Pancake day is a day that every child – and the child within many adults – cannot wait for. Traditionally known as Shrove Tuesday, this special day was historically a feast day before the start of Lent, a 40-day fasting period in the build-up to Easter.
During Lent, Christians went to confession and when their sins were absolved, a bell that became known as the ‘pancake bell’ would ring and it still rings to this day. With Shrove Tuesday being the last day of eating for over a month, the Anglo Saxon Christians at the time would use up their eggs and milk to produce delicious pancakes, and thus the tradition was born.
The pancakes produced on this celebratory day have evolved since the Anglo Saxons first introduced them and there are now more toppings and pancake styles than ever. To help, here are our top tips as you prepare for pancake day.
Making the perfect pancake
There are plenty of pancake recipes on the internet that covers all diets including vegan pancakes and gluten-free pancakes so no one has to miss out on this tasty treat this year. Whilst certain recipes may have different instructions, the end goal is the same and here are some of the main features of the perfect pancake.
- Golden brown base
- Fluffy texture
- Moist inside for maximum flavour
There are several factors to perfecting pancakes including making great batter and having the right equipment. Professional electric pancake makers are ideal for producing delightful pancakes but they can come at a hefty price so be sure to consider your finances before buying any extra items.
Get the toppings right
Once you have a great pancake on your plate, you’ll want to get your toppings right to have the most pleasurable experience. For those that prefer their pancakes sweet, you may opt for some chocolate sauce and strawberries – so you’re at least getting some fruit in on this notoriously unhealthy day.
For savoury fans however, you may choose to add some bacon and salted butter to your pancakes which will have your mouth watering before each bite.
Pancakes are an extremely well-rounded base so you can usually get away with adding just about anything to them and they’ll still taste good.
Begin the Easter fun
With Easter starting off the back of Shrove Tuesday, it can be a great day to start the celebrations if you have a young family. Begin by educating your children on the history of Easter and then start the celebrations with matching décor and Easter egg hunts to get them excited for the forthcoming holiday.
Taking place on the 1st of March this year, we hope you feel a lot more prepared for Pancake Day now with these useful tips.
