Did you know that Tuesday, March 1st is IHOP's National Pancake Day?
*heart skips a beat*
I love pancakes. Truly. Just adore them! Cant get enough of them.
However, this is a baking blog and I don't really bake my pancakes. So why bother you with my obsession?
I thought I would jazz things up a bit.
Make pancakes mini-cakes! We like cakes right?
I started out with 'orange' size pancakes.
But quickly moved to silver dollar size. I love the petits four type style they lent themselves to.
I did blueberry and strawberry mostly.
But also did a plain version which was still super tasty! (of course, adding mini chocolate chips didn't hurt!)
The recipe is simple.
I made my favorite from scratch pancakes but decreased the sugar serving by 1/2 cup.
I then mixed up a bowl of my glaze icing and poured it over the mini stacks.
For the strawberry I added the tiniest bit of pink food coloring as well as a little blue to the blueberry glaze. You can also add strawberry extracts or naturally flavor the glaze if you want too!
I didn't do it this time, but I next time I am going to substitute the milk with warm water. I think it will add a nice warm, creamy texture to the hot pancakes.
Some of the cakes sat for a few minutes while I was preparing others, and I loved how the glaze started to harden slightly, almost creating a little sugar shell around the pancakes.
It almost looks like a little layer cake. *joy*
It was so fun making little pancake cakes!
I kept thinking of new things to try and incorporate... maybe next year!
And this is my version of a strawberry short cake... strawberry pancake shortcakes! :)
*****
And just for fun... here are some pancakes I have made in the past.
I told you I am a bit obsessed.
Red Velvet pancakes with buttermilk pancakes covered in blueberry syrup and blueberries.
Regular pancakes with food coloring added.
Check out this post to see why these pancakes caused such an uproar!
An easy pancake recipe just cut into leaf patterns with a touch of food coloring. Kids loved these!
So what fun ways have you jazzed up pancakes? Are you going to celebrate National Pancake Day?
All of these pancakes look so pretty! I'm going to make more cake batter pancakes!
Posted by: Jessica @ How Sweet | Feb 28, 2011 at 05:34 AM
They're all so pretty! I love pancakes but mine never turn out as uniform as yours, they're always slightly different sizes and usually ever so slightly deformed rather than perfectly round.
I will most definitely be celebrating pancake day by getting up half an hour earlier and making some crepes, which I will probably have with nutella, and my husband will probably just cover with an inch thick layer of crunchy granulated sugar
Posted by: Aveen | Feb 28, 2011 at 05:48 AM
I love them all, so perfect and the colours are awesome.
Great clicks ♥
Posted by: Ana Powell | Feb 28, 2011 at 06:21 AM
How do you get your pancakes all so perfectly the same size Amanda?
I'm in love with the shot with the strawberry milk!!! well, really they ALL look and sound AMAZING!
Posted by: TidyMom | Feb 28, 2011 at 06:58 AM
Oh my - soooo pretty. Let's eat! =)
Posted by: Sally | Feb 28, 2011 at 07:03 AM
I will not lick the computer screen, I will not lick the computer screen. Oh my these look amazing!
Posted by: Amanda | Feb 28, 2011 at 07:22 AM
Pancake love! Only you could elevate pancake elegance into something so elegant.
Posted by: Aimee @ Simple Bites | Feb 28, 2011 at 07:25 AM
Ooh how I love pancakes too! I like to bake mine in the oven in cupcake pans. They are oh so yummy and it gives you the perfect doneness (is that a word?). I tend to burn the pancakes that I make on the stove top :) It also allows me to do other stuff like make eggs or bacon with out worries of burning something or forgetting something! Here is a link to a post I did about it. Oh and I also made the rainbow pancakes once for my 2 year old! Such fun! http://firsttime9months.blogspot.com/2009/04/pancakes-in-ovenwfmw.html
Posted by: Jessica Calvarese | Feb 28, 2011 at 07:26 AM
You are such a talented baker and photographer. How gorgeous!
Posted by: Kristen | Feb 28, 2011 at 07:27 AM
little gems packed with panache!
love these…
to me, almost macaron like….i guess that is due to the wonderful colors!
super yum!
Posted by: linda | Feb 28, 2011 at 07:49 AM
I love pancakes!!! Yes, we will be celebrating tomorrow! Your fruit looks so pretty and delicious all over and in between the pancakes! Perfect!
