Pancake Trends
If you operate a restaurant that serves breakfast, then chances are, you serve pancakes. That’s a great move these days because pancakes are gaining newfound popularity—in a big way. Pancakes are easy to make, fun to eat, and, most importantly, incomparably delicious. Here are a few of the biggest pancake trends that we’re seeing this year.
Pancake boards
One of the hottest new trends in breakfast food is the uber-chic pancake board. We eat with our eyes first, and pancake boards are certainly one of the most attractive and fun ways to enjoy this ubiquitous morning meal.
If you’re looking to bring more people to your restaurant, you want to think about social media-worthy presentation. The pancake board is perfect for a family or group of friends with pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit, and toppings all arranged on a large board for a truly rustic and welcoming breakfast or brunch.
Different types of pancakes
With today’s foodies feeling more adventurous than ever, traditional pancakes may not be enough to attract them in droves. Fortunately, there are several tempting yet underused versions of pancakes that you can call on to pique diners’ interest.
Consider the Dutch baby, a skillet-baked pancake with crispy edges and a light, fluffy center, served with sweet or savory toppings. Toppings such as cheese, eggs, ham, smoked salmon, crème Fraiche, bacon, and sliced spring onions make great choices for a savory meal; maple syrup and fresh berries are lovely ways to satisfy a sweet tooth.
Stuffed pancakes are also making their way into the mainstream with fillings ranging from the sweet and simple (cream cheese and jam) to the savory and exotic (fermented bean paste, meat and vegetables, chili oil, and fried wontons).
Flavor, flavor, and more flavor
One of the best things about pancakes is their ability to showcase an endless array of flavors. While traditional buttermilk pancakes with butter and maple syrup will always be a crowd-pleaser, today’s eateries are offering fancy flapjacks featuring many different flavors.
Add-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, or oats add taste and texture to the pancake, while syrup, honey, molasses, bananas, peanut butter, and many other toppings add a healthy dose of fun. Pancakes also make great seasonal fare, so don’t forget to showcase in-season ingredients–think pumpkin in the fall or fresh fruit, such as strawberries, in the spring.