Despite a long list of to-dos, I made time to indulge in a blissful gray morning that just begged for Gingerbread Pancakes. Spicy but not too rich, these were just the thing to capture the grace and wonder of the holiday season.

A cut stack of Gingerbread Pancakes topped with butter, syrup and pomegranate arils on a festive red and white plate.

Moments of Holiday Grace

I had big plans for the holiday season this year, I really did. I tested holiday recipes and took pictures. There are some lovely recipes I’d like to post, and I will, in my own sweet time. It just isn’t going to happen before Christmas, at least not this year.

At this point in the season my big plans have been downsized. At this point I am trying to focus on accomplishing what is necessary. Even that has me feeling busy and behind. Still this is a season of grace and wonder and moments of irresistable charm have a way of interjecting themselves here and there.

I have to think that was why, on a weekend with a long list of to-dos, I managed to sleep an hour or so later than usual and then to push away a mountain of “shoulds” long enough to indulge in a blissful gray morning that just begged for pancakes.

A fork full of Gingerbread Pancakes with a plate of Pancakes in the background.

Gingerbread Pancake Mornings

After finishing my first cup of coffee, which my husband kindly made, instead of running to the mall, wrapping gifts, baking Christmas cookies, or finishing the laundry, I made my way into the kitchen and came up with a recipe for Gingerbread Pancakes. It is a merger of several recipes I found taped in my old recipe collection binder. Spicy but not too rich, these were just the thing for a late December morning.

I still have a long list of things to do, but the things that need to get done will get done. Meanwhile, a few moments in the kitchen with flour and spices can be a great investment. As I began cooking my husband suggested I make Gingerbread Men shaped pancakes to post about. Then he buttered the cookie cutters for me and offered ideas on how to free the pancakes from the molds more effectively. We had fun and did something new together that I will remember. Had I been on task or more committed to my schedule it wouldn’t have happened.

I’m not feeling all that eloquent today. At this point I am a little stressed about the expectations of the season. Still I do want to offer that it’s the little things that often matter in the end, the unexpected opportunities that come from those moments when we are jarringly unfocused. So, in the midst of accomplishing those items on your to-do list, I encourage you to look around and capture the wonder of the season and, if at all possible, make time for pancakes.

Gingerbread Pancakes cooked in festive shapes and drizzled with syrup.

Four Ways to Make Shaped Pancakes

Making shaped pancakes can be a fun way to celebrate the season or something fun to do with a special child in your life. There are several ways to create the shape you desire:

Using a spoon, or a Pancake Batter Dispenser, create a freehand design with the pancake batter on a hot griddle.
Coat the edges of a metal cookie cutter with butter. Set the cookie cutter, sharp side down, on a hot griddle. Pour pancake batter inside the cutter. When the pancake has browned on the bottom flip the pancake with the cookie cutter. Using a butter knife loosen any stuck edges gently and let the pancake fall to the bottom of the cutter to cook the other side.(Note: This can be tricky. The cookie cutter is likely not to be evenly flat so batter will creep out under the edge. This will make it more of a challenge to loosen the pancake when it is flipped, and cause more fiddling with the butter knife to get the pancake fully and evenly cooked. I held the cookie cutter down with one hand, wearing an oven mitt, while I poured in the batter with the other. Still it leaked a little but the edges tuned out nicely. The less small details in the cookie cutter the better i.e. Christmas tree and bell shapes work better than gingerbread man shapes).
Buy fancy pancake shaping gadgets like these Heart Shaped Pancake Molds.
Make a pancake large enough to overlap the cookie cutter then simply cut out shapes once the pancake is done.

Enjoy!