Posted by: Londa | Feb 28, 2011 at 07:54 AM
Amanda!!!! This is insane. You just became my kids hero! Or heroine, I suppose, LOL...these are gorgeous :-)
Posted by: SweetSugarBelle | Feb 28, 2011 at 08:04 AM
Love the idea of a glaze on top of the pancakes! I love to pick off the hardened pieces of glaze on iced pound cakes too :-) And by the way that photo of the pancake stack with the mini chocolate chips is stunning!
Posted by: Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen | Feb 28, 2011 at 08:07 AM
Nice idea! This is like pancake heaven here on your blog today!
Posted by: Lori @ RecipeGirl | Feb 28, 2011 at 08:15 AM
I love pancakes too and posted our favorites today:) Great minds think alike!
Posted by: Maria | Feb 28, 2011 at 08:29 AM
Yum! Pancake Day is March 8 here in England (Shrove Tuesday) so I will definitely have to try them next week! Thank you for the eye candy-- I feel like I can taste them just from looking! Can't wait for the real deal!
Posted by: Paige Galla | Feb 28, 2011 at 08:30 AM
Amanda, I love all your pancakey confections. Those sweet stacks qualify as cakes, breakfast, brunch, dessert whatever. Perfect to honor pancake day! xo
Posted by: marla {family fresh cooking} | Feb 28, 2011 at 08:36 AM
Only you could make pancakes look so pretty, classy, and amazingly fattening! :) Love it!
Posted by: Renee | Feb 28, 2011 at 09:10 AM
I am starving. STARVING!!
Love how the glaze hardens just a bit over over these pancakes. YUM.
Posted by: Cookbook Queen | Feb 28, 2011 at 09:12 AM
I love pancakes too! But! My husband has declared himself the official waffle make since were married. His waffles are divine but I miss pancakes. I'll have to wake up super early in the morning to sneak in the kitchen and already be in the process of making pancakes when he rolls into the kitchen. Heh, heh, heh. We have to do what have to do in order to get our pancakes.
Posted by: snippets of thyme | Feb 28, 2011 at 10:23 AM
These are just adorable. I love pancakes too, but I can't eat much of them before I feel ill. I love your silver dollar ones the most!
Posted by: Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies | Feb 28, 2011 at 10:32 AM
great pancake ideas. I have pans with bug impressions, and happy faces, and make them for the grandkids. Next time I do them in color, and try some of these. They sure eat them quickly
Posted by: shari | Feb 28, 2011 at 11:23 AM
These are SO cute, I love all of them! Wish I had a big plate of these for breakfast!
Posted by: Tracy | Feb 28, 2011 at 02:45 PM
I never knew of this spectacular day! Your pancakes look so good... love it! :)
Posted by: Joyce | Feb 28, 2011 at 02:51 PM
I love pancakes and love all of your variations of them! Especially those rainbow pancakes - wow! Sign me up for those. Thanks for sharing! You have a beautiful blog and I’m so glad to have found it. I’m looking forward to exploring your recipes and seeing more! :) - Georgia
Posted by: Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking | Feb 28, 2011 at 03:35 PM
sigh . . . sigh . . . sigh . . . i'm coming back as you in my next life Amanda . . . sigh . . .
Posted by: SMITH BITES | Feb 28, 2011 at 03:58 PM
Love the rainbow pancakes! This is the cutest post and wonderful photos. Did not even know there WAS a Pancake Day. This looks like a ton of work and we are luck for it!
Posted by: Boulder Locavore | Feb 28, 2011 at 04:52 PM
you are amazing! i love this post and i ADORE you! thanks for doing all that you do!
Posted by: susan | Feb 28, 2011 at 06:41 PM
Your post made me want to bring pancakes to preschool for snack tomorrow...which made me search for more great pancake ideas. Found this site; http://www.jimspancakes.com/ Looks like so much fun.
Posted by: M Fisher | Feb 28, 2011 at 06:52 PM
Yummm!!!! The top ones look SOOO yummy but the rainbow ones look AMAZING!
Can't wait to celebrate national pancake month with my best friends!
Posted by: Jess | Feb 28, 2011 at 08:21 PM
No, but I should! My husband loves pancakes!
