Perfect pancakes made easy!
Cooking pancakes is a great activity to encourage lots of talking with your child!
New words you can introduce:
- The names of the ingredients you are using such as ‘flour’, ‘eggs’, ‘butter’
- Words related to instructions such as ‘whisking’, ‘stirring’, ‘pouring’, ‘frying’
- Words related to the equipment you are using such as ‘bowl’, ‘wooden spoon’, ‘frying pan’
Talking to your child about what you are doing and what you can see exposes them to new words. The more your child hears these words, the more likely they are to start using them themselves.
It’s also a good opportunity to talk with your child about staying safe, what parts you will do, and what parts they can help with.
What you need:
- 110g/4oz plain flour, sifted
- A pinch of salt
- 2 eggs
- 200ml/7fl oz milk mixed with 75ml/3fl oz water
- 50g/2oz butter
Allergy Disclaimer: Always check the label of each ingredient for allergy warnings
What to do:
- Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl with a sieve held high above the bowl so the flour gets an airing
- Make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it, then begin whisking the eggs – any sort of whisk or even a fork will do – incorporating any bits of flour from around the edge of the bowl as you do so
- Gradually add small quantities of the milk and water mixture, still whisking (don’t worry about any lumps as they will eventually disappear as you whisk)
- When all the liquid has been added, use a rubber spatula to scrape any elusive bits of flour from around the edge into the centre, then whisk once more until the batter is smooth, with the consistency of thin cream
- Melt the 50g/2oz of butter in a small saucepan or a bowl in the microwave
- Spoon two tablespoons of the butter into the batter and whisk it in, then pour the rest into a bowl and use it to lubricate the pan, using a wodge of kitchen paper to smear it round before you make each pancake
- Get the pan really hot, then turn the heat down to medium and, to start with, do a test pancake to see if you’re using the correct amount of batter (two tablespoons is about right for an 18cm/7in pan) – It’s also helpful if you spoon the batter into a ladle so it can be poured into the hot pan in one go
- As soon as the batter hits the hot pan, tip it around from side to side to get the base evenly coated with batter – it should take only half a minute or so to cook; you can lift the edge with a palette knife to see if it’s tinged gold as it should be
- Flip the pancake over using a turner or palette knife – the other side will need a few seconds only – then simply slide it out of the pan onto a plate
- Stack the pancakes as you make them between sheets of greaseproof paper (or non-stick baking paper) on a plate sat over simmering water – this will keep them warm while you make the rest
- Sprinkle each pancake with freshly squeezed lemon juice and caster sugar, fold in half, then in half again to form triangles, or else simply roll them up
- Serve sprinkled with a little more sugar and lemon juice and extra sections of lemon
Recipe Source: Delia Smith, BBC Food – Kid’s Pancake Recipes
Top tips:
- Discuss alternative toppings with your child: offer some healthy choices such as fresh fruit as well – bananas are easy for little hands to slice, and you can add them on top or try mashing ripe bananas into the batter mix to make thicker, sweeter pancakes
- Try pancake flipping with your child: good fun and excellent for hand-eye co-ordination – who can flip their pancake the highest? Who can catch it again? (you can use cardboard pancakes and toy frying pans to save any mess or waste!)
- Learn a pancake rhyme: Mix a pancake, Stir a pancake, Pop it in the pan; Fry the pancake, Toss the pancake, Catch it if you can! (by Christina Rosetti) – you can add in some actions with each phrase for extra fun, and this will help your child tune into the rhythm and rhyme of words
- Explore YouTube for some pancake story recordings: For example, author Jan Fearnley reading her story ‘Mr Wolf’s Pancakes’ (video above)
- Enjoy some pancake stories with your child: your local Essex Library will be able to help you find some, such as ‘The Runaway Pancake’ by Mairi Mackinnon which has lots of repetitive language for you and your child to join in with together
