We must first caveat what is to come by saying that we are, deep down, whole-heartedly loyal devotees of the classic lemon and sugar combo when it comes to the Shrove Tuesday pancake marathon. However, in the spirit of mixing things, trying new things and, indeed, simply making so many pancakes that we will inevitably be craving a little variety by the time we’re done, the following serves as a reminder that there are other options too. We are, we should add, sticking with the classic crepe style recipe here, as opposed to their thicker, American-style cousins, which we very much love for breakfast but never, ever on Pancake Day.

Crepes With Banana & Greek Yoghurt


Delicious
Crepes With Banana And Greek Yoghurt

If you’re sticking with the sweet stuff but you want to go off piste from lemon and sugar, this makes a great alternative. With bananas, Greek yogurt and flaked almonds, it’s an indulgent and child-friendly concoction without being sickly sweet. Do note, this recipe specifies Sorghum for a wholemeal twist, but the topping would work just as well with your usual bog-standard Shrove Tuesday pancake too. Find the recipe here.


Pancakes With Spiced Pears


Good Housekeeping
Pancakes With Spiced Pears

This recipe does, in fact, feature sugar and lemon. However, it also pairs peppercorns, pears, cinnamon and cloves for a beautifully spiced bite which, although wholly perfect for Shrove Tuesday, would be equally as welcome at any point during the autumn or winter. Find the recipe here.


Pancake Cannelloni


BBC Good Food
Pancake Cannelloni

Whether you love pancakes but don’t have a sweet tooth, or you’ve made so many that you need to put them to a higher purpose, BBC Good Food’s pancake cannelloni gives the Shrove Tuesday classic a savoury, meaty, cheesy twist and we absolutely love it. That’s dinner sorted – followed by sweet pancakes for pud, obviously. Find the recipe here.


Ham & Cheese Savoury Crepe Cake


Tastemade
Ham & Cheese Savoury Crepe Cake

Warming to our cheesy theme, why not whip up a stack of pancakes layered with cream cheese, Cheddar, ham and cream for a deeply indulgent, ultra satisfying Shrove Tuesday-appropriate twist on the Croque Monsieur? Find the recipe here.


Tiramisu Crepe Cake


Good Housekeeping
Tiramisu Crepe Cake

If you’re having a dinner party this Shrove Tuesday, what more showstopping a way to put your efforts at the flipping skillet to use than by making a tiramisu crepe cake? You could, of course, cheat – as this recipe advises – and buy a stack of ready-made crepes for your coffee-and-cream concoction and thus cut the labour time to a fraction. We won’t tell. Your guests, on the other hand, will doubtless eulogise this clever creation to all and sundry as well as to the skies. Find the recipe here.


Galvins' Crêpes Suzette


Great British Chefs
Crepes Suzette

If you’re hoping to serve up a true classic this Pancake Day, why not give Crêpes Suzette a whirl? And who better to guide us through how to pull it off than the Galvin brothers, who suggest serving the orangey, sugary, Grand Marnier-soaked dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. What could be a lovelier way to round off the day, stocks duly depleted and tummies full? Find the recipe here.

By Nancy Alsop
February 2024