Valentine’s Day falls on Sunday this year, a day of the week when many of us have some extra time to make pancakes.

What pancakes do you make for Valentine’s Day? Chocolate pancakes, of course! They can be the focus of breakfast or brunch, or served as dessert in smaller portions.

Two recipes follow: All-Chocolate Pancakes and Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pancakes, which are regular pancakes packed with chocolate chunks.

You can make either recipe with all-purpose flour, or use half all-purpose and half whole wheat flour for more nutrition and an added flavor element. But first:

Not into chocolate? Make these Red Velvet Pancakes.
 
SOME PANCAKE HISTORY

People have been eating pancake-like foods for a very long time. According to Alan Davidson in the Oxford Companion to Food, the first mention of anything other than bread baked on a griddle is the oldest surviving cookbook, De Re Coquinaria (“On Cookery) by Apicius*.

The book describes “cakes” made from a batter of eggs, milk, water and flour. They were fried and served with honey and pepper.

Here’s more on the history of pancakes.

RECIPE #1: CHOCOLATE PANCAKES

This recipe was developed by Foodie Crush for GoBoldWithButter.com.

Ingredients For 8-10 Pancakes

 
Preparation

1. WHISK the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, mix the wet ingredients together until combined.

2. ADD the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Set the mixture aside to rest for 10 minutes.

Top: Chocolate pancakes by Foodie Crush for GoBoldWithButter.com. Center: Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pancakes made with a heart pancake mold, from The Baker Chick. Bottom: Don’t like chocolate? Make these Red Velvet Pancakes from Taste Of Home.

Dessert pancakes. Top: With ice cream or
whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Photo
by Robyn Mackenzie | Fotolia. Bottom: Add
some Nutella. Photo by Dusan Zidar |
Fotolia.

RECIPE #2: DARK CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY PANCAKES

The Baker Chick used heart-shape pancake molds for a special presentation.

You can also use the molds to fry eggs, shape burgers, etc.

Ingredients For 6-8 Pancakes

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT a griddle or skillet over medium-low heat.

2. WHISK together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the oil, egg and buttermilk, and whisk together until thoroughly combined, adding a splash more buttermilk if the batter is too thick. Fold in the chocolate chunks.

3. SPRAY or butter the skillet and pour in the batter. When bubbles form and pop in the batter, carefully flip each pancake, cooking until golden and baked through.

4. MAKE the syrup: Mash the raspberries with a fork and blend with the syrup. Warm it to your liking.

5. TOP the pancakes with butter and syrup and serve.

 
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*“Apicius” is believed to be the pseudonym of one or several writers who authored the oldest surviving cookbook De Re Coquinaria (“On Cookery). The manuscript of some 400 recipes is believed to have been compiled in the late 4th or early 5th century C.E. Why the name Apicius? It had long been associated with gourmet preferences, named after Marcus Gavius Apicius, a wealthy Roman merchant and epicure who lived in the 1st century C.E. He is said to have once sailed all the way to Libya to eat some much-praised prawns, only to return home without having found any to his satisfaction. He hosted colossal banquets, which eventually drove him to bankruptcy…and suicide.

Even if you’re going out for dinner on Valentine’s Day, you can use today’s tip to garnish something.

Use dried herbs, spices or other ingredients to make heart-shaped designs on your foods.
 
GARNISH THESE SWEET FOODS

 
Use One Of These Toppings

 
For savory dishes, check the list below.
 
Preparation

1. USE one of these heart-shaped templates:
– Buy a red paper heart at the card store or party store.
– Use a cookie cutter.
– Cut a heart from foil or paper. Fold the sheet in half and cut out half a heart; unfold and both sides will be even.
 
2. SPRINKLE the sugar, spice or herb over the heart template, using a small strainer (sieve). Let the garnish settle. Remove the template with a pointed tweezers to lift off the heart template.
 
USE THESE SAVORY GARNISHES

Look for dried herbs, spices or other garnishes that are mild enough to complement the food item. For this reason, we’ve omitted intense flavors such as chili flakes and curry powder, but let your palate guide you.

 
You can also make your own blend.
 
Sprinkle The Garnish On These Foods

 
As always, have fun with it!

Top photo: Mini flourless chocolate cakes from The Baker Chick are garnished with powdered sugar. Here’s the recipe. Second: Use a paper heart for your template. Third: If you don’t have a small strainer, pick one up. This set, about $10, is from Culina and available on Amazon. Fourth: Make a pink heart with Strawberry Nesquik. Photo courtesy Aayush Food Ingredients. Bottom: For savory dishes, use dried parsley or other herb. Photo courtesy Alamy.com.

Top: American-style scallion pancakes. Photo and recipe by Joelen Tan for Krusteaz. Middle: Chinese-style scallion pancakes from Zesty South Indiana Kitchen. Here’s the recipe. Bottom: Monte Cristo Pancakes, like the sandwich but with pancakes instead of bread. Photo courtesy Bakerita.com.

International Pancake Day is held each year on Shrove Tuesday, also called Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras (which is French for Fat Tuesday), and in the U.K., Pancake Day. The date changes each year according to the date of Easter Sunday and can vary from February 3rd to March 9th.

Shrove Tuesday is the last day of feasting before Lent begins, on Ash Wednesday. It is observed mainly in English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. But it is also observed elsewhere.

Each country has its own customary food.

 
Why pancakes?

They’re a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. (The same applies to doughnuts and other pastries). The Lenten fast emphasizes eating plainer food and refraining from food that would give pleasure. In many cultures, this means no meat, dairy, or eggs.

Your Pancake Day celebration does not have to include conventional pancakes with sweet syrup. Here are ideas for the savory palate.

 
RECIPE: EASY SCALLION PANCAKES

This recipe adds garlic powder and sliced scallions to regular pancake batter (or use a conventional Chinese Scallion Pancakes recipe).

Serve them alongside steak and eggs or simply top them with butter. Can you serve them with bacon and sausage? Absolutely!

This recipe was developed by Joelen Tan for Krusteaz, who used its Buttermilk Pancake Mix. Prep time is 5 minutes, and total time is 10-12 minutes.

Ingredients For 4-8 Pancakes

Preparation

1. HEAT a pancake griddle or skillet over medium heat and grease lightly. Whisk together pancake mix, water, garlic powder, and scallions until combined. The batter will be slightly lumpy; do not overmix.

2. POUR 1/4 cup of batter onto the preheated griddle and cook pancakes for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
 
We enjoyed ours served with Korean beef bulgogi and a fried egg, adding an Asian twist to American steak and eggs.
 
MORE SAVORY PANCAKE RECIPES

 
*Shrove is a form of shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of confession and penance. It was/is customary for Christians to be “shriven” before the start of Lent.
 
 

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