Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

For anyone who’s missed the story behind the much-loved Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday traditionally marks the final chance to indulge before the fasting season of Lent begins.

Ingredients such as eggs and milk were historically forbidden during Lent, so households needed to use them up before Ash Wednesday. Pancakes, which rely heavily on these ingredients, became the perfect solution — and the tradition stuck. Today, Pancake Day is still widely celebrated across the UK.

Why should I add beer to a pancake recipe?

It sounds like madness we know but, as we are always trying to find new ways to incorporate beer into various dishes, we tried to make some delicious pancakes with beer. It turns out that beer is a great ingredient!

The beer's carbonation makes the pancake light and fluffy with the depth of flavour from the beer giving a little touch of spice. For those that want to avoid dairy, or forgot to pop to the shops, this recipe is very simple as the milk is simply replaced by beer.

What beer should I use in pancakes?

Different beers will give a different twist to the pancake so there’s not really a right or wrong answer - we recommend trying a few out to see which you prefer!

From our kitchen experimentation, we found a few of our range make fantastic additions to our recipe:

• If you fancy pancakes with something fruity, then you should go for a cider, such as Orchard Thieves which will add a fruity sweetness to your batter.
• For those looking for a stronger beer flavour, we recommend trying a Blonde like Affligem Blonde which will certainly pack a punch!
• For blueberry pancakes, go for a white, wheaty beer like Edelweiss Wheat. You'll get flavour hits of clove and banana from the weizen yeast with a slight tartness from the blueberries, balancing well with any sweet toppings you are craving...especially if you use maple syrup.
• Or if you want to keep it simple and use the classic lemon and sugar topping, then you can replace the milk in the pancake batter with a light lager such as Tiger or Amstel. They're classics for a reason, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Like all beer and food pairings, the best (and also the most fun) method is to try it yourself and just experiment!

Main Ingredients (makes enough for 4 people)

• 350g of flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg (or 1 ripe banana)
• 350ml of beer (any of our suggestions)
• 175g of sugar and a pinch of salt

Optional toppings: anything you can think of!

Beer pancake recipe (serves 4)

Main ingredients

• 350g flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 egg (or 1 ripe banana for a vegan option)

• 350ml beer (your choice)

• 175g sugar

• Pinch of salt

Optional toppings: absolutely anything you fancy.

How to make pancakes with beer

1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the beer and the whisked egg (or banana). Stir until the batter is smooth and lump-free.

2. Heat a splash of oil in a pan over medium heat and pour in some batter.

3. Flip after 2–3 minutes and cook the other side. Don’t worry if the first one isn’t perfect — that’s tradition.

4. Keep cooked pancakes warm under foil while you finish the batch.

5. Add toppings, serve, and enjoy your pancake beer creation.