If your family is anything like ours, you enjoy a leisurely pancake session on a lazy weekend morning. My kids are particularly fond of bear pancakes and request them every week! Over time, I’ve perfected a quick and healthy recipe that I can whip up at any moment and one that isn’t full of junk!
Our favourite version includes a touch of sweetness with maple syrup, making them deliciously nutritious. They’re great plain, and we often pack them in the kids' school lunches. To keep things exciting, we’ve recently started getting creative with fruits, resulting in delightful bear shapes (perfect for our little EcoCubs!), along with a questionable pig and snowman—all served on our eco-friendly, non-toxic plates!
Quality Family Time
Cooking together not only brings us joy but also strengthens our relationships with each other. Making these pancakes has provided an amazing opportunity to engage my kids in the kitchen, teaching them valuable skills while nurturing their creativity. As we mix, pour, and decorate our bear pancakes, we have so much fun laughing, sharing stories and ideas, and deepening our connections.
To make our cooking sessions more eco-friendly, we’ve integrated sustainable practices into our routine. We use ingredients that support our local farmers and to help reduce our carbon footprint. This approach teaches our children the importance of choosing quality over quantity and the impact of their food choices on the environment.
Incorporating our eco-friendly dinnerware also adds to the experience. Our non-toxic plates and cutlery not only keep our food safe but also instil in our children a sense of responsibility toward the planet. We often discuss the materials used in our kitchen items and why we choose products that are biodegradable or recyclable. This knowledge empowers and helps them to make conscious decisions in their own lives in the future.
Creating Memories with Bear Pancakes
Each pancake session has become a cherished memory. We’ve turned our kitchen into a canvas, experimenting with fruits like bananas, blueberries, and strawberries to craft delightful pancake designs. Watching my kids light up as they create their bear pancakes is priceless. They feel a sense of accomplishment, and it’s a joy to see their creativity shine.
Encouraging imaginative play in the kitchen is a wonderful way to promote healthy eating habits. As we create our animal-shaped pancakes, we talk about the importance of fruits and how they fuel our bodies. This not only makes the experience fun but also reinforces positive eating habits that last a lifetime.
Making Eco-Friendly Bear Pancakes
As we cook, we emphasise minimal waste. Leftover pancakes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days, or we freeze them for easy, healthy snacks later. Teaching children about reducing waste—like using all parts of our ingredients and saving extras—aligns perfectly with our eco-conscious values.
At the end of our bear pancake making sessions, we not only enjoy delicious food but also create lasting memories filled with laughter, learning, and love. So, whether you keep it simple with stacks of bear pancakes or get creative with different designs, we hope you find joy in cooking with your family. Let’s celebrate those precious moments while nurturing our planet—one bear pancake at a time! We’d love to see what you create, so share your pancake masterpieces and join us in this delightful, eco-friendly journey!
Healthy Bear Pancakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup self-raising flour
- 3/4 cup milk (we use almond but you can use any)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- Some butter or oil for the pan, if desired.
To make:
- Start with the flour in a mixing bowl. Add egg and slowly incorporate all of the milk, gently mixing as you go until the batter is smooth.
- Add maple syrup and mix evenly.
- Once the batter is ready, prepare a non-stick pan. Preheat on medium heat, adding a small amount of butter or oil to the pan if desired. (I prefer to season the pan until hot and this will prevent the pancakes sticking without the need for any grease but it’s totally down to your preference!)
- Pour a small amount of batter into a circle, cook until the first side is bubbling on the surface and then flip. Remove from heat once cooked through/ golden brown. (Pro tip: if you’re looking for a perfect circle to create your design, use an egg ring). Repeat until all the batter is gone.
- Create your animals- in our case, a bear! Although we also tried our luck at a pig and even a snowman! We used bananas, blueberries, strawberries and sultanas to keep it healthy.
- Add any other toppings you like. Because the maple syrup is incorporated into the mix, we find our kids prefer to just add butter or a small amount of honey/ extra maple syrup when serving. Although, we find them delicious plain as well and often put them straight into the lunch box (or our mouths!).
Here are some examples of our designs and we’d love for you to share your pancake masterpieces with us on Instagram with the hashtag #TBC