Pancake Day was this week and I can think of no better time than to create an adorable TV-inspired pancake recipe. My cute pancakes are the perfect treat for a Bee and Puppycat viewing session. There’s a job in space ready and waiting. Shall we?
Contents
The Bake
As mentioned in the introduction to this recipe, it was Pancake Day earlier this week. When I think of pancakes, certain things spring to mind: the Sakura themed stack I ate in Kona’s Coffee… 50 First Dates… the scene in Ralph Breaks The Internet where a certain video game character is fed too many pancakes… and the adorable pancake art you see in numerous eateries across the world.
There are little nods to Japanese pop culture throughout Bee and Puppycat, so pancakes are my perfect choice. Japanese pancake art is pretty hard to beat after all. Especially on the cuteness scale.
To be honest, it was either kawaii pancakes or donuts… I may even do a Bee and Puppycat donut themed recipe in the not so distant future. Never say never, friends.
Besides, I LOVE pancakes.
They are my favourite sweet breakfast and they are incredibly versatile. They can be sweet or savoury. How many meals can you say the same about?
The toppings that you can add to them are near endless and can be personalised to your exact tastes. Not only that, but there are many forms in which a pancake can come in.
Now, my favourite pancakes are American-style. Deliciously thick and fluffy. That’s how I like them. I created this recipe with that in mind. But, I made sure to adjust and adapt to make sure that the mix wasn’t too thick to create the shape of these pancakes.
As for the aesthetic of my cute pancakes… Well, it had to be Puppycat’s grumpy face.
How could I not? His little grumpy face is too cute to poot. His motorcycle helmet even says so.
To really distinguish the features of his face, I made sure to split the mixture accordingly and add a few drops of liquid food colouring.
Now, if you can find squeezy bottles with the right size nozzle, by all means utilise them to make these cute pancakes. I had a go at doing this but the mix just got blocked in the nozzle every so often and it made shaping the pancakes quickly a lot more difficult.
Instead, I opted to use a dainty teaspoon to carefully but quickly spoon the mix in the shape of Puppycat’s features. Using the edge of the teaspoon to help edge the mixture in the right directions also worked well.
My kawaii pancakes are adapted from this classic recipe on BBC Good Foods. I opted to create my own version of buttermilk – as I did in my Onward birthday cake – to create the ultimate texture. I also upped the quantity of ingredients for a higher stack. There’s also a little vanilla in my recipe, too.
Top Tips
- Don’t over whisk the mixture – a few small lumps are all good.
- No need to complicate the design – Puppycat’s face is beautiful as is. Plus, the more you try to add to the design, the higher the risk of his features burning as they are poured first.
- The first pancake may well turn out to be your palest. But, to best avoid this, make sure your frying pan is nice and hot before any of your pancake mix gets near it.
- Don’t be too generous with the butter. You also don’t need to add more butter between making each pancake. The more butter there is in the pan, the more likely your features are to start drifting away from one another. Make sure you have a decent non-stick pan instead.
- This goes without saying but make sure your frying pan is properly clean. Any residue on the pan could disrupt the end result of your design!
- If using bottles to pour the pancake mix, make sure to wipe the nozzle in between each pancake to save yourself as much unnecessary mess as possible.
- You’ll know your pancakes are ready to flip when bubbles start to appear around the edges. This is the prime time to flip the pancake over and achieve that lush golden hue.
- Really utilise the edge of your teaspoon when you are pouring the pancake mix. It can help to shape the features for a more defined finish.
- Use less pancake mix than you think for the features. Start out with a little and build on the amount if necessary.
- Start with the features – eyebrows first – then outline Puppycat’s ears. You can fill the rest of his face more generously after.
- If you have any pancake mix leftover, try creating different shapes that are relevant to the show. I had some pink mix leftover so I made some eggplant/aubergine shaped pancakes.
- If you have an electric hob, place a large heatproof plate on one of the rings and keep it on the lowest heat setting possible. Use this plate to stack your pancakes and keep them warm.
- Personalise these cute pancakes to your own taste! You can make them sweet or savoury. This recipe includes instructions for sweetened mascarpone, which is UNREAL with sweet pancakes.
I genuinely love Bee and Puppycat and I genuinely love these cute pancakes. They really are the ultimate breakfast or sweet treat. I hope you love making them as much as I do. Enjoy!
Happy baking, happy eating!
