DIY Cooking for Kids: Primo Pancakes

Move over plain pancakes: we’ve got some next-level primo pancakes coming through! Chocolate mango pancakes with cinnamon-infused maple syrup? Yes, please!

In this challenge, you’ll invent and create a pancake dish unlike any you’ve ever eaten before. To do this, you’ll need to be visionary by imagining out-of-the-box pancake flavors and presentations.

Before you get cooking, be sure to brush up on these kitchen safety tips.

If you prefer to use a printed recipe, you can find a PDF here.

Think about how you’ll take your pancakes to a whole new level. How will you customize your batter, mix in add-ins, or infuse a syrup to create a combination of flavors that’s completely original and totally tasty?

Here’s everything you’ll need to create a stellar stack of flapjacks.

• Large mixing bowl
• Other smaller bowls (for melting butter and beating eggs)
• Mixing spoons
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Liquid measuring cup
• Hard spatula
• Non-stick pan (for pancakes)
• Small saucepan (for syrup)
• Stove
• Knife and cutting board (optional, for chopping add-ins)
• Microplane (optional, for zesting fruit)

Basic Batter

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted (or 2 tablespoons vegetable oil)

Batter Flavoring Ideas

• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder + 1 tablespoon extra sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Or anything else you have at home that you think would be delicious! Consider spices, citrus, and sweeteners.

Add-Ins

Use ¼ cup total. Some options and ideas:

• Chocolate chips
• Bananas
• Berries (fresh or frozen)
• Peaches (fresh or frozen)
• Nuts
• Raisins
• Or anything else you have that could be sprinkled into a pancake.

Syrup

1/3 cup maple syrup

Flavoring options include:

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated
• 1/4 cup berries
• 1/4 cup peaches
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1×3” piece lemon peel
• 1×3” piece lime peel
• 1×3” piece orange peel
• 1 sprig rosemary
• 1 sprig thyme
• 1 sprig mint
• Or anything else you have on hand. Consider spices, fruit, citrus, and herbs.

Set your add-ins aside so they’re ready to go once you start cooking. If necessary, chop large ingredients like bananas or nuts into smaller pieces.

1. Prepare dry ingredients. In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and any dry batter- flavoring ingredients you’re using (chocolate powder, spices, etc.).
2. Create a well where you’ll pour your wet ingredients.
3. Prepare the wet ingredients.
   • Melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Let the butter cool slightly before using it.
   • Beat the egg in a small bowl.
   • If you’re using citrus as a batter-flavoring, prepare 1 teaspoon zest.
4. Pour 1 cup milk, melted butter, the beaten egg, and any wet batter-flavoring ingredients
5. you’re using (zest, honey, etc.) into the well in the dry ingredients bowl.
6. Mix until just combined. Don’t over mix! There will still be some lumps in the batter.
7. Set the batter aside.

1. Pour 1/3 cup syrup into a saucepan and add your chosen flavoring ingredient (spice, fruit, zest, herbs, etc.)
2. Cook on medium heat until the syrup starts to simmer. Then adjust the heat to low. Simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Pour syrup into a bowl or jar to cool.

1. On medium heat, lightly grease a pan with butter or oil. Wait until the pan is hot, but not smoking.
2. Pour a portion of the batter onto the hot pan. For a 6” pancake, use about 1/4 cup of batter.
3. Sprinkle your add-ins on the pancake as it cooks.
4. Leave the pancake undisturbed until the edges are set and small bubbles start to pop on the surface (2-4 minutes). If the pancakes are cooking too fast or slowly, adjust the heat.
5. Check the pancake to see if it’s brown on the bottom. If so, flip it.
6. Cook the second side until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes more.
7. Repeat until all your batter is cooked.
8. Plate your pancakes and add your syrup.
9. Enjoy!

Every project presents opportunities to add your own twists or extensions. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Add a third custom component: flavored whipped cream! Just as you customized your batter, you can add chocolate, spices, citrus zest, or different sweeteners to flavor whipped cream. Start by adding small amounts of your chosen ingredient into a plain batch of whipped cream, then taste and adjust as desired.
• Perfect your dish. After tasting, come up with an improved version of your custom recipe and make it again. Use your own ideas and ask for suggestions from the other people who tried your first batch.
• Make it official. Name your dish and write down the final recipe so you or someone else can make it again. Now you have a signature breakfast dish!
• Try to make a totally different pancake next time that uses all new flavoring ingredients.

Great learning can come from sharing successes and failures—to solidify your own experience as an innovator and to inspire others.

Your innovation doesn’t stop with you. Inspire someone else by sharing your project challenge—maybe they’ll try it themselves or maybe your project will give them a new idea.

• Who: someone in your home, a family member, or a friend
• How: in-person, on the phone, online, or by carrier chicken
• When: anytime, starting now!

Take a picture of your primo pancakes and ask an adult to help you share it with the Camp Galileo Anywhere Facebook Community.

There’s so much cooking at Camp Galileo Anywhere! Check out the current roster of after-school enrichment sure to satisfy culinary kids everywhere.