Posted by: Kristin Kunoff | Feb 28, 2011 at 08:26 PM
So simple but so cute!
Posted by: Cassidy | Feb 28, 2011 at 09:01 PM
I worked at IHOP for 6 years and surprisingly enough I STILL love pancakes! (IHOP is actually how I met my husband :))
Oh and you know what else was a pleasant surprise? To find out that YOU were the creator of those glorious rainbow pancakes, when I first saw them I just about died and went to heaven. I saw your post on the ugly things people have said about them. I know it would have hurt my feelings, but in all honesty I pity those people who sit behind a computer and use the internet to be hurtful. Isn't it just easier to be nice?!
In my opinion, you are wonderful!
Posted by: Nuha | Feb 28, 2011 at 09:07 PM
I make them in Mickey Mouse shapes or in the shape of their names. I do like to color them too. I have some buttermilk I need to use up so I may make them tomorrow. We love them here too!
Posted by: Amy's blah, blah, blogging | Mar 01, 2011 at 12:30 AM
Which pancake recipe did you use? I dont see a recipe following...
Posted by: jackie | Mar 01, 2011 at 02:50 AM
rainbow pancakes--yay! i say that i adore pancakes, but i think the real draw for me is the maple syrup. regardless, your creations are innovative and t-a-s-t-y tasty.
Posted by: grace | Mar 01, 2011 at 04:24 AM
I love the PINK!!! I want to eat pancakes at YOUR house!!!
Posted by: bridget {bake at 350} | Mar 01, 2011 at 06:04 AM
Well, God Bless America, I want those Patriotic Pancakes!
Your Rainbow Pancakes me LOL.
Posted by: RosieP | Mar 01, 2011 at 08:59 AM
These all look amazing... I love the petits fours ones!
Posted by: A tablespoon of Liz | Mar 01, 2011 at 09:13 AM
Oh my gosh, I never thought of making pancakes into "cakes" before! I'm totally trying this. Thank You!!!
Posted by: shyanne | Mar 01, 2011 at 09:30 AM
These are sooo cute! I love them all. The mini pancakes made into little petits four cakes are just so stunning!
Posted by: Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction | Mar 01, 2011 at 03:08 PM
You always make everything look so beautiful and fun! Love the mini size too, Amanda:)
Posted by: Sue | Mar 01, 2011 at 07:51 PM
cant believe u can make stack of pancakes look SO good ... especially the petit fours :)
Posted by: Romona | Mar 02, 2011 at 05:42 AM
We totally went to IHOP when we saw this on your blog (we have a four year old who's favorite dinner is pancakes...). Made a donation to Children's Hospitals and even got to say hello to Miss Maine. Thanks for the heads up!
Posted by: Kelly | Mar 02, 2011 at 08:08 AM
These are the cutest little pancakes ever! I just love them! Will have to try some - I know they will put a smile on my family's face! Thanks for sharing - LeAnne
Posted by: LeAnne @ The Purposed Heart | Mar 03, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Each year for my son's birthday, my husband makes him a pancake-cake. I have to show him your post so he can get creative this year.
I'd love for you to share this recipe on my linky for Sweet Tooth Friday. http://alli-n-son.com/2011/03/03/monster-cookies/
Posted by: Allison @ Alli n Son | Mar 03, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Can I get the recipe for your pancakes?
Posted by: Alex Waidley | Mar 03, 2011 at 11:58 PM
i just recently found your blog and i absolutely love it! what a fun idea. love the strawberry shortcake pancakes. adorable.
p.s. the rainbow pancakes are the coolest idea ever. can't wait to make them for my children one day :)
Posted by: Jessa Ann | Mar 04, 2011 at 12:56 AM
When I was in middle school I participated in the Invention Convention...ok, maybe I participated a couple times. And one year my "invention" was colored pancakes! With colored karo syrup! What kid wouldn't want to eat that? FYI...pancakes glued to poster board is a bad idea. Shocking, I know. And know I'm off to elaborate on this...
Posted by: Andrea | Mar 04, 2011 at 09:08 PM
These looks amazing! However, I hope you can add a little figure with the facebook cookies you had made in your previous posts. They will surely look great.:)
Posted by: Brad Fallon | Mar 05, 2011 at 09:10 PM