🥞 National Pancake Day

National Pancake Day is a fun and delicious celebration held on September 26th each year. It’s a day when people all over the country enjoy pancakes, one of the most beloved breakfast dishes. Pancakes are easy to make and can be customized with various toppings like syrup, fruit, and whipped cream, making them a favorite for many.

Other Pancake Days

Pancakes are so popular worldwide that there are several days dedicated to celebrating them.

🌎 Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day: Celebrated in many English-speaking countries, including the UK, Ireland, and Australia. It is the day before Ash Wednesday and is a part of the traditional pre-Lenten celebrations. The date varies each year but typically falls in February or March.
🇺🇸 IHOP National Pancake Day: This is celebrated at the end of February or beginning of March, where IHOP restaurants in the United States offer free pancakes to customers, encouraging donations to children’s hospitals and other charities.
🇺🇸 National Blueberry Pancake Day: Celebrated on January 28th, is a delightful occasion dedicated to enjoying pancakes with juicy blueberries. Blueberries add a burst of flavor, vibrant color, and a boost of antioxidants to traditional pancakes, making them a nutritious and delicious breakfast option.
🇳🇴 Lefse Day: While not exactly a pancake, lefse is a type of soft Norwegian flatbread often considered in the pancake family. National Lefse Day is celebrated on July 1st.

Fun Facts About Pancakes

Pancakes: an Ancient Roman Street Food?

Pancakes are believed to have originated over 30,000 years ago during the Stone Age. Archaeological evidence suggests that early humans cooked a type of pancake over hot stones.

One of the most famous early references to pancakes comes from Otzi the Iceman, a well-preserved mummy from 5,300 years ago. Analysis of his stomach contents revealed traces of einkorn wheat, a key ingredient in pancake-like foods of that era.

Fast forward to ancient Rome, pancakes were a common street food enjoyed by many. Known as “Alita Dolcia” (Latin for “another sweet”), these early pancakes were made from ingredients like milk, flour, eggs, and spices. They were often sweetened with honey and served as a popular snack among Roman citizens.

How Many Pancakes Varieties Exist in the World?

The tradition of making pancakes continued to evolve over centuries, adapting to regional tastes and available ingredients, eventually becoming the beloved dish we know today. Pancakes, in various forms, are enjoyed all over the world, each culture adding its unique twist to this ancient and versatile food.

Here are just some pancake varieties from around the world:

American Pancakes: Fluffy, thick pancakes often served with syrup and butter.
Crepes (France): Thin, delicate pancakes that can be sweet or savory.
Blini (Russia): Small, yeasted pancakes often served with caviar or sour cream.
Pikelets (Australia/New Zealand): Small, thick pancakes similar to drop scones.
Dorayaki (Japan): Pancakes filled with sweet red bean paste.
Aebleskiver (Denmark): Small, spherical pancakes typically filled with fruit or jam.
Injera (Ethiopia): Spongy, sourdough flatbread made from teff flour, used as a base for various dishes.
Okonomiyaki (Japan): Savory pancakes containing cabbage, meat, and other ingredients, topped with sauce and mayonnaise.
Dosa (India): Thin, crispy pancakes made from fermented rice and lentil batter, often served with chutneys and sambar.
Banana Pancakes (Thailand): Thin pancakes filled with bananas, often served as street food.
Socca (France): Thin, savory pancakes made from chickpea flour, typical in the Nice region.
Boxty (Ireland): Pancakes made from grated potatoes, flour, and baking soda.
Tiganites (Greece): Greek pancakes often served with honey and nuts.
Hotteok (Korea): Sweet pancakes filled with brown sugar, honey, nuts, and cinnamon.
Apam Balik (Malaysia): Stuffed pancakes filled with a mixture of peanuts, sugar, and sweetcorn.
Pannukakku (Finland): Oven-baked pancakes that are thicker and custard-like.
Scotch Pancakes (Scotland): Small, thick pancakes typically served with butter and jam.

This list is not exhaustive, as regional variations and family recipes create countless more varieties. Pancakes can be adapted to fit local tastes and available ingredients, resulting in a fascinating array of styles and flavors around the globe.

The World’s Tallest Pancake Stack

The Guinness World Record for the tallest stack of pancakes is 3 feet and 4 inches (about 1 meter). The stack included 213 pancakes and was achieved in 2016.

The World’s Largest Pancake

The largest pancake ever made measured 49 feet (15 meters) in diameter and 1 inch thick. It weighed more than 6,614 pounds (3,000 kg) and was made in Rochdale, UK, in 1994.

Pancake Statistics

Consumption: Americans consume around 700 million pounds of pancakes annually.
Popularity: Pancakes are among the top 10 most popular breakfast foods in the United States.
Maple Syrup: Around 10% of all maple syrup produced globally is used for pancakes.