As an adult, you probably consider the perfect pancake structure to be the stack (and the higher the better). But if you're a kid, pancakes are the building blocks for endless shapes and designs — breakfast sculptures, if you will. For a whimsical weekend meal, get the family together, make your favorite pancake recipe (we like this one) and assemble these adorable animals. We've got seven easy formulas that even little kids can help make, but we also highly encourage extra creativity.
By Bob Hoebee for Food Network Kitchen
Photography by Matt Armendariz
Pancake Lion: The Elements
Face: 1 large round pancake, 1 small round pancake and 2 very small round pancakes. Ears: A third very small pancake (cut in half) and chocolate hazelnut spread. Mane: Cut 16 slices of strawberry, lengthwise. Eyes: 2 banana slices, 2 pieces of sliced almonds and 2 blueberries. Nose: 1 large raspberry.
Pancake Lion: The Assembly
Center the large pancake on a plate. Surround it with the strawberry slices, points facing outward, for the mane. Spread the half-pancake ears with chocolate hazelnut spread and position them on top of the large pancake. Add the banana slices for the eyes. Top each with an almond slice, and position the blueberries below. For the nose, place the small pancake at the bottom of the large pancake, top with the two very small pancakes and finish with the raspberry.
Pancake Owl: The Elements
Body and head: 1 large round pancake and 1 medium round pancake. Eyes: 2 slices of banana and 2 pieces of sliced almond. Nose and plumes: Quarter 1 strawberry lengthwise and set aside 1 piece for the nose. Then cut 3 thin wedges from remaining strawberry slices for the plumes (discard or eat the leftovers). Feet: Cut 2 strawberries in half crosswise. Discard the stem ends and cut three small notches in the remaining halves to make feet. Ear feathers: Quarter 1 red grape lengthwise into 4 wedges. Wings: Cut 6 thin slices from a Golden Delicious apple.
Pancake Owl: The Assembly
Put the large pancake at the bottom of a plate and then slightly overlap the medium pancake on top. Add 2 slices of banana for eyes and top each with a sliced almond. Add the strawberry quarter for the nose and 2 small wedges of grape on each side of the head for the ear feathers. Place the 3 remaining strawberry slices at the top of the head to create the plumes. Add 3 thin slices of apple to each side for wings and finish with the strawberry feet.
Build the owl: Put the large pancake in the bottomcenter of a plate and add the medium pancake, slightly overlapping the large one to makethe head. Add 2 slices of banana for eyes and top each with a sliced almond. Add thestrawberry quarter for the nose and 2 small wedges of grape on either side of the head forthe ear feathers. Add the 3 remaining strawberry slices to the top of the head for plumes.Add 3 thin slices of apple to each side for wings and then add the strawberry feet
Pancake Snow Monkey: The Elements
Face and ears: 1 large pancake, 1 medium pancake, 2 small pancakes, powdered sugar and whipped cream cheese. Eyes and nose: 2 banana slices, 4 raisins and chocolate sauce.
Pancake Snow Monkey: The Assembly
Spread an even layer of whipped cream cheese on the large and small pancakes, then sprinkle with a light coating of powdered sugar (use a fine-mesh sieve). Center the large pancake toward the top of the plate. Position the small pancakes at the top of the large pancake to create the ears. To make the nose, put the medium pancake on the bottom third of the large pancake so that it hangs over quite a bit. Add two raisins to the nose, angling them toward each other as nostrils. Add the banana slices to the upper part of the large pancake for eyes and place two raisins vertically in the center of each eye for pupils. Pour the chocolate sauce into a squeeze bottle and draw a smile across the medium pancake.
Pancake Reindeer: The Elements
Face: Make 1 large oval pancake, 2 very small oval pancakes and 1 very small round pancake. Eyes: 2 banana slices and 2 dried cherries. Nose: Halve a maraschino cherry or frozen red cherry. Antlers: Cook 3 bacon strips until golden and crispy, and cut 1 strip in half lengthwise.
Pancake Reindeer: The Assembly
Center the large oval pancake lengthwise on a plate. Angle the very small oval pancakes at the top of the large pancake to create the ears. Place the very small round pancake on top of the large pancake, and top with the cherry half to create the nose. Position the banana slices for eyes and place a dried cherry in the center of each. To make the antlers, place two bacon strips at the top of the head. Crisscross each with a bacon strip half.
Pancake Panda: The Elements
Face and body: 2 large round pancakes, 2 very small oval pancakes and 1 tiny round pancake (made with a scant teaspoon of batter). Ears: 1 very small round pancake, cut in half. Nose: 1 very small round pancake and whipped cream cheese. Details: Chocolate sauce.
Pancake Panda: The Assembly
Place the 2 large pancakes on a plate, with the bottom pancake (the face) slightly overlapping the top pancake (the body). The panda's feet and body will be above its face, so it looks like the panda is lying down. Position the halves of the very small pancake on the top edge of the bottom (face) pancake to create the ears. Position the very small oval pancakes on the top edge of the top (body) pancake for the feet. Put the tiny pancake in the center of the top pancake for the tail and sprinkle all of the pancakes with powdered sugar (use a fine-mesh sieve). For the nose, spread the other very small round pancake with whipped cream cheese and place it on the bottom center of the face pancake. Use chocolate sauce in a squeeze bottle to draw on the details of the nose, mouth and eyes.
Pancake Bunny: The Elements
Head: 1 large round pancake, 2 very small round pancakes and 2 very small oval pancakes. Eyes and nose: 2 slices of banana and 3 blueberries. Ears and teeth: Halve a marshmallow lengthwise. For the ears, cut one half in half again lengthwise. Cut the other half crosswise to make two teeth. Whiskers: Cut fruit leather into 6 long pointy triangles.
Pancake Bunny: The Assembly
Center the large round pancake on a plate. Place the ovals on top for the ears. Add two banana slices to the large round pancake for the eyes. Top each with a blueberry and place the third blueberry in the center for the nose. Place the 2 remaining small pancakes just below the nose to create the cheeks. Position a long piece of marshmallow in the center of each ear. Place the marshmallow teeth at the bottom of the large pancake so they hang over slightly. Position 3 whiskers on the outside of each cheek with the points facing outward.
Pancake Polar Bear: The Elements
Face: 1 large pancake and 1 small pancake. Ears: 1 small pancake, halved. Fur: Whipped cream cheese, powdered sugar and unsweetened flaked coconut. Nose: Halve 1 marshmallow lengthwise (discard or eat the other half) and chocolate-hazelnut spread. Eyes: Halve 2 red grapes crosswise (discard or eat the stem ends).
Pancake Polar Bear: The Assembly
Spread an even layer of whipped cream cheese on each pancake and sprinkle with a light coating of powdered sugar (use a fine-mesh sieve). Then cover with an even layer of unsweetened flaked coconut. Center the large pancake on a plate and position the half-pancakes on top to create ears. For the nose, place the small pancake on the lower half of the large pancake. Spread the smooth, uncut surface of the marshmallow half with chocolate-hazelnut spread. Press the marshmallow onto the lower half of the small pancake. Finish by adding the grapes, rounded-side up, for eyes.