The Recipe
Ingredients
Cute pancakes:
- 260ml [9.75 oz] cow’s milk
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 270g [1½ cups + 3 tbsp] plain [all-purpose] flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp sea or rock salt
- 4 tbsp caster sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tbsp melted unsalted butter plus more for greasing
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pink liquid food colouring oil based
Sweet toppings (optional):
- 250g [8.75 oz] mascarpone
- 1 tbsp icing [confectioners] sugar
OR
- 150ml [5.5 oz] double [whipping] cream
- 1 tbsp icing [confectioners] sugar
Other sweet topping ideas:
- Fruit of your choice i.e. strawberries or blueberries
- Softened chocolate spread/Nutella/Biscoff spread
- Runny honey
- Golden syrup
- Maple syrup
- Lemon juice
- Sprinkle of caster sugar
Serves: 4 – 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Method
Cute pancakes batter:
- Measure out the milk and squeeze the lemon juice into it. Whisk briefly and then leave to stand for 10 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, sieve in the flour and baking powder. Add the sugar and salt and mix together until evenly distributed. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a heatproof bowl in the microwave. Leave to cool for a few moments.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs briefly with a fork until pale. Add the lemon milk and whisk again until a little frothy.
- Pour the butter and vanilla into the egg and milk mix and whisk again until fully incorporated.
- Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients. Pour the egg and milk mix into the well. Using a hand whisk, bring the mixture together gently, then whisk briefly until thick and smooth.
- Spoon around ⅓ of the mixture into another container. Add a few drops of the pink food colouring and mix in with a spoon until an even colour is achieved. Be mindful that the colour will darken during the cooking process.
- If using bottles, do so now. Transfer the pink mix into one bottle and the plain mix into another.
Cooking:
- Place a clean frying pan over a medium heat and leave for a moment to heat up.
- Add a small knob of butter to the frying pan and tip the pan around to spread the butter.
- Using a (cutlery) teaspoon, spoon very small amounts of the pink mixture into your frying pan in the shape of Puppycat’s thick eyebrows.
- Using the teaspoon, drop small amounts of pink mixture for his eyes and nose. Then, using the edge of the teaspoon, draw his grumpy mouth with the pink mixture.
- Using a different (cutlery) teaspoon, draw the outline of Puppycat’s ears in the plain mixture. Fill out the rest of Puppycat’s face with the plain pancake mix. Make sure to cover the pink features with the pink mix as much as possible for a thicker pancake.
- When the edges of the pancake begin to look more dry and bubbles appear, gently slide a spatula underneath the pancake to loosen it from the pan. Then, carefully flip the pancake over to cook on the other side.
- Use the spatula to check the underneath of the pancake by lifting it gently. Once it is golden brown underneath, transfer the pancake onto a plate.
- Repeat steps 11 – 15 until you have used all of your pancake mix up and have a stack of cute pancakes. If you have some mix left over – particularly some pink mix – make different shaped pancakes like eggplants/aubergines or stars.
- If wanting to soften chocolate spread/Nutella/Biscoff spread, spoon it into a heatproof bowl and microwave for 20 – 30 seconds, until the spread drips from the spoon.
- For whipped cream, whip the double cream and icing sugar together with an electric whisk until you reach soft peaks.
- For sweetened mascarpone, simply beat the icing sugar into the mascarpone briefly until smooth.
- To serve, top your cute pancakes with your chosen toppings and enjoy!
These cute pancakes really are too cute to poot. Light, fluffy and the perfect sweet (or savoury!) treat for a chill day in watching Bee and Puppycat. The pancakes are best eaten warm on the day, but can be enjoyed cold or warmed up for another 2 more days. If they last that long! To warm up, put the pancakes on a heatproof plate and microwave for 20 – 30 seconds, until warm to the touch. Then top and enjoy!
The TV Show
I genuinely don’t think there are many words that can describe this show. It’s one of the weirdest, most nonsensical TV series that I have ever had the privilege to watch. It’s like anything and everything goes. But that’s what makes it so fun to watch.
Bee and Puppycat is so cute. So pure. So colourful. It’s also absolutely chockerblock full of magic.
Friends, we all know that I love cute things. My Treasure Planet marmalade biscuits, My Neighbor Totoro cinnamon bread and The Powerpuff Girls jam filled cupcakes make that pretty clear. Thus, watching Bee and Puppycat was a no brainer.
The colour palette alone is enough to draw me in. What keeps me watching is the humour and how utterly chill the entire show is. Despite Puppycat’s temperament, which is a near juxtaposition considering his adorable exterior.
Puppycat got sass.
Bee and Puppycat first catapulted into existence in 2013 and ran until 2018. The web-series was reportedly only supposed to last for two parts, but was adapted into a full length series thanks to its huge popularity (and a crowd-funding project!).
Not only that, but Bee and Puppycat: Lazy In Space aired in 2022, giving us even more adorably chill vibes.
Natasha Allegri is the creator of this wonderfully weird universe. She brought us Bee; a quirky woman who breaks the mould and makes all of us on a different path in life feel related to, and Puppycat; a cat… or dog… friend with a mysterious past and a consistently grumpy demeanour.
As Bee isn’t in a stable job, Puppycat is able to provide her with opportunities to earn the cash they need to pay the bills and, you know, eat. He simply rings his collared bell and they are transported somewhere magical to carry out some odd jobs for some odd characters.
