When the smell of pancakes drifts through our home, it is usually the weekend. We love the homey and relaxing scent. Pancakes are a breakfast to savor and forget about the weekday rush. The theme for Playful Preschool this week is pancakes. Since the Sugar Snaps love too cook, I decided to have them make pancakes, with a twist.
Mini Muffin Tin Surprise Pancakes
You will need:
- Pancake Batter (I pinned this easy pancake recipe which uses ingredients most people have at home. We made this from scratch (but it’s almost as easy as a mix!)
- 4 different types of fillings that kids would like-We used gummy fruit snacks, banana slices, chocolate/peanut butter chip mix and animal crackers (broken to fit inside the tin)
- Mini muffin tin
- Cooking spray
- Teaspoon
Tip: I recommend getting a sifter and having your preschooler use it in baking. It is great for fine motor skills and is worth the investment, both to have fluffier baked goods and to add to the fun for kids.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray your mini muffin tin with cooking spray. Make your batter. I recommend breaking it into small steps and having your preschooler practice measuring, pouring and mixing the ingredients. Set out four fillings in separate containers. Add (or have your preschooler add) one teaspoon of batter to each of the 24 muffin cavities. Next, have your preschoolers add one row of each filling, one at a time. I had them count three chocolate/peanut butter chips when using that filling. Alternating fillings helps them with patterning and organization. Once all of the fillings have been added, add one teaspoon of batter on top of each filling to cover it up. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown on top.
The fillings are hidden underneath the batter.
I placed the pancakes in these cute cupcake liners after they came out of the oven.
Once the pancakes have cooled enough to handle, place four on the plate (one of each filling) and have your preschooler pick one to eat and be surprised by what filling is inside. They could also guess as to which filling is inside. The Sugar Snaps had a lot of fun picking out a pancake and discovering the hidden filling. The gummy fruit snacks fell out the bottom on a couple of muffins but were easy to pop back inside. It may be a good idea to add a little more batter to the bottom if you decide to use that as one of your filling options. Alternatively, you could cut pieces of fruit leather which are a little lighter weight. Have you made pancakes with your children? Do you have any fun twists on traditional pancakes. Please feel free to share in the comments or on the Capri + 3 Facebook page. I’d love to see your pancake photos there.
Check out the rest of the #playfulpreschool pancake themed educational ideas.
Beginning Sound Pancakes from Growing Book by Book
Pancake Shape Toss by Rainy Day Mum
Pancake Class Recipe Book by Fun-A-Day
Pancake Counting and Addition Game by Mom Inspired Life
Mini Muffin Tin Surprise Pancakes by Capri + 3
Making Rainbow Pancakes by Still Playing School
Pancake Store and Other Pancake Theme Ideas by The Educators’ Spin On It
Amanda Boyarshinov says
These are sooo cute! The perfect snack for a preschool playdate =)
Devany LeDrew says
Oh, what fun!
Danielle Buckley says
We've made muffin tin pancakes before, but just used fruit. Yours are so much more fun! Great idea!
Theresa says
Thank you Amanda.
These would be fun for a play date. It would be fun for friends to guess the filling after they came out of the oven and were out of the tin.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Devany.
They had a lot of fun. They could not wait to surprise Daddy when he got home.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Danielle.
Thank you. They had a lot of fun with the fillings.
: 0 ) Theresa
Alyssa Hertzig says
What a fun idea! I just pinned this post. My daughter is a pancake-aholic and would LOVE these! 🙂
Theresa says
Hi Alyssa.
Thank you for pinning. I think our kids are pancake-aholics too! I hope your daughter has fun trying these out.
: 0 ) Theresa
Angela Weight says
What an adorable idea! We love pancakes too…on the weekends. I'll definitely try these out with some blueberries and maybe MandM's.
Tricia Goodmama says
What a great idea! I'm sure my son would love these. It's a great way to sneak in some veggies too!
Theresa says
Hi Angela.
Those sound like yummy fillings! We will have to try those out next.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Tricia.
Yes, veggies would be another fun option! Our kids love veggies and would find it fun to try veggie fillings. We will have to try that.
: 0 ) Theresa
Cerys Parker says
I love this – pancakes for breakfast in the UK is fairly recent they are a pudding here. But looking at your pancakes in the muffin tin I think you've made yorkshire puddings but with a sweet filling – kind of like a toad in the hole (which is made with sausage) but for treats… I love it and going to try it with the kids as they love Yorkshire puddings.
Tarynn Playle says
Looks like fun! My daughter would love to do this!!
Theresa says
Hi Cerys.
I am curious to know if the ingredients in pancake batter are the same as they are in Yorkshire pudding? I have never made Yorkshire pudding before. I just used the regular pancake batter recipe but put it in the muffin in instead of pouring it flat in the griddle. I am going to have to look this up! I will have to try and make a pudding on purpose. : 0 )
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Tarynn.
I hope your daughter gets a chance to try it out and surprise people with the fillings.
: 0 ) Theresa
msvirgogrl says
Cute idea. Love that your kids were able to help.
CourtneyLynne says
This is such a great idea!!! My daughter would be all about these! I may have to make some this weekend!
Gingi Freeman says
What a cute idea!! I have to remember this when my kids are older! ^_^ – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Apple Dapple Pancakes says
What a super fun idea! My boys would love eating these for breakfast! I am going to make some soon! Thanks for sharing!
~Jen
http://www.appledapplepancakes.blogspot.com
Multi-Testing Mommy says
OMG how much fun are these?!!! I HAVE to make these tomorrow morning for breakfast! We like to add frozen wild blueberries.
Theresa says
Thank you Gingi.
I hope your kids enjoy it some day.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Jen.
Your blog name is perfect for this! You might have to use apples as one of your fillings. I hope you enjoy making them.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Multi-testing Mommy.
Frozen wild blueberries would be a fantastic filling! There are so many possibilities.
Enjoy.
: 0 ) Theresa
debi says
Love this idea! I think we'll try it this weekend. YUM.
Theresa says
Hi Msvirgogirl.
Thank you. They had a lot of fun making the pancakes. I think it also made them more invested in the surprise element when they ate them.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Debi.
I hope you enjoy trying this out. There are so many possibilities for fillings.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi CourtneyLynne.
I hope your daughter has fun helping you makes some. I love that you can use whatever fillings you already have at home.
: 0 ) Theresa
Deborah Nielson says
This is a fabulous activity! I'm pinning and sharing. Thanks for this idea!
MommyCrusader.com
Growing Book by Book says
I love this. My boys love discovering hidden things in their food. Putting this on the menu for next week!
Theresa says
Hi Deborah.
Thank you for pinning and sharing!
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Growing Book by Book.
I hope your boys have fun with this.
: 0 ) Theresa