How to throw a pancake party

Look no further if you’re wondering how to celebrate Pancake Day this year. Shrove Tuesday (21 February) is a day for feasting on your leftover storecupboard ingredients before the start of Lent. What better way to enjoy gorging yourself on tasty treats than surrounded by friends and family?

We’ve gathered all the best tips and tricks for throwing a Pancake Day bonanza, from pancakes for alternative diets, sweet and savoury toppings, and crafts and activities to keep the kids and toddlers entertained.

If you’re looking to impress your guests with your fantastic flipping skills, check out our best pancake and crepe pans tried and tested to avoid embarrassing mishaps. For useful tools, such as a pancake warmer to keep your crêpes toasty, check out our 15 best tools for pancake day.

Finally, using wonderfully sourced ingredients makes all the difference in creating these simple staples, so check out our best-shop-bought Pancake Day toppings.

The base

Two folded crepes covered in banana slices

There’s no point covering your pancake with delicious toppings if you haven’t first perfected the batter. Our foolproof crêpe recipe is the best place to start to ensure a perfect pancake every time. The batter is also freezable, so you can whip up a batch and save the leftovers to avoid waste.

If any of your guests are celiac or gluten-intolerant, serve them these delicious gluten-free pancakes. They’re equally as simple, but the use of gluten-free flour means no one will have to miss out.

For vegan friends and family, we also have many options. Perhaps they prefer a fluffy American-style pancake – our easy vegan pancakes are a hands-down winner. Try our vegan strawberry pancakes for a healthier vegan alternative that’s similar to a traditional crêpe in thickness. Made with soya milk, soya yogurt and spelt flour, you won’t feel any guilt about indulging in these!

Toppings

Sweet

1. Chocolate-filled pancakes with caramelised banana

Stack of pancakes with nuts, sliced banana and maple syrup

Create perfect fluffy, American-style pancakes with an oozy chocolate centre by spooning a teaspoon of chocolate spread into the middle of the batter while frying and top with a little more pancake mix. Top with caramelised bananas and maple syrup.

Discover more caramel recipes.

2. Lemon drizzle mille crêpe cake

Stack of pancakes with each layer covered in lemon cream

This stunning stacked crêpe cake is perfect for a Pancake Day party showstopper. We love the combination of sweet pancakes and a sharp, creamy, lemony filling.

Discover more lemon dessert recipes.

3. St Clement’s pancake topping

Pancake topped with orange, lemon curd and juice, mascarpone and sugar

Treat yourself to a fresh and zesty St Clement’s pancake topping. The balance of sweet and tart lemon curd with a rich orange sauce is deliciously decadent.

Discover more recipes that use lemon curd.

4. Crêpes Suzette

Caramelise simple pancakes and transform them into a decadent pudding. Heat up sugar in a pan until brown before adding orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice, Grand Marnier and butter. Put your folded pancakes in the pan to coat and warm through. Voilà!

More like this

Discover more French recipes.

5. Pumpkin pancakes with salted pecan butterscotch

Stack of pumpkin pancakes with a butterscotch sauce and yoghurt

Pumpkin purée makes a delicious addition to a stack of fat, fluffy pancakes. Sprinkle with toasted pecans and coat in your homemade butterscotch sauce. If you really feel like spoiling your guests, serve with a spoon of our ultimate vanilla ice cream.

Discover more pumpkin dessert recipes.

Savoury

6. Eggs benedict pancakes

Stack of pancakes with ham, spinach and topped with a runny poached egg

Try an indulgent twist on a classic breakfast dish with our eggs benedict pancakes. Why not watch our video of Tom Kerridge to learn how to poach the perfect egg.

7. Spinach pancakes with harissa yogurt & poached eggs

Spinach pancakes topped with a poached egg and harissa yoghurt

Make these spiced green pancakes with poached eggs – they not only taste great, but boast the added benefits of iron and vitamin K.

Discover more spinach recipes.

8. Brie-stuffed pancakes with crispy bacon

Stack of pancakes stuffed with cheese with bacon on top

Achieve the most fantastically cheesy stack with our oozing cheese-filled American pancakes. Topped with crispy bacon, they make a great savoury brunch.

Discover more brie recipes.

9. Chicken & mushroom pancake topping

Pancake topped with chicken and mushroom

If you’re looking for a low-calorie, savoury pancake topper, these creamy chicken and mushroom pancakes are for you. Using ready-cooked chicken breasts means it can be on the table in 20 minutes.

Discover more chicken breast recipes.

10. Okonomiyaki

Cabbage pancake topped with mayonnaise, nori and spring onions

Try this Japanese savoury pancake, made with cabbage and chunks of pork belly. It’s a great way to use up leftovers. Top with mayonnaise, nori and spring onions for added sauce and crunch.

Discover more Japanese-style recipes.

Activities & crafts

Pancake race

Family stood in a kitchen watching a woman flip a pancake

Why not try this fun pancake race as a competitive way to burn off some of those calories you’ve been guzzling? One idea is to hand the kids some (cooled) pans containing a pancake and get them to race around the garden, flipping them at the start and end. If you’re short on space, you could have a timed competition to see who can get the most successful pancake flips in a minute.

Pancake treasure hunt

Create a treasure hunt around the house using cut-out pancakes. Give the children a map with clues about where the paper pancakes can be found, and watch their imaginations run wild.

Egg box crafts

After whipping up your pancake feast, you’ll probably have a couple of empty egg cartons. Creating fun egg carton crafts is an excellent way to recycle these. From caterpillars to flowers, we have lots of inspiration and tips in our top 10 egg carton crafts for kids guide.