Valentine Breakfast Pancakes Strawberries (Printable)
Fluffy heart-shaped pancakes served with fresh strawberries and vanilla for a special breakfast.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
03 - 2 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
05 - 1/4 tsp salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 1 cup whole milk
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Toppings
10 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
11 - 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
12 - Powdered sugar for dusting
13 - Whipped cream
# Steps:
01 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl until evenly distributed.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until fully blended and smooth.
03 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined; the batter should remain slightly lumpy. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough pancakes.
04 - Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly grease the surface with butter, using additional butter as needed between batches.
05 - Pour batter into a heart-shaped mold or freeform the shape with a spoon. Cook until bubbles form across the surface and edges appear set, approximately 2 minutes. Flip carefully and cook another 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown.
06 - Continue cooking remaining batter, replenishing butter on the cooking surface as necessary. Keep cooked pancakes warm if desired.
07 - Arrange pancakes on serving plates. Top generously with sliced strawberries, drizzle with maple syrup or honey, and finish with a dusting of powdered sugar or dollop of whipped cream.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- These pancakes manage to feel fancy while coming together in under 30 minutes, making them perfect for busy mornings
- The vanilla adds this warm, comforting aroma that fills the whole kitchen while they cook
02 -
- Overmixing the batter is the fastest way to tough, rubbery pancakes, so resist the urge to smooth out every lump
- Letting the batter rest for 5-10 minutes before cooking results in fluffier pancakes as the flour hydrates properly
03 -
- Test your skillet temperature by sprinkling a few drops of water, they should dance across the surface before evaporating
- Butter the pan between batches rather than pouring directly from the container, this prevents burning