Valentine Breakfast in Bed (Print version)

Light, heart-shaped pancakes topped with fresh berries and maple syrup for a sweet morning treat.

# What you'll need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 3/4 cup buttermilk
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Toppings

10 - 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
11 - 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
12 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup
13 - Powdered sugar for dusting

# How to make it:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly blended.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until completely combined.
03 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix; small lumps are acceptable for fluffy pancakes.
04 - Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and brush with melted butter to prevent sticking.
05 - Place a heart-shaped mold on the skillet and ladle approximately 1/4 cup batter into the mold. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until bubbles form on the surface. Carefully remove the mold, flip the pancake, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown.
06 - Repeat with remaining batter, brushing the skillet with additional butter as needed between batches.
07 - Stack warm pancakes on plates, top with fresh strawberries and raspberries, drizzle with maple syrup, and dust with powdered sugar if desired.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • These pancakes are impossibly fluffy thanks to buttermilk and the perfect balance of leavening
  • The heart shape feels special without requiring any advanced decorating skills
  • You can have them on the table in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter will make your pancakes tough and flat, so stop when streaks of flour disappear
  • The batter should rest for about 5 minutes while your pan heats up for the fluffiest results
  • Buttermilk substitutes work, but real buttermilk makes a noticeable difference in texture
03 -
  • Let the griddle heat up completely before adding butter so it doesn't burn
  • Add chocolate chips to the batter right after pouring for pockets of melted chocolate
  • Keep finished pancakes warm in a 200°F oven while you finish the batch

Go back