Is it space? Alternate dimensions? It’s one way to freelance, that’s for sure.
Part of the charm of Bee and Puppycat is that it doesn’t make much sense. There are storylines and character interaction, for sure. But, there are so many elements to this adorable series that just don’t make logical sense.
I love that about it, though. It encourages your creative and imaginative soul to open up rather than pushing your logical brain to try and make sense of the Bee and Puppycat universe.
There are wonderful voice actors portraying the show’s characters. They include the likes of Allyn Rachel; Kent Osborne, Oliver, Ashly Burch, Alexander James Rodriguez, Ellen McLain and more.
Cardamon has to be one of my favourite fictional characters ever.
“No Sticky. Bad girl, Sticky.” is how I discipline my dogs. No word of a lie.
The series also wouldn’t have been what it was without the incredible writing talents of creator Natasha Allegri; Frank Gibson, Madeleine Flores, Vera Brosgol, Efrain Farias, Natalie Nourigat, Pendleton Ward and Luke Weber.
Not to forget the directing artistry of Larry Leichliter; Tatsuki Yukiwaki, Kent Osborne and Pendleton Ward. Plus, the numerous members of the art department. Some of whom also lended their hand to writing and voice acting in the series.
Bee and Puppycat brings so much relaxation – mostly thanks to the soundtrack and visual aesthetics. It’s a real joy to watch.
A show this cute deserves an edible treat that is just as cute, too ~ ~
Recipe Card
Cute Pancakes | Bee and Puppycat
Ingredients
- 260 ml [9.75 oz] cow’s milk
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 270 g [1½ cups + 3 tbsp] plain [all-purpose] flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp sea or rock salt
- 4 tbsp caster sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tbsp melted unsalted butter plus more for greasing
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pink liquid food colouring oil based
Sweet toppings (optional):
- 250 g [8.75 oz] mascarpone
- 1 tbsp icing [confectioners] sugar
- OR
- 150 ml [5.5 oz] double [whipping] cream
- 1 tbsp icing [confectioners] sugar
Other sweet topping ideas:
- Fruit of your choice i.e. strawberries or blueberries
- Softened chocolate spread/Nutella/Biscoff spread
- Runny honey
- Golden syrup
- Maple syrup
- Lemon juice
- Sprinkle of caster sugar
Instructions
Cute pancakes:
- Measure out the milk and squeeze the lemon juice into it. Whisk briefly and then leave to stand for 10 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, sieve in the flour and baking powder. Add the sugar and salt and mix together until evenly distributed. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a heatproof bowl in the microwave. Leave to cool for a few moments.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs briefly with a fork until pale. Add the lemon milk and whisk again until a little frothy.
- Pour the butter and vanilla into the egg and milk mix and whisk again until fully incorporated.
- Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients. Pour the egg and milk mix into the well. Using a hand whisk, bring the mixture together gently, then whisk briefly until thick and smooth.
- Spoon around ⅓ of the mixture into another container. Add a few drops of the pink food colouring and mix in with a spoon until an even colour is achieved. Be mindful that the colour will darken during the cooking process.
- If using bottles, do so now. Transfer the pink mix into one bottle and the plain mix into another.
Cooking:
- Place a clean frying pan over a medium heat and leave for a moment to heat up.
- Add a small knob of butter to the frying pan and tip the pan around to spread the butter.
- Using a (cutlery) teaspoon, spoon very small amounts of the pink mixture into your frying pan in the shape of Puppycat’s thick eyebrows.
- Using the teaspoon, drop small amounts of pink mixture for his eyes and nose. Then, using the edge of the teaspoon, draw his grumpy mouth with the pink mixture.
- Using a different (cutlery) teaspoon, draw the outline of Puppycat’s ears in the plain mixture. Fill out the rest of Puppycat’s face with the plain pancake mix. Make sure to cover the pink features with the pink mix as much as possible for a thicker pancake.
- When the edges of the pancake begin to look more dry and bubbles appear, gently slide a spatula underneath the pancake to loosen it from the pan. Then, carefully flip the pancake over to cook on the other side.
- Use the spatula to check the underneath of the pancake by lifting it gently. Once it is golden brown underneath, transfer the pancake onto a plate.
- Repeat steps 11 – 15 until you have used all of your pancake mix up and have a stack of cute pancakes. If you have some mix left over – particularly some pink mix – make different shaped pancakes like eggplants/aubergines or stars.
- If wanting to soften chocolate spread/Nutella/Biscoff spread, spoon it into a heatproof bowl and microwave for 20 – 30 seconds, until the spread drips from the spoon.
- For whipped cream, whip the double cream and icing sugar together with an electric whisk until you reach soft peaks.
- For sweetened mascarpone, simply beat the icing sugar into the mascarpone briefly until smooth.
- To serve, top your cute pancakes with your chosen toppings and enjoy!
Notes
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