British Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday
These are my British Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. Typically served in the UK, Australia, Canada and Ireland, otherwise known as pancake Tuesday. These are not thick, American-style pancakes, but the thinner crêpe-type, slightly thicker than the French, that I like to serve with golden syrup and lemon.

British Pancake Day was one of my favorite days as a child because I got to eat them all day. Shrove Tuesday is also Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras. It is celebrated on the last day before the fast of Lent, Ash Wednesday. Shrove is the past tense of ‘shrive’ which is to confess one’s sins and is also the last day of Shrovetide.
This British/English pancake recipe is a little thicker than crêpes. My mother liked to serve them with fresh lemon juice and golden syrup. Golden syrup is a British thick, amber-colored caramel tasting syrup that has been around since 1881. It is now available in many U.S. supermarkets.
How to serve British pancakes
This pancake recipe is just like crêpes but my mother liked to serve them with fresh lemon juice and golden syrup. Golden syrup is a British thick, amber-colored caramel tasting syrup that has been around since 1881. It is now available in many U.S. supermarkets.
More recently, some people like to make the thicker American-style ‘flapjack’, but I like to stick with tradition.
Before the start of the fast for Lent, historically it is a way to use up foods like eggs and milk so they didn’t go to waste.

Adding lemon juice might sound like a strange addition, but trust me it goes really well with the pancake and the nutty sweetness of the golden syrup, it’s a taste sensation.
For presentation, I like to fold the pancakes into triangles because that’s how my mother did it, but they can be rolled up like traditional crêpe also.
You don’t have to wait until Shrove Tuesday rolls around to enjoy these pancakes. Because they are crepes, they would be delicious for breakfast or brunch, which is how my husband and I enjoyed them Sunday morning.
Did you come here looking for good old American pancakes? I’ve got you covered with my Whole Wheat Pancake recipe.

British Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday

These are not thickAmerican-style pancakes, but the thinner crêpe-type, European pancake that I like to serve with golden syrup and lemon.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (150 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup (177 ml)milk
- 1/4 cup (59 ml) water
- 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
- Lemon wedges
- Golden syrup
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl add the flour and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and whisk in the eggs. Gradually stir in the milk and water until all well mixed.
- To a non-stick 10 inch sauté pan melt the butter over medium high heat.
- Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, add batter to the pan when the butter is melted. Tilt the pan until the pancake has coated the pan evenly. Cook for 2 minutes until the pancakes is loosened when you shake the pan. Lift the edge to see if the bottom is golden brown. Flip the pancake using a spatula and cook for a few seconds. Slide onto a plate and fold into a triangle shape or roll.
- Serve warm and squeeze lemon wedges and drizzle with golden syrup. * see note
Notes
These are my traditional toppings, you can serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, jam, marmalade anything you would add to pancakes.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
2 pancakesAmount Per Serving Calories 125Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 51mgSodium 103mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 4g
32 Comments on “British Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday”
I used to put on peanut butter and lemon juice
This is a delicious option.
Great recipe. Excellent with lemon curd and black current jelly
I love both of those, thank you for sharing.
These look so good! I would love to make this for Mother’s Day brunch. Thanks for the recipe.
I just learned something new! Pancake Tuesday! I love the idea and these look and sound absolutely delish!!
Just dropping in again to let you know that I made these for breakfast and they were SO good! Thanks so much for the great recipe!
That’s great, I’m so happy 🙂
These look delicious, Janette! I just posted a crepe recipe this week too. We both had crepes on the brain. 🙂
This pancake recipe is absolutely fabulous. Your photos really are incredible and make this pancake look irresistible.
Thank you so much for the kind words Sandi
What a delicious tradition! So beautiful! Nettie
Snap! I enjoyed posting a ‘crepes’ recipe this year for Shrove Tuesday, too, although I have to say yours are prettier!
I always love my pancakes with lemon and sugar, but Golden Syrup will definitely be on the menu for next year!
Oh yeah!! Love these, but always had and have them with just lemon and sugar. I’m SO trying the golden syrup next time! Yummy!
You wont regret it 🙂
What gorgeous pancakes Janette! Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!
Fantastic recipe, Janette. I also grew up eating my pancakes with lemon and golden syrup – nothing beats it! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe, going to try it on Saturday 🙂
Janette! These pancakes are gorgeous! I’m wondering if I could sub the flour for gluten-free flour? My bf was recently diagnosed coeliac and I’ve been trying not to use anything with wheat flour.
Thank you Felicia, I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t sub for the gluten free flour. He should certainly get to enjoy them too 🙂
What lovely pancakes Janette!
Fantastic plate of pancakes here and so beautifully presented!
These look great, I love your pancakes!!
I love pancakes in any form!! These look and sounds great!
I love this recipe. I would eat this pancake any day and not just for breakfast. I had no idea that Lent is about cleaning your pantry. Let the good times roll.
Oh these look so delicious! Beautiful photos too – crepes are on my list of favorite things, and I love how you serve them.
Love the look of these pancakes.
Great recipe for pancake Tuesday! I love crepes and we also call them pancakes in Bulgaria! Can’t wait to make some! Pinned 🙂
Thank you Mira 🙂
I spread loads of love from here. This was a great post and I learned something new!
This makes me so happy, thank you so much Patty.
We always had these thin, lacy pancakes on Shrove Tuesday when I was growing up. We would have them stuffed with cheese, chives, eggs or ham for our dinner.Then my Mum would use up the rest of the batter for dessert pancakes when we would sprinkle sugar and drizzle lemon juice over them. Delicious.
The savory pancakes sound so delicious. Thank you Jen