Top tips for perfect pancakes from Kristy's Bakery!

As it's Shrove Tuesday tomorrow pancake lovers across Swansea will have no excuse not to indulge!

And there's nothing more satisfying than making your own, especially if you manage to nail them perfectly the first time.

An example of good British-style pancakes

But of course, that's not always the case. There are so many ways to get them wrong, whether they stick to the pan or whether you manage to flip them so high they stick to the ceiling (...admit it, it's happened).

So here are six pancake making tips that may help to make your Shrove Tuesday run a little smoother (these tips work well for the flatter British style pancakes or the American fat ones!)

• Weigh your ingredients - Don't just guess. While the batter may look 'about right' you'll soon find out that it's too thick or runny when it's too late.


• Don't worry about lumps - You'll want to mix the batter enough so the wet and dry ingredients combine, but don't over beat it or you'll risk chewy pancakes instead of fluffy ones.


• Don't let the batter sit - If you make the batter out of the way and let it sit, the flour will absorb too much of the liquid. Only make the batter just before you're ready to cook.


• Use a heavy-based pan - In the bakery we use a large hotplate, but you probably don't have that luxury. Instead make sure to use a thick, heavy-based pan. If your pan is too thin your pancakes will burn.


• Don't let the pan get too hot - You'll want a hot pan, but don't let it get too hot or the pancakes will end up burning. Try to stick with a medium heat.


• Flip them once - Yes flipping the pancakes looks cool, but flip just once otherwise you risk deflating your pancake (especially tragic if you're making the American style ones).

It's not too hard to make decent pancakes, but you need patience and a bit of skill if you want to make really good ones.

Of course if you're too busy to make your own but still want the pleasure of eating them, you can always pop in to Kristy's Bakery if you're in Swansea and pick up some freshly made pancakes.

Good luck and happy Pancake Day!