for school-day breakfasts? These super-speedy banana blender pancakes are a miracle solution for busy mornings. With no weighing scales required and minimal washing-up, they are fuss-free and can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. Top with strawberries and bananas for a wholesome fruity breakfast.

Three-minute blender banana pancakes

5. Simple nutty pancakes

Kids will 'go nuts' for these deliciously crunchy crêpes. A perfect way to introduce your children to cooking, they are super simple to make using a basic pancake mixture and bag of mixed nuts. Drizzle with agave syrup for a healthier alternative to sugar.

Simple nutty pancakes

6. Potato pancakes

Have a pan of leftover mash from a family supper? We know a way to make it disappear in no time! From our reader comments, this recipe seems to be a real hit with toddlers and children alike. Let them have fun mixing up the ingredients, then serve up a hearty brunch with lots of scrambled eggs.

Potato pancakes

7. Rainbow pancakes

Paint the ranbow with these super-colourful pancake towers. Ideal for a special treat or celebratory brunch, let your kids get creative with food colouring and build their own stacks. Top with mixed berries, whipped cream and a drizzle of maple syrup, and enjoy with a fruity breakfast smoothie.

Rainbow pancakes

8. Choc chip, peanut butter & banana pancake filling

Prepare a warm batch of pancakes using a simple batter like the one used to make our easiest ever pancakes, then fill with a dreamy combination of chocolate, peanut butter and chopped banana. This marvellous medley of flavours will have your little ones jumping for joy!

9. Red velvet pancakes

We've recreated an American dessert classic in crêpe form. These picture perfect piles of red velvet pancakes are stacked together with lashings of sweet maple cream cheese frosting and chocolate chips. Finish with a dusting of icing sugar and fresh, zingy blueberries.

Red velvet pancakes

10. Zebra marbled pancakes

Create a cool 'zebra stripe' effect in your pancake batter by swirling vanilla and chocolate-flavoured mixtures together. These marbled masterpieces will bring out everybody's wild side. Watch our recipe video for step-by-step instructions.

Zebra marbled pancakes

Get more perfect pancake inspiration

Our 10 favourite pancake toppings
How to make American pancakes
Pancake Day recipes
Next level stuffed pancakes
5 ways with pancakes
Pancake Day hub page

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What do you make with your children on Pancake Day? Leave a comment below…

Pancake recipes for kids (2024)

FAQs

How to make basic pancake art? ›

Tips for Drawing Pancakes on a Griddle:
  1. Keep your griddle off until you're done drawing. ...
  2. Draw the outlines first. ...
  3. Color in your design. ...
  4. Cover the entire design in plain batter. ...
  5. Cook on medium heat. ...
  6. And flip! ...
  7. Enjoy your edible work of art!

How to make the first pancake good? ›

The consensus seems to be that we are too impatient to wait for the pan to heat up sufficiently before pouting in the first splash of batter. So give it time, and melt a little knob of butter in the pan just before you pour.

What makes pancakes fluffy and rise? ›

Pancakes and waffles typically both contain baking soda, which causes them to rise. As soon as the baking soda is combined with the wet ingredients (which contain an acidic ingredient, like often buttermilk), it starts producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause the batter to rise.

Is it better to add milk or water to pancake mix? ›

Pancake lovers' biggest complaint when adding water instead of milk is that the flavor seems to change. Pancakes aren't as richly flavored with water. There are a few ways to improve your batter when you've used water, including: Add extra butter.

What is the no pancake rule? ›

The Pancake Rule assumes that during your Whole30, it will be much harder for you to reduce your cravings and change your habits if you spend all 30 days eating foods that look, taste, and smell just like the comfort foods you've been relying on.

What ingredient keeps pancakes from falling apart? ›

I can barely flip a pancake without it falling apart on me.

Your batter could be too loose—add a little flour.

What is the science behind pancakes for kids? ›

The lactic acid reacts with the bicarbonate in the self-raising flour to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas. Bubbles of gas are caught in the batter as it cooks and this is what makes the pancake fluffy.

How to make a cartoon pancake? ›

Pancake Art Step By Step
  1. Step 1 - How to make the pancake batter the right consistency. Making your pancake batter is really easy. ...
  2. Step 2 - Pancake batter color. ...
  3. Step 3 - Heating your griddle or pan. ...
  4. Step 4 - Drawing the outline. ...
  5. Step 5 - Color in the lines. ...
  6. Step 6 - Patience. ...
  7. Step 7 - Flip. ...
  8. Step 8 - Enjoy!
Jul 20, 2020

What is the first pancake rule? ›

The idea behind the first pancake rule is that it's okay if the first one doesn't turn out perfectly; it's a practice round for getting the cooking conditions just right. Once you've made the necessary adjustments, the subsequent pancakes are expected to turn out fantastic.

Why does my pancake burn? ›

If you flip too soon and your pancake isn't done cooking in the center, you risk burning the side that gets cooked longer. For a visual cue that your pancakes are ready to be flipped, Vickers says to wait until you see about four to six bubbles form and begin to pop in the center.

How does Gordon Ramsay make perfect pancakes? ›

Method
  1. Whisk the buttermilk, egg and oil together.
  2. Stir the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. ...
  3. Melt a small piece of butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. ...
  4. Leave to cook for 1 minute or until it has puffed up slightly and is a light golden-brown underneath.

What is the key to making fluffy pancakes? ›

5 Tips for Fluffier Pancakes
  1. Allow the Batter to Rest. A good rule of thumb when you're wondering how to make fluffy pancakes is to let the batter rest. ...
  2. Beat the Egg Whites. Separate your yolk from the egg white then beat to create a fluffy pancake. ...
  3. Don't Over Mix! ...
  4. Wait for the Bubbles. ...
  5. Follow a Good Recipe.
Dec 1, 2019

How do restaurants make pancakes so good? ›

Why Pancakes Always Taste Better At A Restaurant
  1. Restaurants use hot griddles that are perfectly-calibrated for quick, even cooking. ...
  2. The batter ingredients remain fridge cold before cooking. ...
  3. Professional cooks don't overwork the batter. ...
  4. Butter usually isn't used during the cooking process.
May 26, 2023

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