The 3 Best Pancake Toppings Ever

I LOVE pancakes. Pancakes were a weekend breakfast staple in our house until the children grew up and left home. Even now Gavin and I have them as a treat on Sunday mornings when there is time to relax with a mug of coffee and a small stack. But what are the 3 best pancake toppings we’ve ever had? What are our go to toppings here on the farm? Read on to find out.

My Basic Pancake Recipe

I’ve been whipping up pancakes for so long I don’t actually stick to a recipe anymore. I just sort of eyeball it. But here is the basic recipe

• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 tbs sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 50 g butter

In a bowl, mix flour and sugar. Beat in the egg and then milk a little at a time until the batter is smooth and lump-free.

In a medium-hot pan or flat grill over medium heat, brush butter over the cooking surface and pour 1/4 cup measures for each pancake. Many recipes call for a hot heat but I find the pancakes burn too quickly for the batter to cook so I use a medium heat. It’s slower but you get a nicer look to the pancake.

When large bubbles form on the surface, flip the pancake over and cook until lightly golden on the other side.

Pancake Toppings I love

There are so many pancake toppings you can add, especially if you have a sweet tooth like me. For more savoury toppings omit the sugar from the basic recipe and you can add toppings such as cooked mushrooms with garlic and wilted baby spinach (yum)! But the toppings below would be my favourites because they are quick and most of the ingredients are things I have on hand already.

Blueberry, Ricotta and Honey

I cannot tell you how yummy this is. The blueberries are best if fresh but you can use canned or frozen.

To add this topping, put a dollop of ricotta on each pancake then add the blueberries and drizzle with honey or top with a dusting of icing sugar. Delicious!!! These pancakes are also nice if you mix the blueberries into the pancake batter.

Banana, Bacon and Maple syrup

This is a new topping to me but I am super addicted and have them whenever we go out for breakfast. It ranks up there with the best toppings I have tried on pancakes because its a blend of sweet and savoury that I love. I recently cooked this recipe with homemade artisan bacon from our neighbour that Gavin was given for his birthday.

To make this version of the pancake toppings, cook the bacon until crispy and at the last minute add sliced banana to the pan to heat through. Top the pancakes with banana, add the bacon as a side. Then drizzle maple syrup over the pancakes. If you want to be super ‘restaurant-ish’ put the maple syrup in a little container so whoever is eating the dish can add the amount they want to get their perfect blend of sweet and sour.

Apple, Ricotta and Cinnamon

This is a combination I learnt about when dieting many years ago. I still love to eat it on sourdough toast but its also a family favourite on pancakes.

To make this version you can do either of two ways.

• grate 1/2 an apple and then add all the ingredients to the mix OR
• grate the apple. Then add a dollop of ricotta to the top of the cooked pancakes with the grated apple on top of this. Dust with cinnamon.

I like to use Granny Smiths when in season because of the tart flavour but any apples you have on hand will do. A teaspoon of lemon juice over the top is really tasty too.