Surprise your loved ones with a cute, sweet, and fluffy brunch this Valentine’s Day, complete with these Heart-Shaped Pancakes. They’re perfect for families or couples.
Who doesn’t love waking up to the smell of pancakes cooking? But it’s even more tantalizing when you come into the kitchen and see they’re all heart-shaped! As a thoughtful gesture for Valentine’s Day or wedding anniversaries, heart-shaped pancakes are as adorable as they are delectable. But these lovey-dovey treats aren’t only for couples; they make a fantastic family breakfast as well. No matter the occasion, these sweet and fluffy pancakes might just steal your heart.
When I first made these, I free-handed it. No heart-shaped mold or anything. But this recipe suggests using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to get the design just right. Honestly, I wish I had thought of that the first time, because while my pancakes were still scrumptious, they were also super messy. Pancake batter drips everywhere! So, if you want to make the most of your special brunch, consider getting a heart-shaped cookie cutter for pretty precision. This is a designer dish your family could fall in love with.
Are Heart-Shaped Pancakes Healthy?
These pancakes are made with whole wheat flour, which is a slightly healthier alternative to regular white flour. They’re also made with Greek yogurt, which gives them a boost of protein. That being said, pancakes aren’t meant to be eaten every single day, so save these breakfast treats for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or birthdays.
Some Heartfelt Variations
While this recipe crafts some scrumptious vanilla pancakes, there are a few ways to jazz them up if you’d like. For blueberry pancakes, add half a cup of blueberries to the batter when mixing wet and dry ingredients together. Craving chocolate instead? Add half a cup of chocolate chips to the batter at the last moment of mixing. Regardless of the fillings or toppings used, I also like to add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter for some sweet warmth. Add the same amount of pumpkin spice if you and your beloved favor it. Heart-shaped pancakes are so versatile, you can expand upon them in all kinds of tasty ways.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup low-fat milk
- 1/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons melted coconut oil (plus extra for cooking)
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preferred toppings, such as powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fresh fruit
FAQs & Tips
Once cooled, heart-shaped pancakes can be stored in airtight containers and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before heating up the next day. I like to pop mine in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes before drizzling them in maple syrup and digging in, but you can also heat them up with some butter in a skillet on the stove at medium-low heat.
As you can see, this recipe suggests pouring the pancake batter into cookie cutters on a heated pan. This creates the heart design neatly, and prevents splatters or drips. Make sure your cookie cutter is made of metal, not plastic! It might also help to grease the edges of the cookie cutter with butter, oil, or nonstick cooking spray to prevent the batter from sticking to the cutter.
Try a tablespoon of beet powder mixed into your batter. For a deeper shade of red, use 2 tablespoons. You can find beet powder in health food stores, and possibly at your local grocery store. Alternatively, keep it nice and simple by decorating your plain pancakes with Strawberry Whipped Cream or Strawberry Chia Jam.
Serving Suggestions
Whether it’s for Valentine’s Day or another special occasion, heart-shaped pancakes go great with a garnish of butter, powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fresh berries. Stimulate your senses even more by adding Chocolate-Covered Raspberries, Chocolate Whipped Cream, Cinnamon Roll Cashew Butter, Chocolate-Covered Blueberries, Almond Butter, or Chocolate-Covered Strawberries. Then, serve with some other tasty brunch munchies, like Bacon Egg Cups, Breakfast Sausage, or Quiche Florentine. Down-to-earth, yet decadent!
Heart-Shaped Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup low-fat milk
- 1/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons melted coconut oil plus extra for cooking
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preferred toppings such as powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fresh fruit
Instructions
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In a mixing bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
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In another bowl, whisk together the milk, yogurt, eggs, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract.
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Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. It’s fine if there are a few lumps; avoid overmixing.
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Heat a non-stick griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Lightly grease with coconut oil.
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To make heart shapes, pour batter onto the griddle using a spoon, shaping into hearts. You can also use a greased heart-shaped cookie cutter (made of metal, not plastic) on the griddle and pour batter inside.
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Cook until bubbles appear on top and edges look set, about 2-3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
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Enjoy warm, with fresh berries, powdered sugar, or maple syrup, if you like.
Nutrition
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