Pancake Day Shenanigans!

13 Feb Pancake Day Shenanigans!

At Freedom Childcare we love any opportunity to get a little bit messy with our children and Pancake day is another great opportunity to get curious little minds into the kitchen to have some fun! It’s also a great opportunity to practise their fine motor skills, maths and problem-solving abilities through play.

Our Nannies and Childminders know all the required ingredients needed (plus a few surprises!) for a successful pancake day and here they have shared some top tips for enjoying Pancake Day in style:

1) The right tools for the job! Make sure you have plenty of bowls, spoons, plates and cutlery at hand before you start – this way there’s no rushing around trying to find them when you need them most!

2) Be prepared to get messy! With lots of measuring and the cracking of eggs needed, making pancakes can be messy work, but it’s also where you can find lots of smiles and laughter!

3) A job for everyone! For those little-ones who perhaps find the sensory side a little overwhelming, finding them other ways to be involved such as setting up the “Toppings Station” or making name tags for the table.

4) Practice makes perfect! Surely, half the fun is a little a bit of eggshell in your batter mixture or finding a pancake on the ceiling, but with lots of positive encouragement you will be sure to have lots of Mini Chefs by the end of the day!

Ingredients: Makes 6-8 servings

100g flour

2 eggs

300ml milk

1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil (plus extra for frying)

Pinch of salt

Topping Suggestions:

Lemon & Sugar

Chocolate Spread

Banana slices and chocolate chips

Selection of chopped fruits and berries

Ice cream and sprinkles

Yogurt and honey

Method:

• Add the flour to a mixing bowl and crack the eggs in to a well in the middle of the flour.
• Gradually pour in the milk to the eggs and start to mix in the flour. Add the oil and continue to gradually mix the batter together until you have a smooth batter.
• Heat a pan with a little oil over a moderate heat and ladle some batter into the pan, tilting the pan to distribute the mixture for a think even layer.
• Leave to cook for around 30 seconds, when the pancake starts to lightly golden it is time to flip the pancake!
• Let the children choose from a selection of toppings and enjoy!