If you love making magical, fun filled pancakes for your kids, try these cute dinosaur pancakes.
How to Make Dinosaur Mini Pancakes
- Make the batter: Mix the sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, add the egg, milk, butter, and vanilla essence (if using) and whisk until well combined. Slowly scoop the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Cook the pancakes: Preheat the pancake maker and lightly brush with oil. Pour just enough pancake batter to fill the bottom of the pan; do not overfill. Close the lid. Cook the pancake for three to five minutes or until golden brown.
- Decorate: Put the pancake at the bottom of a plate. Using the photo below as a guide, arrange the fruits and chocolate chips around the pancake to form a dinosaur.
Make Ahead and Defrosting Instructions
To Make Ahead: Pancakes are a great make-ahead meal. Just cook and let them cool to room temperature. Stack the cooled pancakes with a piece of parchment paper in between each pancake, wrap, and freeze them for up to three months. For shorter storage, you can refrigerate them for up to five days in a covered container.
To Thaw: Remove the pancakes you want and put them in a container in the refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, pop them straight into a toaster and toast until warmed through.
Recipe Variations for Dinosaur Pancakes
Dairy-free option: To make this option dairy-free, swap cow’s milk for your favorite dairy-free milk. Use the same amount of dairy-free milk as the recipe calls for cow’s milk.
Gluten-free option: To make gluten-free dinosaur pancakes, substitute the all-purpose flour with all-purpose gluten-free flour in the same quantity.
Veganize it: Replace the egg with a flax egg. Mix one tablespoon of ground flaxseed with three tablespoons of water and rest for 5 minutes before scraping it into the wet ingredients. Replace the milk with nut, oat, or soy milk. Replace the butter with a nut or seed butter of choice.
Coconut flavor twist: Add a quarter cup of shredded coconut to the batter. Mix it with the dry ingredients before combining it with the wet ingredients.
Banana pancakes: Mash one ripe banana and add it to the wet ingredients mixture for a naturally sweet flavor and extra moisture.
Cinnamon spice: Stir in half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon into the dry ingredients.
Chocolate pancakes: Mix a quarter cup of cocoa powder into the dry ingredients for chocolatey dinosaur pancakes. Adjust the sugar to taste if needed.
Orange zest-infused pancakes: Add one tablespoon of freshly grated orange zest to the batter. Mix it in with the wet ingredients for even distribution.
Almond extract upgrade: Replace the vanilla extract with almond extract. Use the same amount as mentioned in the recipe. For extra crunch, add two tablespoons of chopped almonds.
Maple syrup drizzle: Serve the dinosaur pancakes with a generous drizzle of maple syrup for added sweetness and flavor.
Dinosaur Mini Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ¼ cups milk
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
For the topping/decoration:
- bananas
- strawberries
- blueberries
- mini chocolate chips
- kiwi
Instructions
- In a bowl, place the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and mix to combine.
- In another bowl, add the egg, milk, butter and vanilla extract (if using) and whisk until well combined.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Preheat the pancake maker and lightly brush with oil.
- Pour just enough batter to fill the bottom part, do not overfill.
- Close the lid.
- Cook the pancake for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown.
- Put the pancake at the bottom of a plate.
- Using the photo below as a guide, arrange the fruits and chocolate chips around the pancake to form dinosaur.
Notes
- Mixing tip: To keep the pancakes fluffy, avoid overmixing the batter. Stir until just combined. You can break up the lumps by squishing them against the side of the bowl with a fork.
- Oil lightly: Brush the pancake maker lightly with oil to prevent sticking, but don’t overdo it to avoid excess greasiness. A better option is using cooking spray.
- Patience is key: Resist the temptation to lift the lid too early; let the pancake cook undisturbed for three to five minutes until golden brown.
- Fruit arrangement: Use the provided photo as a guide to arrange fruits and chocolate chips creatively around the pancake to form a dinosaur shape.
- Experiment: Feel free to customize toppings with your favorite fruits or other creative additions for a unique pancake experience.
- Adjust cooking time: Depending on your pancake maker’s heat and size, cooking time may vary; keep an eye on the pancakes to stop them from burning.
- Serve immediately: Dinosaur pancakes are best enjoyed fresh off the griddle, so serve them hot for maximum enjoyment.
