Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes

A weekend favourite, or the poor man’s waffle, as I heard someone once say. But since I’ve never owned a waffle iron and pancakes have been a personal staple for years, this is the recipe you’re getting. First, I reckon a pancake is usually a vehicle for the toppings you want. Whether it’s jam and cream, maple syrup and bacon, lemon and sugar or a combination of everything if you take health warnings as a personal challenge. But what if you turn that plain pancake into something a bit more interesting, tastier and possibly… more decorative on its own?  

Ingredients:  

 Pancake batter:  

1 ½ cups of flour all-purpose 

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder  

½ teaspoon salt  

1 tablespoon sugar  

1 egg 

1 ¼ cups milk  

Cinnamon butter:  

125g of butter  

¼ cup brown sugar  

½ teaspoon of cinnamon 

Prep time: 10 minutes  

Cooking time: 15-20 minutes  

The pancake batter 

• First sift and combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Then combine the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. With your spoon, make a well in your dry ingredients and pour the wet ones into it (remember: keep your mind out of the gutter and in the kitchen). Then mix until just combined.  

The cinnamon butter:  

• For this delight, melt butter for 10-15 seconds in the microwave until it's soft enough to mix with your metal spoon but hasn’t melted into a greasy puddle. Then add in the cinnamon and sugar and mix until combined. Then scoop it into your piping bag or into a resealable sandwich bag and snip the corner with some scissors. 

• Turn the stove onto a medium setting and let the pan heat. To test if the pan is hot enough, sprinkle some water onto it. If it evaporates on contact, put some butter on it because the pan is ready. But even with that tip the first pancake is usually terrible. An uncle once told me “the first pancake is for the dog”. Just in case, make a small pancake for your first try.  

• Then with your piping bag or makeshift one do the best cinnamon swirl you can starting from the centre of the pancake. Or you can get creative, draw a face, do whatever, it’s your pancake. After that, wait until you see the edges of the pancake dry and bubbles start to rise. Then flip it over. Wait another minute and you’ve made your first pancake. Hope it turned out well! After that repeat pouring the mixture, adding the cinnamon butter, waiting for the bubbles, etc., until you’ve run out of batter.  

Have it with any toppings you want. They are yours to enjoy.    

And to whoever said pancakes are the poor man’s waffles… 

Fuck you.