Sometimes (usually at weekends) I wake up in pancake mode!

Today was one of those days.

My typical weekday breakfast oats consist of a grated apple mixed into milky oats with raisins, cinnamon and seeds or nuts sprinkled over a dollop of soy yoghurt on the top.

Well, this is simply my breakfast in pancake form with dates instead of raisins and walnuts as the perfect compliment. On their own I am not a huge walnut fan…but teamed with dates or maple syrup then I’m sold. You could use either date syrup or maple syrup in this recipe, I used maple syrup and then added the chopped dates to the batter.

These are thick moist pancakes and make for a pretty filing brunch. Believe me you really won’t need to be snacking again before lunch…particularly if like me these form part of a lazy morning, with brunch!

Saturday tends to be my chill-out catch up day, anything goes and I have no particular timetable or commitments. However, that said I do like to have felt that I ‘fitted a lot in’ to my day. I’ve said before that I’m not really very good at lazy days however hard I try! But the concept of lazy day pancakes sets me in the weekend mood, they take the healthy vibe and tweak it into a little indulgence. Perfect!

If you are a fan of pancake brunch (or indeed pancake dessert!) have a peek at my blueberry banana or my winter cranberry chestnut combos or the thumbnails below....

Recipe: Spiced apple pancakes with date and walnut

Makes approx. 6 medium thick pancakes. (serves two for brunch or desert)

Ingedients

• ½ cup mix of wholemeal and white spelt flour
• 4 tbs rolled oats
• 1 grated apple
• 3 finely chopped dates (optional or you can add more if omitting the maple syrup)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¾ tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tbs maple syrup or 2 tbs date syrup) (omit if want a more savoury pancake)
• 1/3-1/2 cup soy milk (or any milk alternative)
• 1 tbs melted coconut butter/oil (or omit for fat free)
• Topping- soy yoghurt, a sprinkling of chopped walnuts and a drizzle of maple or date syrup

Method

Mix coconut butter/oil, syrup of choice and soy milk in a bowl and heat in microwave to melt the butter into the mixture. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl then add the wet and mix. Add chopped apple/dates last and lightly mix through. Spoon dollops on a lightly oiled hot frying pan and fry till golden for a minute or so each side. Serve with soy yoghurt and walnuts as desired.