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Tis the season for all things festive! Ever since I was little I’ve loved decorating gingerbread houses, but while they are pretty to look at, they aren’t exactly the tastiest of holiday treats.
I thought it would be fun to take that idea and turn it into pancakes for an interactive, adorable, and tasty holiday brunch perfect for kids of all ages (and it’s definitely a lighter bite than a stack of cookies ☺).
GINGERBREAD HOUSE PANCAKES – INGREDIENTS:
(Makes 14 pancakes)
Gingerbread Pancakes:
– 2 cups pancake mix
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 ¼ cups milk (you can use non dairy as well)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- Butter or oil for cooking
Whipped Cream: (you can also use your favorite store brand)
– 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (or sweetener of choice)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Gingerbread House Decorations:
– Kitchen scissors or square and triangle cookie cutters
– Gingerbread man cookie cutters
- Round cookie cutters (for the wreaths)
- Tree shaped cutter
- Pomegranate seeds
- Strawberries
- 2 kiwis
- Rainbow nonpareils
- Heart sprinkles
- Orange sunflower seeds or rainbow chips for snowman
- Mini chocolate chips for faces
- Sliced almonds
- Fruit leather
- Large zip top bag or piping bag
- If using piping bag, you will also want a small round piping tip, and a star piping tip
*All cutting should be done by an adult.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1. In a medium size mixing bowl whisk together the pancake mix and spices. Stir in the milk, eggs, and molasses just until combined (it’s ok to have some lumps).
Step 2. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium. Lightly grease with oil or butter, and drop 1/4 cup of the pancake batter onto the skillet. Cook each side for about 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Wipe and re grease the pan in between batches of pancakes as needed.
Step 3. Once the pancakes are cool enough to handle you can cut them into the house shapes.
I found it easiest to use 2 pancakes to make each design (cut a square or rectangle out of one pancake and a triangle top out of the other).
You can use kitchen scissors or cookie cutters to cut the shapes out (save the scraps to make gingerbread people and other decorations for your house, or feel free to eat them).
Step 4. To make the whipped cream, chill a mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Add the cream, sugar and vanilla to the bowl and beat for 5 minutes slowly increasing the speed to high.
Transfer to either a piping bag fitted with a small round piping tip, or a large zip top bag.
Step 5. Now for the fun part! It’s time to get creative and decorate your houses however you would like. This is the perfect opportunity to let kids add their personal touch as everything has been cut out and is ready to assemble.
You can use the whipped cream as you would frosting to outline the houses, add windows and doors, or create fluffy snow. The round piping tip (or tiny corner cut off the bag) is great for details, while the star tip (or cutting a tiny triangle out of the end of the bag) will add more texture perfect for snowdrifts.
Rainbow nonpareils look like tiny little lights on the rooftops, and almond slices are great for making edible roof tiles.
Finish the buildings with some fresh fruit or sprinkles for extra flair. Kiwis are super simple to cut into wreaths using 2 diff sizes of circle cookie cutters, as well as trees, and pomegranate seeds work great for holly berries and wreath bows.
Step 6. Use the leftover pancakes and scraps to cut out little gingerbread people for your homes, and decorate them just as you would for the cookie version.
You can also very easily make snowmen using the whipped cream, and add mini chocolate chip eyes and a rainbow chip “carrot”.
I added a scarf made from a piece of fruit leather (cut with kitchen scissors). Admire your adorably edible art, and enjoy! The pancakes taste extra yummy served with a little maple syrup.
The decorated pancakes are best enjoyed immediately, but if you have any extra undecorated pancakes you can always layer them between pieces of wax paper, cover in foil, and refrigerate. Extra whipped cream can also be kept refrigerated (if it separates, just whisk it before serving).
These cute gingerbread pancakes are an interactive, adorable, and tasty holiday brunch perfect for kids. Step 1. In a medium size mixing bowl whisk together the pancake mix and spices. Stir in the milk, eggs, and molasses just until combined (it’s ok to have some lumps). Step 2. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium. Lightly grease with oil or butter, and drop 1/4 cup of the pancake batter onto the skillet. Cook each side for about 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Wipe and re grease the pan in between batches of pancakes as needed. Step 3. Once the pancakes are cool enough to handle you can cut them into the house shapes. I found it easiest to use 2 pancakes to make each design (cut a square or rectangle out of one pancake and a triangle top out of the other). You can use kitchen scissors or cookie cutters to cut the shapes out (save the scraps to make gingerbread people and other decorations for your house, or feel free to eat them). Step 4. To make the whipped cream, chill a mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for 15 minutes. Add the cream, sugar and vanilla to the bowl and beat for 5 minutes slowly increasing the speed to high. Transfer to either a piping bag fitted with a small round piping tip, or a large zip top bag. Step 5. Now for the fun part! It’s time to get creative and decorate your houses however you would like. This is the perfect opportunity to let kids add their personal touch as everything has been cut out and is ready to assemble. You can use the whipped cream as you would frosting to outline the houses, add windows and doors, or create fluffy snow. The round piping tip (or tiny corner cut off the bag) is great for details, while the star tip (or cutting a tiny triangle out of the end of the bag) will add more texture perfect for snowdrifts. Rainbow nonpareils look like tiny little lights on the rooftops, and almond slices are great for making edible roof tiles. Finish the buildings with some fresh fruit or sprinkles for extra flair. Kiwis are super simple to cut into wreaths using 2 diff sizes of circle cookie cutters, as well as trees, and pomegranate seeds work great for holly berries and wreath bows. Step 6. Use the leftover pancakes and scraps to cut out little gingerbread people for your homes, and decorate them just as you would for the cookie version. You can also very easily make snowmen using the whipped cream, and add mini chocolate chip eyes and a rainbow chip “carrot”. I added a scarf made from a piece of fruit leather (cut with kitchen scissors). Admire your adorably edible art, and enjoy! The pancakes taste extra yummy served with a little maple syrup. The decorated pancakes are best enjoyed immediately, but if you have any extra undecorated pancakes you can always layer them between pieces of wax paper, cover in foil, and refrigerate. Extra whipped cream can also be kept refrigerated (if it separates, just whisk it before serving). All cutting should be done by an adult.GINGERBREAD HOUSE PANCAKES
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Jessica Lucius is a food and flatlay stylist with a fondness for baking, making, and all things cute. She’s also the founder and creative force behind her newly established blog, Luxe and the Lady, where she shares fun ways to bring her favorite animals and childhood characters to life with food. When Jessica’s not busy playing with her food, or at the grocery picking out just the right ingredient to turn into eyes and ears, you can find her trail running, working out, reading, recipe testing, and playing with her fluffy baby lionhead bunny, Marshmallow. Follow Jessica on Instagram @luxeandthelady.
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