Pancake Day: How to make perfect flippable treats this Shrove Tuesday

Don’t over-beat the mix!

Pancake Day is celebrated around the world, this year on 16 February (Getty Images)

Pancake Day’s namesake dish can often be a bit flip and miss as households across the country scramble to find perfect recipes and pans to turn out treats that look as good as they taste.

Now Ben Cullen, also known by his social media moniker ‘The Bake King’, has come up with the top do’s and don’ts when it comes to the Shrovetide treat and creating the perfect Instagram hit.  

Ben’s top tip is to not beat yourself up with “over-beating the mix” – as many fail before it hits the pan by over-mixing the ingredients.

And it really is all in the wrist, as Ben, known for his optical illusion bakes and Netflix ‘Extreme Cake Makers’, says we should really give a toss when it comes to perfecting the ideal flip.

Getting the motion right is crucial - but flipping excessively will give you an uneven bake.

Cullen said: “Pancake Day is one of my favourite days of the year. It seems to be the main day that attracts everyone to have a go at baking, which is always a main goal of mine.

“There’s so much fun to be had on Pancake Day and the competition always reaches new heights as everyone wants to be the star baker and top flipper.

“With this year being so different and so many people apart, there is even more reason to share fun flips (and fails) with family and friends – we all need a good laugh.

“Making pancakes is such a simple thing, but only if you know how, so I hope my ultimate flip-able pancake formula allows people to up their pancake game.”

Other common mistakes people make, according to Ben, include not heating up the oil or butter in the pan before adding the mixture and overbeating - which makes the pancakes too dense.

Leaving the mixture sat too long before making the pancake is also a no-no, with the baker claiming it should only be left for a maximum of 30 minutes.

A new or clean non-stick pan is also essential with a scratched pan likely to leave you with less than perfect results.

Sharon Hegarty, from Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, said: “Pancake Day is an opportunity to get creative, and The Bake King’s ultimate flip-able pancake reflects how technology can inspire creativity in fresh and exciting ways.”

Cullen’s ultimate flippable pancake formula...

1. A new/clean non-stick pan will always give the best pancake results. A dirty pan or a pan with scratches will cause less than perfect results.

2. Give your pan a quick wipe around and oil/re-fresh between each pancake. This will stop any burning and keep each pancake looking perfect.

3. Check the underside of your pancake – just lift up one edge and look under. Flipping excessively will inevitably make the bake uneven.

4. Try and get the perfect photo-finished look for social media. Don’t put on your drizzle toppings too soon; and make sure your camera is ready to go.

5. If you’re feeding a big family, then have two pans at staggered intervals – this way you can be cleaning and re-prepping one pan as a separate batch is cooking - work smarter not harder.

6. Check your angles for the perfect flip shot, try shooting from below for added effect, and make sure the pancake doesn’t cover your face mid-air.

7. Add some personal flair to stand out, like food colouring or different shapes.

...and his top pancake fails

1. Not heating up your oil or butter in the pan before pouring in your first lot of mixture. This will affect the pancakes consistency.

2. Over beating your mix. This will stop your pancakes from being fluffy and instead make them dense.

3. Leaving the mix sat too long before making your pancakes. For best results you should only let your mix rest for up to 30 minutes before making the pancakes.

4. Not committing to the flip. I’ve been here myself many times. Getting the motion right when flipping is crucial, or you may just end up folding your pancake in half. It should be a quick sharp motion – commit to it.

SWNS