Tuesday 21 February 2012

Ginger Crunch Pikelets for Pancake Day

Pancake Day is, of course, the more fuzzy, secular name for Shrove Tuesday. It's the day before Ash Wednesday, when one is supposed to go on an orgy of pancake eating to clear the cupboards of butter, eggs, sugar and other such sinful items ahead of the fasting of Lent. As I have no intention of fasting, or of viewing eggs and butter as sinful, Pancake Day is more of a self-indulgence.

Pikelets are small, leavened pancakes common in Australia (and apparently New Zealand). They are at their best hot and fresh, but they are surprisingly forgiving of being eaten cold, which is probably why they often turn up at Australian morning tea parties where everyone "brings a plate". This version is from Laura at Hungry and Frozen, who added oats, ginger and golden syrup to echo the flavours of New Zealand's famous ginger crunch slice.

I didn't muck around with her recipe much. I did soak the oats in the water over night, and used muscovado sugar instead of demerara. And because she'd said they could have been a touch lighter, I used self-raising flour and a quarter teaspoon of extra baking powder. This was a good move, as honestly these could NOT have been any lighter! As a final flourish, I added a handful of crystallised ginger, cut into chunks.

My real flourish was the sweet whipped ginger butter I served with them. Slightly spicy and utterly addictive, it set the pikelets off perfectly. I beat 100g of softened butter with 1tbs of golden syrup and a handful of chopped crystallised ginger until light and fluffy. I scraped it into a serving dish and drizzled it with a little more golden syrup.

I have quite a lot left, and I am wondering what to do with the remains. Maybe spread on some raisin toast? Or possibly used to fill some baked apples? Or maybe make some chocolate pikelets with the addition of some cocoa, spread them with the whipped butter and raise a toast to my mother in law - Marina likes chocolate-coated ginger, but it keeps getting lost in the post when I try to send her some.

14 comments:

Kavey said...

Yes, I have no intention of fasting either, but happy to partake in Pancake Day!

Ramona said...

Oh, man ... now I'm homesick AND hungry! omnomnom...

Caroline said...

They look great, love the idea of ginger butter too.

Alicia Foodycat said...

Kavey - every time I have pancakes I wonder why I don't have pancakes more often!

Raqasa - Laura's blog is a good one for you, lots of proper Kiwi treats!

C - the ginger butter is genius - I will make it again!

Anne said...

They look like what I know as drop scones, but with oats in! Love anything oaty so will have to try this version!

Really liking the sound of your ginger butter!

Simona Carini said...

Agree with C about the ginger butter. Not sure why, but it seems that I am realizing only this year about Pancake Day.

hungryandfrozen said...

Hooray, so glad you like them! And now I'm going to have to make them again myself, because I need that ginger butter in my life!!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Anne - drop scones, griddle cakes, pikelets. I think they are all the same really!

Simona - I do think it is a shame to confine pancakes to one day of the year though.

Laura - do it!

Gemma said...

The ginger butter sounds like something I need to try!

I didn't make pancakes this year, maybe I'll rectify that with weekend pancakes instead.

Suelle said...

Don't know how I missed this post earlier in the week - these pancakes sound delicious.

Dharm said...

I've never heard of Shrove Tuesday. Our family observes Lent so we are familiar with Ash Wed, Maundy Thurs and the like but never have I heard of Shrove Tues! Regardless, those pikelets look fabulous!

leaf (the indolent cook) said...

Love the sound of the super-light pikelets and the sweet ginger butter... oh yes, I can imagine it going well with chocolate ones too.

Bettina Douglas said...

Very clever. I did ordinary pancakes filled with the Last Mango of the season. The ginger butter would have been perfect!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Gemma - weekend pancakes are much more relaxed.

Suelle - they were very good! Your sort of flavours, I think.

Dharm - it's from the same root as Mardi Gras - the day when all the fat gets eaten!

Leaf - I was also wondering about using coconut milk in the pancakes?

Mother - mmm mango pancakes! My favourite thing at yum cha!

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