Shrove Tuesday is a day in either February or March, observed traditionally by some Christian sects. The exact date, however, changes every year as it is determined by Easter, which, as we know, changes every year due to the fact that Easter is always scheduled to fall on the Sunday that follows the full moon on or after March 21 – also known as the ‘Spring Equinox’ in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the beginning of Lent, which historically forbade the consumption of fats like butter, milk and eggs. The meaning of the word ‘shrove’ even denotes the act of atoning for one’s sins.

It colloquially became known as ‘Pancake Day’ because many families would throw together pancakes – the most obvious way to use all of the outlawed items.

In some places (we’re looking at you New Orleans, with your wild parties on Bourbon Street), it is known as ‘Mardi Gras’ or ‘Fat Tuesday’, as it is technically seen as the last day of indulgence before Lent. Traditionally, Lent always takes place 47 days before Easter, but nowadays, it is not so strict. Most modern followers will give up a bad habit or seemingly unhealthy foods.

While fully entrenched as a Christian institution, there are some beliefs that the practice of eating pancakes may have originated from a Pagan tradition, where eating warm, round pancakes was a way to symbolise the sun and welcome in spring.

Along with eating delicious pancakes, some nations honour the day by holding pancake races – where you race to the finish line while flipping a pancake – or even pancake-flipping contests to see who can flip their pancake the highest. However you choose to celebrate Shrove Tuesday is fine by us, as long as you uphold the tradition of eating…

Shove Tuesday Pancake Recipes

Be it pancakes, flapjacks (American pancakes) or even crêpes, you best get to flipping with our selection of Shrove Tuesday-appropriate recipes.

Recipe for Avocado Flapjack Stack
Recipe for Ricotta Pancakes with Strawberry & Lemon Curd

Recipe for Coffee Flapjacks with Mocha Sauce
Recipe for Breakfast Bacon Stack

Recipe for Vegan Flapjacks with Whipped Coconut Cream & Berry Coulis
Recipe for Red Velvet Crumpets with Mascarpone & Maple Syrup

Recipe for Cast Iron Dutch Baby Pancake
Recipe for ClemenGold Crêpes Suzettes

Recipe for Carrot Cake Crumpets with Lemon Whipped Cream Cheese
Recipe for Rooibos Crème Brûlée Crêpe Cake

Want more? Check out these delicious pancake and crêpes recipes.