Earl Grey English Pancakes (Lady M's Crêpe Cake Inspired)
Looking for a unique twist on classic English pancakes? Why not try our recipe for Earl Grey pancakes? These fluffy pancakes are infused with the delicate and aromatic flavor of Earl Grey tea, making them the perfect breakfast or brunch treat for tea lovers. Just like Lady M’s famously delicious Earl grey crêpe cake, but so much easier to whip up! Top them off with a drizzle of honey, a dollop of whipped cream, or your favorite fruit compote for a delicious and satisfying meal. Easy to make and customizable to your liking, these Earl Grey pancakes are sure to become a new favorite in your recipe collection!
Earl Grey Pancake Stack: An Easy Alternative to Lady M's Crepe Cake
Indulge in the delicious taste of Earl Grey tea with our easy-to-make pancake stack recipe that's reminiscent of Lady M's crepe cake, but much easier and speedier to whip up!
Who is Lady M?
Lady M is a famously French patisserie with more than 50 boutique patisseries over the world. Lady M, which started out in New York in 2001 say that they use French pastry techniques with Japanese sensibilities. They are famous for their signature millie crêpes and perfectly layered crepe cakes.
My Earl grey English pancakes are reminiscent of the infamous crepe cake but super simple to make for everyone. I like to serve mine with coconut whipped cream and a drizzle of dark chocolate on top. Feel free to add regular cream and extra toppings such as orange jam or marmalade and a sprinkle of pretty blue dried cornflowers.
How to Infuse Earl Grey Into These English Pancakes
Infusing tea into cakes is easy to do and there are various ways to do it. For these Earl grey pancakes, it’s best to infuse Earl grey tea bags directly into your milk of choice. Allow the tea to infuse for about ten minutes. The idea is for the tea to provide enough Earl grey tea flavor so that it compliments your pancakes but does not overpower them. If you desire more of a Earl grey taste, you can add a sprinkle of tea leaves to your batter, to your whipped cream or over the top of your cooked pancakes.
Earl Grey Tea
Earl grey is a traditional British tea made with blended black tea and flavored with bergamot oil, which comes from the rind of the Italian bergamot orange. There are lots of theories on how Earl grey was first created. It is believed to have been made by accidently storing tea next to fragrant bergamot oil. Earl grey, also known as Charles Grey, loved this accidental creation so much that he requested it be recreated.
Read more: Do Brits really drink a lot of tea?
Is it Safe to Enjoy Earl Grey Tea Everyday?
It’s always best to enjoy your daily indulgencies in moderation, just like everything. There was once a man who was diagnosed with Earl grey intoxication from drinking 16 cups of the stuff a day! Many people enjoy a cup or two daily without any side effects, however, it’s also a good idea to consult your healthcare provider with any dietary concerns.
Read more: What is Earl Grey Tea Intoxication?
English Pancakes vs Crêpes
English pancakes and crêpes are very similar with only a slight difference, crêpes are thinner and larger than English pancakes. Also, when crêpes are made properly, they are cooked on a special griddle with a special tool that allows the crêpe to spread out thinly and to cook fully just on one side. Only English pancakes need to be flipped! English pancakes are traditionally served with lemon and sugar and crêpes are traditionally served dessert style with ice cream, fruit or Nutella. However, don’t let that stop you enjoying English pancakes dessert style with any toppings that take your fancy. These Earl grey English style pancakes taste divine with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate. They taste equally divine with traditional lemon and sugar.
If you LOVE Earl Grey tea you may also LOVE these recipes…
Tips for Making These Pancakes
These pancakes are easy peasy, but here are a few tips to make them extra tasty:
Tea: You can use either 4 Earl grey tea bags or 4-6 heaped teaspoons of loose leaf tea for this recipe. Allow to infuse directly in hot milk for around 10 minutes. Cover your steeping tea to lock in all those wonderful oils and aromas.
Milk: Use any type of milk that you prefer, dairy or non dairy. Allow your infused Earl grey milk to cool to room temperature before adding to your eggs.
Oil: I like using coconut oil when making pancakes. You can use any cooking oil that you wish but I would recommend using a sweet tasting oil such as coconut oil or a light vegetable oil. If you are using coconut oil, melt it before adding to the eggs.
Eggs: It’s always best to use room temperature eggs when making pancakes. Using cold eggs will also make the coconut oil harden up and make an undesirable lumpy batter.
Mix it: Always mix the wet ingredients together (Earl grey infused milk, oil, vanilla and eggs) before adding to the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt) as this helps combine the ingredients to create a smooth batter. Making a well in the middle of the dry ingredients also helps create a lump free batter.
Use extra Earl grey: Lady M’s crepe cake contains Earl grey infused whipped cream in between each layer. If you would like to make Earl grey cream, take one Earl grey tea bag, sprinkle the leaves over a large bowl of whipped cream and fold in. The added Earl grey provides a much stronger flavorful taste experience!
Top them: I like using coconut whipped cream and a drizzle of melted chocolate with these pancakes. You can use any of your favourite toppings. Earl grey tea pairs well with chocolate and citrus flavours - try having them with traditional lemon and sugar over the top.
Roll, fold or stack them: I like to make these pancakes straightforward by spreading a layer of cream and rolling them up just like traditional English pancakes. However, if you are feeling creative, you can stack them up with layers of Earl grey cream in between just like Lady M’s fabulous crepe cake.
How to Make a Stack of These Earl Grey English Pancakes From Scratch
INGREDIENTS (Makes 8-10)
4 Earl grey tea bags or 4-6 heaped teaspoons of loose leaf
3/4 Cup (100g) of plain/all purpose flour
1.25 Cups (10fl oz/300ml) of milk (regular, soy, almond etc…)
2 Eggs
1/4 Cup (25g) of powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of oil (coconut oil or vegetable oil)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Oil for cooking
METHOD
Firstly, warm up your milk, add your Earl grey tea, cover and allow to infuse for ten minutes before removing your tea. Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.
Next, add your milk to a jug, add your eggs, oil and vanilla. Whisk up to combine all of your ingredients.
In a bowl, sift in flour, sift in powdered sugar and a pinch of salt. Create a well in the middle and slowly pour in your milky mixture. Using a whisk, slowly combine your ingredients to make a smooth batter.
Cover and allow your batter to settle for around 30 minutes.
In a medium frying pan over a medium heat, use a little oil (or spray oil) and add a ladle of your mixture. Heat for one minute before flipping it over and cooking on the other side for a further minute.
Add your favourite toppings and enjoy with a hot cuppa :)
Read More Tea Recipes
