Pancake Cocktail Food

FRUITY PANCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat two non-stick baking sheets with cooking spray.
• Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Gradually beat the flour mixture into the egg whites to form a batter. Evenly fold the fruit cocktail into the batter. Dollop the batter in 2 tablespoon portions onto the prepared baking pans, leaving at least 2 inches between pancakes.
• Bake in preheated oven until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

PERFECT PANCAKES RECIPE

Steps:

• Put 100g plain flour and a pinch of salt into a large mixing bowl.
• Make a well in the centre and crack 2 eggs into the middle.
• Pour in about 50ml from the 300ml of semi-skimmed milk and 1 tbsp sunflower oil then start whisking from the centre, gradually drawing the flour into the eggs, milk and oil. Once all the flour is incorporated, beat until you have a smooth, thick paste. Add a little more milk if it is too stiff to beat.
• Add a good splash of milk and whisk to loosen the thick batter. While still whisking, pour in a steady stream of the remaining milk. Continue pouring and whisking until you have a batter that is the consistency of slightly thick single cream.
• Heat the pan over a moderate heat, then wipe it with oiled kitchen paper.
• Ladle some batter into the pan, tilting the pan to move the mixture around for a thin and even layer. Quickly pour any excess batter into the mixing bowl, return the pan to the heat.
• Leave to cook, undisturbed, for about 30 secs. If the pan is the right temperature, the pancake should turn golden underneath after about 30 secs and will be ready to turn.
• Hold the pan handle, ease a palette knife under the pancake, then quickly lift and flip it over. Make sure the pancake is lying flat against the base of the pan with no folds, then cook for another 30 secs before turning out onto a warm plate.
• Continue with the rest of the batter, serving them as you cook or stack onto a plate. You can freeze the pancakes for 1 month, wrapped in cling film or make them up to a day ahead.

PANCAKE COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Mix the Cinnamon Schnapps and Irish Cream.
• Top with whipped cream and lightly dust with cinnamon if desired.

BASIC PANCAKE MIX

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients.
• Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk.
• Start with 1 1/4 cups milk, adding up to another 1/4 cup if necessary, as you mix it with the flour.
• Add the two eggs, vanilla if using and oil, whisking until mixed but still a bit lumpy.
• Heat a frying pan (if it is not non-stick, you will need to melt a bit of butter or oil in it) and when hot, pour in some pancake mix.
• How much depends on how experienced you are at flipping pancakes and how big you want them. We do about 1/4 cup a time for small, easy-to-flip pancakes but you could make this as much as 1/2 cup of pancake mix.
• If you are adding fruit, I like to sprinkle it on top of the pancake now.
• When the pancake starts to bubble on top and is golden brown on the cooked side, turn it and continue cooking until both sides are golden brown.
• The first pancake is always a bit of a test so adjust the batter by adding more flour if you need to make it thicker or more milk if you want a thinner pancake. In either case, just add a few spoonfuls at a time until you get it right.
• Repeat the cooking process with the remaining batter. You may need to adjust the heat as pan tends to get hotter as you keep making pancakes.
• Keep the cooked pancakes covered with a tea towel, to keep them warm while you finish cooking the rest.