Pikelets
Pikelets are an Antipodean version of pancakes. My mother taught me how to make them as a child. Once prepared and rested, the secret was to spoon the mixture into a warm dry fry pan in a clockwise pattern.. Bubbles would start to appear to indicate they were ready to flip... You would return to the starting point and flip following the same clockwise pattern. Once removed from the fry pan, they were smothered in butter and eaten hot... oh they were soooo delicious.
When Lulu was small, she mixed the dry ingredients. Then she graduated to cracking the eggs, whisking then flipping. I then bought a little jug so she could pour the mixture with ease.
Now Lulu measures out all the ingredients, and makes the batter with Seb. She encourages and delegates tasks to her little bother (she likes to boss him about). She pours the mixture with her special jug, she does the first flip, then Seb removes them from the pan once cooked. I always stand by as the stove is hot (children should never be left by a hot stove without supervision) I tend to watch and let Lulu take the lead, It's heart warming to watch they have a lot of fun together.
We might have them once a month and always on Pancake Tuesday. The kids like to have them with butter, jam or Nutella. They share the same intrigue by the bubbles and how a mixture in a bowl can transform in minutes into a small pikelet - it seems magical. I hope when they are older they will teach there loved ones... It's moments like these I cherish, making memories with the kids.
Gluten Free? Simply substitute the flour with Gluten Free self raising flour, the remaining ingredients and method remain the same (I use Doves here in the UK). Gluten Free Chocolate Pikelets?
Chocolate Pikelets? Place 3 tbsp of quality cocoa powder into your cup measurement, then fill the remainder of the cup with self raising flour. The remaining ingredients and method remain the same. You can also make Chocolate Gluten Free Pikelets!
Ingredients
1 cup self raising flour
3 tbsp caster sugar
Pinch of salt
1 egg (medium) beaten
¾ cup of whole milk (plus extra if needed)
Method
1 .In a small bowl, crack the egg then add the milk. Beat lightly with a fork to combine.
2. In a large separate bowl, place the self raising flour, salt and caster sugar. Using a whisk, stir to combine the ingredients.
3. Start whisking the dry ingredients, slowly pour in the milk mixture and continue whisking until well combined. Ensure you scrape the sides of the bowl down with a spatula to ensure .
4. Once the flour has been completely mixed through, test the consistency by lifting a spoon of mixture and pouring it back into the bowl. If the mixture is too thick, simply add a splash of milk. Whisk the mixture again and retest.
5. Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into a small jug or squeezy bottle.
6. Once the mixture has rested, heat a non stick fry pan on a medium heat (my stove temp is 1-9 I heat on 4) I do not add any butter, I prefer a dry heat (monitor the pan, if it gets to hot remove the pan until it cools down then resume cooking).
7. Pour or drop spoonfuls onto the hot fry pan, in a clock wise pattern. Watch carefully... Once bubbles start to appear start flipping the pikele's starting with the 1st poured pikelet then continue in a clockwise direction. Once the pikelet's are golden brown they are done. Remove from the fry pan. We use a small frypan to limit the amount the kids cook at once. They expand a little, its easier for the kids if there is less in the pan.
8. Top with lashings of butter and enjoy! The kids also enjoy jam and Nutella with their pikelets. They are best eaten warm, you can also have them cold.
Top Tips;
- Cracking the eggs is pretty exciting when your a kid, it can be super messy! You can involve the kids by holding the egg and getting the kids to whack the egg shell with a spatula, the egg will crack and you separate the shell. My daughter learnt to crack eggs like this, now she separates them herself and my son is the whacker!
- The first pikelet is always a bit of a trial to get the temperature of the fry pan right. Too hot and they will burn, not hot enough and they are dull and lack colour.
- If making chocolate pikelets, ensure the heat is low to avoid them burning! My stove is 1-9, I preheat the pan and leave
- Often when cooking with the kids I will ask my eldest to work out what ingredients I would need if we doubled or halved the recipe. Its a great way to apply math and understand weights and measurement that children can relate to.
- For this recipe I always encourage the kids use the measuring cups and spoons as its more involved.