Pancakes vary widely across cultures, from fluffy American stacks to thin French crepes. With Pancake Day underway, a hands-on taste test compared American, French, Dutch, British, and Scotch varieties to find the top choice. The evaluation focused on flavor, texture, and satisfaction using ready-made supermarket options: Sainsbury’s Scotch pancakes, Sainsbury’s sweet British pancakes, Abra-Ca-Debora Original Dutch-style pancakes, Sainsbury’s buttermilk pancakes, and Lidl’s chocolate and hazelnut-filled crepes. This approach ensured consistent results without cooking variables.
All samples received the same sweet toppings: maple syrup, whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Testing involved a 14-year-old niece, a seven-year-old nephew, and an Instagram poll of 170 followers. Poll results showed 38% favoring crepes, 31% American pancakes, 23% British pancakes, 8% Dutch pancakes, and none for Scotch pancakes.
Taste Test Rankings
5. Dutch-Style Pancakes (4/10)
Dutch pannenkoeken fill an entire pan, emerging thicker than crepes yet chewy and flexible. Made with flour, eggs, milk, and sugar, they offer a rich, buttery, eggy taste with bready notes. A native Dutch resident notes locals enjoy them hot with cherries, whipped cream, or cheese. Here, berries and cream highlighted a bitter edge and dense texture that ranked low across the board, earning a 4/10.
4. British Pancakes (5/10)
British pancakes mirror French crepes but appear smaller and thicker, lacking a raising agent for a flatter profile. They deliver a light, sweet, eggy flavor that’s mostly neutral. Traditional lemon juice and sugar add tartness, but maple syrup alone felt underwhelming. The middling texture scored a 5/10.
3. Scotch Pancakes (7/10)
These mildly sweet, buttery drops resemble mini American pancakes—soft and ideal hot with syrup and fruit. They pair well savoury too, evoking fast-food breakfasts. While adults appreciated them, the kids found them bland next to fluffier options, landing a solid 7/10.
2. French Crepes (8/10)
Originating in 13th-century France, crepes rely on eggs, milk, flour, and butter—no sugar in classics for sweet or savoury fillings. Light and airy, they shine with toppings but can fade behind bold flavors. The chocolate-hazelnut version delighted most, though overly rich for some. Crepes earned an 8/10 and topped the poll.
1. American Buttermilk Pancakes (10/10)
Fluffy, sweet, light, and moist, American pancakes dominate with versatile appeal. Evolving in the 1700s for quick stovetop cooking, they gained fame as flapjacks by the 1870s. A basic recipe calls for baking powder, salt, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and flour. Paired with syrup, cream, fruit, bacon, or sausage, they steal the show at 10/10.
American pancakes claim victory for Pancake Day celebrations.
