Among the up sides of the COVID-19 lock down are the many new recipes – and new takes on old recipes – that are coming out of the nation’s millions of home kitchens as people turn to baking and cooking in general as mental health therapy. Today we present the lowdown on a new fad called Pancake ‘Cereal’…
Pancake ‘Cereal’ is the latest social media food fad. Maybe more than that…
Pancakes came in second overall in a recent Google survey of recipe searches since March 1, when the COVID-19 lock down is deemed to have begun in earnest. Folks just love ’em, and Pancakes, in myriad variations are a part of the cuisines of many cultures worldwide. But the recent social media fad for Pancake ‘Cereal’ is like nothing I’ve never seen before.
I wondered at first about the broad appeal of Pancake ‘Cereal’, but I soon realized that humans seem to have a fascination with anything miniature – especially food. Mini Doughnuts have been a fixture at County Fairs and other festivals as long as I can remember. And kids especially love the idea of anything sweet and bite-sized.
Couldn’t be easier
As the posts about it usually say, making this new treat could hardly be easier, especially if you already know how to make Pancakes. Just take your usual Batter and drop it in coin-sized portions onto a hot, greased fry pan or grill turning once. Then place in an oven-safe dish to keep warm in a 170 F oven. I find that thinning down the Batter a little helps when you use a measuring cup or other spouted vessel to pour your mini-Pancakes. Pouring gives you greater control over the size and shape of the coins than spooning-out the Batter. If you are a more experienced cook, you may want to dispense the Batter using a Piping Bag. Good choice, but make the Batter a bit thicker to ensure it doesn’t leak out of the nozzle between coins.
Get the whole family involved
Making Pancake ‘Cereal’ is a kitchen task the whole family can get involved in. You might not want to let the youngest kids try pouring their own coins, but they can at least watch as you make them, then enjoy the novelty of eating Pancakes with a spoon…
Serve with pride
Like conventional Cereals, you serve Pancake coins in a bowl, but with Syrup and a couple of pats of Butter rather than Sugar and Milk. Tip: Soften the Butter first to ensure it will melt quickly over the warm coins and not cool them off. Pancakes are just not the same if they’re not piping hot!
And don’t be afraid to embellish your Pancake ‘Cereal’ with any kind of topping that strikes your fancy. Even the youngest kids can take part in ‘dressing’ their coin-Cakes. Here’s a great opportunity to get more Fresh Fruit into your family’s diet.
On the whole…
I can confidently pronounce Pancake ‘Cereal’ more a trend than a fad. By that, I mean I expect it to last beyond the next few weeks or until the next novel breakfast treat new comes along. There’s just something about mini, bite-sized foods…
~ Maggie J.