What is Shrove Tuesday?

Pancake Day is officially known as Shrove Tuesday, a pre-lent celebration for Anglo-Saxon Christians. This day was the last opportunity to use eggs and other dairy products before starting Lent fasting on Ash Wednesday. Lent was created to symbolise the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, fasting before Easter. Meat and dairy are banned during this fasting period, with only fish, bread, and vegetables permitted. Nowadays, fewer people are committing to the process of Lent. Some people do see it as an opportunity to try and create little goals, such as cutting out chocolate or sweets. It’s almost like New Year’s resolutions, but only for these 40 days. However, millions of Britons still celebrate Pancake Day in the UK. After all, who doesn’t love a whole day committed to making yummy pancakes?

Thick or thin pancakes?

This is a question that could start many debates in your household. Do you prefer a thin, crepe-style pancake or a thick, American-style one? At Two Chimps HQ, Lianne, Dave, Charlotte, and Andy all think thin is the best. However, Jordyn and Laura are team thick pancakes! When starting this discussion, seeing what the troop defined as a pancake was interesting. The consensus was that thin pancakes are the classic, traditional ones you would think of. These would also be the ones you make on Pancake Day. The thicker style is more of a meal; you would have them with fruit and cream or bacon and syrup. You will likely see these when you eat breakfast at a café or restaurant.

Sweet or Savoury?

In most households, a sweet pancake is probably what you are used to having, whether that’s lemon, sugar, Nutella, honey, or fruit. But since pancake batter is made from the same ingredients as a Yorkshire pudding, some people prefer to have a savoury one! This is typical in France, where you can order a ham and cheese or smoked salmon crepe on most breakfast menus. You can’t convince any of us at Two Chimps that savoury beats sweet in this case. Sweet chocolate chip coffee pancakes all the way!

Fun Fact: Jordyn and Lianne, who are from South Africa, call the thicker style ‘crumpets’!

For the Pancakes:

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 2 cups of plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 cups icing sugar
• 2 tbsp espresso powder
• ½ tsp of salt
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup chocolate chips

Espresso Icing:

• 2 cups icing sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tbsp espresso powder

Method

1. Mix flour, baking powder, icing sugar, espresso powder and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Whisk together the buttermilk, 1 tbsp of melted butter and eggs in a separate bowl.
3. Pour this liquid into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Once a batter has formed, stop mixing.
4. Time to make the espresso icing! Add icing sugar, 3 tablespoons of milk and the espresso powder to a bowl and mix until a runny consistency.
5. Heat the remaining butter in a frying pan until melted and wait until the pan is hot enough to hold your hand just above it for 5 seconds.
6. Spoon some of the batter into the frying pan and immediately sprinkle with the chocolate chips.
7. Let the pancake cook until you get bubbles coming to the surface; use a spatula to check underneath. If it is looking golden brown, it’s time to flip!
8. Check underneath again, if golden brown remove from heat.
9. Pour over the espresso icing and enjoy!