Lisa Winnington, Subject Support Coordinator

In this blog, I’ll suggest ways that teachers of our GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition could make Pancake Day a great lesson in food education.

What is Pancake Day?

Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday or ‘Fat Tuesday’, is a much-loved tradition celebrated 47 days before Easter Sunday. This moveable feast marks the last day before the Christian period of Lent, a time of fasting and reflection. Traditionally, families would use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before the start of Lent, leading to the delicious tradition of making pancakes!

For food teachers and students, Pancake Day is a fantastic opportunity to explore food science, cooking skills, and cultural traditions while making (and eating!) this simple yet versatile dish.

A lesson in food science

Making pancakes is a great way to understand key cooking techniques and food science principles, such as:

• Chemical reactions: the role of baking powder or eggs in creating fluffy pancakes.
• Heat transfer: how the cooking process changes the texture and structure of the batter.
• Maillard reaction*: the golden-brown colour from frying due to heat interacting with proteins and sugars.
• Ingredient functions: understanding how flour provides structure, milk adds moisture, and eggs bind everything together.

* The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs between amino acids and reducing sugars when food is exposed to heat, resulting in the browning and development of new flavours and aromas. This reaction is named after Louis-Camille Maillard, a French scientist who first described it in the early 20th century. It is responsible for the distinctive flavour of browned foods, such as grilled meat and baked bread.

A classic pancake recipe

Ingredients:

• 100g plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 300ml milk
• tbsp melted butter (plus extra for frying)
• Pinch of salt

Method:

1. In a bowl, whisk the flour and salt together.
2. Make a well in the centre, add the eggs, and gradually mix in the milk to form a smooth batter.
3. Stir in the melted butter.
4. Heat a non-stick frying pan and lightly grease with butter.
5. Pour a small amount of batter into the pan, swirling to coat the base evenly.
6. Cook for about 1 minute on each side until golden brown.
7. Serve with your favourite toppings.

Some topping and serving ideas

You can encourage students to experiment with different toppings, balancing flavours and textures. Some suggestions include traditional lemon juice and sugar, a fruit topping such as bananas and honey, an indulgent chocolate spread and strawberries, a nutty and crunchy combo of peanut butter and granola or a savoury twist of cheese and spinach.

Why not encourage students to design their own pancake shapes or patterns using batter in a squeezy bottle? Or maybe compare traditional UK-style pancakes with American fluffy pancakes and French crêpes. 

More teaching ideas

Pancake Day also opens up discussions around Lent to learn about the historical and cultural significance of Shrove Tuesday. Or how about running a competition to see who can flip their pancake the most times without dropping it?

Pancake Day is more than just a chance to enjoy delicious food - it’s an engaging, hands-on learning experience for students to develop their culinary skills, understand food science, and appreciate cultural traditions. So, fire up the frying pans and get flipping!

Stay connected

If you have any questions about supporting students with GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition, please get in touch with Lisa Winnington at ocr.food@ocr.org.uk 

You can also call us on 01223 553998 or message us @OCR_Food. You can also sign up to receive subject updates and get the latest information about resources and support.

If you are considering teaching any of our qualifications, use our online form  to let us know, so that we can help you with more information.

About the author

Lisa is a Subject Support Co-ordinator and has worked for Cambridge University Press & Assessment in various roles since 2000, most recently in Compliance. Lisa is responsible for a range of subjects including law, citizenship and the EPQ.