Pancake Day: The ultimate guide

Before you start, decide if you fancy fluffy American-style pancakes or thin crêpe-style pancakes. Thin pancakes, like our golden-brown Sweet Pancakes, are made with a simple mix of plain flour, eggs, and milk. For the best results, chill your pancake batter in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cooking. For fluffy pancakes, like our light Buttermilk Pancakes or decadent Red Velvet Pancakes, you’ll need to add a rising agent like baking powder. Whisking the egg whites until they're super fluffy, as in this cherry pancake recipe, will also add all-important airiness. To cook your pancakes, melt some butter in a frying pan or griddle on medium heat. Add your pancake batter and flip after a couple of minutes before frying until cooked through.

Find everything you need in store to make your favourite pancakes from scratch—from eggs and flour to sauces and chocolate. Making pancakes is also pocket-friendly, thanks to our affordable Remarksable Value range. Find all the ingredients for our classic crêpe recipe at Remarksable Value, everyday low prices. They’re delicious served simply with lemon and sugar, or with a dollop of yoghurt and fresh berries.

Daunted when it comes to the all-important flip? Never fear. M&S Food Editor Florence has some great tips for nailing it every time. "Use a reliable pan! Whether this is a nonstick or a cast-iron pan, use something you can trust. If you aren't feeling confident, stick to a nonstick," she says.

Not sure when to flip? "Pour in some batter and let it do its thing, undisturbed, until the surface is covered in little bubbles and the edges are nice and crisp. This is when you are ready to flip. This does take longer than you'd think, so be patient and work on medium heat so you don't burn your pancakes," explains Florence.

Berry pancake traybake

Feeding a crowd? If you don’t fancy spending ages flipping individual pancakes, try this easy traybake pancake recipe, which celebrates beautiful seasonal berries. Simply bake our easy pancake mix with berries, then top with more berries, orange-scented clotted cream and a drizzle of maple syrup – the whole family will love it.

Cheesy mushroom pancakes

Pancake Day isn’t just limited to dessert. Tuck into these savoury cheesy mushroom pancakes or our Spinach and Herb Pancakes for brunch or dinner. Stuff thin pancakes with tender, garlicky mushrooms, leafy spinach, creamy cheese sauce, and a generous chunk of tangy Somerset brie. Add extra cheese on top and grill in the oven until golden brown.

You've cooked up some delicious pancakes – now it's time to get creative with the toppings. You can stick to the classics like lemon and sugar or maple syrup, or take things up a notch with our clever cocktail-inspired pancake toppings like espresso martini and margarita. Or go savoury as with a poached egg, smoked salmon, or crispy bacon.

Check out these irresistible toppings from the Foodhall:

• Whipped Chocolate Spread and crumbled cookies.

• A drizzle of decadent Sticky Toffee Sauce

• Mixed Berry Compote with double cream.

• Hazelnut Creme with shaved dark chocolate

• Peanut butter with plum and blackberry preserve

• Belgian chocolate sauce with vanilla ice cream

• Blood oranges with blood orange marmalade and crushed pistachios