How to Make Pancake Art

Growing up, my Dad made pancakes every Sunday. He made silver dollar sized ones, animal ones, huge ones, anything to keep breakfast fun and fresh. (Thanks Dad!!) These colored pancakes offer another way to take anyone's pancake game to the next level. And they are surprisingly simple to make considering the fancy results.

In honor of back to school kids everywhere AND in celebration of National Pancake Day which is Sept. 26th, here's how to make school themed colored pancake art!

*Special thanks to my buddy Jett Arp who introduced me to this delicious and super fun technique!

The Pancakes

• pancake mix
• eggs
• milk
• vegetable oil
• gel food coloring

Tools

• one large / one medium mixing bowls
• 6-8 small mixing bowls
• metal whisk
• measuring cups
• variety of sizes of squeeze bottles, some with thinner metal tips
• stovetop pancake griddle
• large, thin silicone spatula
• masking tape
• sharpie or pen

Shape Inspiration

• Do a google image search for the theme of pancake shapes you want to make. For example, I searched "back to school". It also helps to add the terms "icon" or "illustration" to get more simplified drawings to try and recreate with your pancake colors.
• Print out your favorites and write all the colors down that you'll need have to recreate those objects/pictures.

Follow the instructions on your pancake mix box/bag to mix up a double batch of pancake batter.

NOTE: Add an extra 1/4 cup of milk so that it is slightly runnier than normal. This will help it come out of the fine tipped squeeze bottles easier.

1. Using the masking tape and pen, label all the bottles you'll need with a corresponding color. Use the bigger bottles for the colors you'll need most of (usually what you'll be 'filling in' with), and the smaller bottles for the finer lines and colors you need less of.

2. Fill a small mixing bowl with some batter and use the gel food coloring to match one of the colors you'll need for your shape(s). Repeat this for all the colors.

3. Fill the bottles with their corresponding colored batters.

To give you a clear idea of the process, I'm going to show you how to make pencil shaped pancakes.

If you want to try this specific one, the colors you'll need are:

yellow
orange
dark orange
white (uncolored batter)
dark grey
light grey
eraser pink

Turn the burners on 'LOW' to heat up the pan and give the surface a wipe with some vegetable oil on a paper towel. This is to guarantee that you're working on a non-stick surface which will make it easier to flip long or complicated shapes.

**The key to getting good results with any shape is outlining each color area before filling it in. This offers you the most control of where the batter goes by forming a little containment wall.

Starting with the dark grey, draw the pencil lead, which will be a small triangle, in the lower part of the griddle. (like pictured)

Then using the white batter, draw the wood tip of the pencil. It will have two angled sides that follow the angle of the lead, with three dipped down scallops along the top. (like pictured) And fill it in.

Now we're going to draw the yellow painted wood part of the handle. Using three different colors (but in the same tone) helps create 'shadow' giving the pencil a simplified three dimensional quality.

Start with the dark orange and draw a thin rectangle on the left side that will be 1/3 off the pencil shaft. Fill it in.

Repeat this with the orange and then yellow, working your way to the right. IMPORTANT: Make sure that all colors are running into each other so the finished pancake will be one solid pancake instead of lots of small individual shapes. The final yellow lines should line up with the width of the pencil tip.

Now use the light grey to draw the metal band that holds the eraser.

Finish it off with a rounded pink eraser.

If any of your outer lines got a bit wonky, you can use the spatula to cut off and clean up the edge.

Let the pancake cook until all the colors are bubbling. Then gently use the spatula to flip it over.

And voila!! You have an edible work of art!! Let it cook on the other side for a minute or so and then serve.

In the pictures above, I've shown some other fun examples of what you can make with colored pancake batter to help the kiddies celebrate (tolerate) going back to school.

This technique of coloring pancake batter can be used to create ANYTHING so let your imaginations run wild. I'd love to see what you all come up with, so be sure to post pictures of your masterpieces in the comments section below and click the 'I Made It' button!

Happy fun making!