How to Make the Perfect Pancakes This Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is one of those delicious traditions that never goes out of style. Whether you grew up tossing pancakes in the backyard, squeezing lemon over them at the kitchen table, or racing to see who could stack theirs the highest, Pancake Day is pure comfort on a plate.

The best part? You don’t need fancy ingredients or chef-level skills. With a handful of pantry staples and a few simple tips, you can create light, fluffy pancakes that would make any grandmother proud.

What is Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday falls the day before Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar. Traditionally, households used up rich ingredients like eggs, milk and butter before the fasting season began — and pancakes were the perfect solution.

Today, it’s simply a wonderful excuse to gather around the stove and indulge.

The Perfect Classic Pancake Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup plain flour
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon melted butter (plus extra for the pan)

Method

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Whisk the egg, milk and melted butter in a separate jug.
Pour wet ingredients into the dry and gently mix until just combined (a few small lumps are fine).
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and lightly grease with butter.
Pour ¼ cup of batter into the pan.
Cook until bubbles appear on the surface (about 2–3 minutes), then flip and cook for another minute.
Keep warm while you repeat with remaining batter.

The Secrets to Fluffy Pancakes
✔ Don’t overmix — it makes pancakes tough.
✔ Let the batter rest for 5–10 minutes.
✔ Cook on medium heat — too hot and they burn outside, raw inside.
✔ Flip only once!

Topping Ideas (Classic to Creative)
Lemon juice and sugar (the traditional favourite)
Maple syrup and butter
Fresh berries and cream
Banana and honey
Crispy bacon and a drizzle of syrup
A sprinkle of chocolate chips for the grandchildren

A Little Luxury That Costs Very Little

There’s something wonderfully indulgent about a stack of warm pancakes – yet they’re made from simple, affordable ingredients most of us already have at home. In a world of complicated recipes and expensive ingredients, pancakes remain the ultimate comfort food bargain.

So dust off the frypan, practise your flipping skills, and enjoy a tradition that’s been bringing families together for generations.