HOME TOUR

A festive presentation can make ordinary things special. And after a crazy year and uncertain trick-or-treating plans, I think we’re all looking for ways to make the ordinary a little more special. We’re all big fans of pancakes but it is usually a weekend treat so we can linger without rushing to school. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year so you know we’re making these easy ghost pancakes. A festive way to turn an ordinary pancake into a spooky special treat.

With no special tools required, this is an easy way to festively enjoy the season and my favorite meal of the day. I’d rather each brunch then any other kind of meal. Probably because you’re allowed sweet treats. I turned the griddle down lower than I normally would when making pancakes because I wanted time to spoon the batter into the shape of ghosts before it started to set and was time to flip.

I tried making the eyes two different ways. The easier method is just a bit more time consuming on the front end. Now you can either use the mini/regular chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth or pre-melt them, spoon into a frosting bag or ziplock bag and keep warm so you can pipe the eyes and mouth. This later method was definitely easier and made for cuter ghosts but required a little more prep. I kept my melted chocolate warm by twisting the end shut and securing with a rubber band and waiting to snip the point off until I was ready to pipe. Set this in a small bowl of warm water and it should stay nicely melted until you’re ready to use it. Either method works and your kiddos or guests will love the spooky effort.

Pancake mix is pretty easy to mix up so we usually make it from scratch but do love this Ancient Grains Pancake Mix for a busy weekday breakfast. In fact the kiddos had it for breakfast this morning. It’s delicious and has more protein to help keep bellies full for school adventures.

VANILLA BEAN PANCAKES

 

INGREDIENTS

2 C All-Purpose Flour (you can easily use a GF 1:1 flour substitute or sub in some whole wheat flour)

2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

2 Large Eggs

2 C Oat Milk with 1 Tbsp White Vinegar added (lemon juice works as well)

1 Tbsp Vanilla Bean Paste

*Salted Butter for Griddle

*Mini and regular size Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips (can melt 1/4 on low in microwave and spoon into a ziplock for easy piping of the eyes & mouth)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat griddle to 300 degrees (medium heat). We love our plug in one and have been using it since our wedding 13 years ago. Old habits die slow so even though our ILVE range has a griddle feature, we find it easier to just plug Old Faithful in and mix up our batter.

In a liquid measuring cup, measure out Oat milk and add vinegar or lemon juice to it. Set aside to mix and thicken for a few minutes.

Mix dry ingredients together–flour, baking soda, salt, sugar. Add eggs, vanilla bean paste and oat milk mixture.

Mix just until combine. This is the key. Our batter is lumpy because if you overwork the batter to get all the lumps out you end up with hard, chewy pancakes. Mix just until it is combine, lumps are ok.

Grease your griddle. Using a spoon, place a blob of batter onto the greased area and move the batter into a ghost shape adding more blobs as necessary to achieve the shape of a head, arms and ghost body. This is imperfect and I did every one different.

I found the melted chocolate chips piped out of a frosting bag (or ziplock with the end snipped off) worked best for creating the ghost’s eyes and mouth. It was easier to control and when the pancakes flipped the eyes and mouth stayed visible. For this method you need to melt 1/4 C semi sweet chocolate chips, spoon chocolate into a ziplock bag or frosting bag and snip the tiniest end off. Squeeze two eyes and a mouth (or use whole chocolate chips for ease) and let the pancake cook until set and bubbles forming in the middle of the ghosts.

Flip the pancakes with a spatula, cook until lightly brown and serve immediately with maple syrup. We love all things Vermont and Sugarbush Farm’s maple syrup in the rich amber is our favorite. We recently visited them in person on our annual Vermont trip but they have an wonderful mail order service. Enjoy!

Enjoy some easy ghost pancakes for breakfast or brunch and enjoy the spooks of the season. Cute and easy, they’re sure to delight your little ones or guests.