Pancake Day is just around the corner! We thought it would be nice for Janine, our intern and resident recipe creator and food blogger, to share one of her favourite pancake recipes. We've also added a few of our go-to comfort food recipes that we have been cooking. 

How to make the perfect pancakes

This is an American style pancake recipe and they really do taste just like a cake. This recipe leads to pancakes that are super rich and fluffy making it a luxurious treat. Keep reading for the full recipe below. 

 

Our perfect pancake recipe and other cosy comfort foods we love

Lemon and Mascarpone Pancake recipe with Mixed Berry coulis

Serves 2 people or 1 hungry person!  Makes 6 – 7 little pancakes. 

For the pancakes:

Dry ingredients 

75g of flour 

2 tablespoons of sugar 

1 teaspoon of baking powder 

Pinch of salt 

Zest of 1 lemon 

Wet Ingredients 

120ml of milk 

150g of mascarpone 

2 tablespoon of vegetable oil 

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 

Egg whites from 1 egg 

Butter or oil for frying 

For the coulis: 

A large handful of mixed berries, fresh or frozen 

1 tablespoon of caster sugar 

tablespoon of lemon juice 

Method: 

  1. Sift the dry ingredients together (flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt), then add the lemon zest. 
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk the wet ingredients (milk, mascarpone, oil and vanilla extract).   
  3. Whisk the wet and the dry ingredients together until incorporated.
  4. In another bowl, whisk the egg white until it forms stiff peaks. 
  5. Add the egg white gently to the batter, folding the egg whites until incorporated. 
  6. Let the batter sit (for around 20 minutes) and make the coulis. 
  7.  If using frozen berries, defrost the berries on the hob until they have melted, add 1 tablespoon of water to thin out if necessary. 
  8. Once the berries have defrosted and stewed a little, blend them in a food processor or blender.
  9. Sieve to remove the seeds. Add juice from 1 lemon and 1 teaspoon of sugar and put the mixture on the heat again to warm the mixture up. 
  10. Heat a non-stick pan over a medium heat and add knob of butter to melt. 
  11. Using a ladle place the pancake batter into the pan. 
  12. Cook until bubbles form at the top of the pancake and the bottom is golden brown. Flip the pancakesand cook until golden. 
  13. Serve the pancakes tracked with the berry coulis. 

If you do not fancy making your own coulis, you can also buy it premade. Our favourite is the Waitrose Scottish Raspberry & Vanilla Coulis as it is the perfect accompaniment for the zesty rich pancakes. You can even try serving your pancakes with a variety of different toppings, such as lemon and sugar, Nutella and banana, or even bacon! 

 

The best comfort food recipes for cold days

These comfort foods will warm you up from the inside - from easy brunch recipes to vegan comfort food, warming stews and hearty pasta dishes to even a dish or two for those with a sweet tooth! 

 

 Shakshuka

We love this rich Shakshuka recipe and it's perfect for a lazy hearty brunch on a Sunday morning. Serve with crusty bread or pittas for the ultimate comfort food breakfast. 

TIP: Use up any leftover tomato sauce that you have from the week and jazz it up by adding fresh herbs. Make it vegan by switching the eggs for vegan yogurt or silken tofu. 

 

Mushroom Gnocchi with Thyme 

This mushroom gnocchi recipe is perfect for a weeknight as it just uses shop bought gnocchi, olive oil or butter, onion, garlic, a splash of wine and some seasoning. It doesn’t take long to make either, which makes it ideal to eat after a long day. 

 

Puttanesca 

 

We are a big fan of quick and simple healthy comfort foods. One of the recipes that we have been enjoying lately has been this pasta dish. It is the perfect comfort food for cold weather.  It can easily be made vegan, by omitting the mozzarella and anchovies.  

 Kale chickpea stew 

This kale and chickpea stew is perfect for a hearty lunch! What we love about this dish is it can easily be veganised by switching the parmesan to a vegan alternative, such as nutritional yeast. 

Rhubarb Almond cake

There isn’t much we love more than an almond cakeThis rhubarb and almond cake is relatively easy to make and is very aesthetically pleasing. The tart rhubarb cuts through the rich marzipan flavours from the almonds and really brings this dessert to life. A delicious sweet treat to enjoy on a cosy evening, especially when wrapped up in one of our XL throws

Chocolate Maple Banana cake

For those of you with a sweet tooth, this recipe is one for you. This chocolate and maple banana cake is served with a ganache made from just sour cream and dark chocolate. It looks and tastes luxurious, but is easy to make. 

  

For more delicious recipes, make sure you’re following our mouth-watering recipe boards on Pinterest!