Thinking ahead to Pancake Day 2021 (which is on the 16th February this year)? With not much else to look forward to at the moment, it's important to get excited about the little things. And we are here to help you do just that. Even though this year, unlike other years, we all have to enjoy our pancakes at home. This does, however, mean you'll need to upgrade your Pancake Day essentials kit – from a pancake flipper to the best pancake pan, a pancake apron and even a pancake-scented candle (yes, such a thing exists) here's everything you need to buy to celebrate Shrove Tuesday in style and at home this year. Because this day can still be fun, even in lockdown – and whether you have kids or not.
Whether you enjoy a classic, thin and crispy pancake with a sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lime, or you tend to go for American-style pancakes drizzled with syrup and fruit – perhaps you always go savoury? Keep scrolling for our Pancake Day essentials guide.
Love cooking? Check out our best non-stick frying pans guide for our expert advice.
1. First thing's first: the best pancake pan
Because if you are a serious pancake lover – of the super-thin pancakes, technically crêpes – then you know that the size and depth of your pan matters. These pans below are non-stick so you needn't drown your pan in oil (you can still do so if you really want to), and they are the perfect size to make thin, large pancakes. With comfortable handles, too, for when it comes to flipping (and inevitably;y dropping) your pancakes.
Tefal Elegance Aluminium Crêpe Pan | £23.25 at Amazon
Gas and electric safe, this crêpe pan makes it easy to achieve the thinnest pancakes in town. The Thermo-Spot turns solid red to let you know when the pan is hot enough for your mixture, and it's oven-safe up to 175°C (for an hour). Not just for pancakes...View Deal
MasterClass Eco Induction Crepe / Pancake Pan | £11.24 at Amazon
BPA, PTFE and PFOA free, this crêpe pan is induction-compatible (as well as gas, electric and more). And, it's dishwasher safe!View Deal
2. This cute personalised wooden spatula for peeling the edges from the pan
Because you also need a decent wooden spatula when it comes to perfecting pancakes, and what better than something that can be personalised with your family name? One for every pancake day, or just for using every Sunday. How lovely.
Hot Dot Laser Personalised Wooden Spatula | £6 at Not on the High Street
Personalise this wooden spatula with your name, family name or a nickname. It's brilliant because it won't scratch your pan, and it's flat to make lifting up thin pancakes an easy job.View Deal
3. This lovely bee-filled honey pot – for a lovely-looking pancake day table
Pancake day is obviously all about the pancakes, but even though we can't enjoy with the ones we love, it's still nice to have a nice looking table, right? This means no bottles of honey, syrup, bags of sugar and bottles of sauce on your dining table. Buy something to decant this stuff in to make it an Instagrammable affair – like this cute honey pot, for instance...
Bee Honey Pot | £5 at Dunelm
This earthenware honey pot is super cute – pancake day or not. It comes with a honey stick for swirling it over your pancakes, and View Deal
4. Enjoy your pancakes on these super cute (and very happy) plates
The kids will love these pancake plates – and they can be used for any day of the year, just to make breakfast, lunch or dinner, feel special.
Positive Vibes Canape Plate | £10 at Anthropologie
This lovely plate is dishwasher-safe and you can pop it in the microwave, while they are also hand-glazed. We love!View Deal
5. Go all-out with a pancake-scented candle...
Honestly, is there any better smell than pancakes cooking? Especially when there's no washing up to be done afterwards... This pancake candle will make your home smell of the good stuff, no flipping or squeezing required. Also, a great gift for pancake lovers!
The Nomad Society Banana Pancakes Scented Soy Candle | £15 at Not on the High Street
This soy candle has notes of toasted pecans, sweet maple syrup and caramelized banana's – we're sold. Inside an amber glass jar, choose from a single wick candle with a 20-hour burn time, or a double-wick candle that can stay alight for 85 hours.View Deal
6. A lazy suzan serving platter – for all of your toppings!
Not just for use on pancake day, this lazy suzan serving tray will get lots of use, year-round. Use it for your toppings on Shrove Tuesday – chocolate shavings, sprinkles, fruit and more – or for crisps and dip, cheese and crackers and so much more. It rotates to rid the need of picking it up and moving it, and the kids will definitely love it.
John Lewis & Partners Party Dip Lazy Susan | £40 at John Lewis
This lovely set has a spinning Acacia wood base, and the trays are made from porcelain. Perfect for parties – big and small.View Deal
7. A stainless steel lemon squeezer – for clean hands and sour pancakes
A lemon squeezer, in our eyes, is a must-have in every kitchen. It makes juicing a lemon easy and mess-free, while it's much easier to store than a citrus juicer. It also proves handy when juicing citrus fruit for cocktails, baking...
FUKTSYSM Lemon Squeezer | £10.99 at Amazon
Simple to use, convenient to store and made from 305 stainless steel, you need this clever kitchen gadget.View Deal
8. Buy this cute pancake tea towel to clean up the mess in style
The one thing we hate about Pancake Day? The clean up. This cute pancake tea towel can help you clean up in style – or, you can just hang it proudly in your kitchen.
AmorDeAlma Pancake Tea Towel | £13.72 at Etsy
Support small with this lovely pancake tea towel. It reads "pancakes make people happy" and is made from 100 per cent pure ring spun cotton.View Deal
9. Need some inspiration? Pick up a pancake cookbook – for sweet and savoury recipes
If you are considering straying from your classic sugar and lemon thin pancakes this year, then let this book lead the way. You'll probably end up using it for inspiration every Sunday – you're welcome.
Posh Pancakes: Over 70 Recipes, from Hoppers to Hotcakes | £7.78 at Amazon
This pancake recipe book is filled with over 70 different recipes, from truffle honey pancakes to Japanese pancakes, lots of savoury options and delicious looking salted caramel crêpes.View Deal
10. These pancake moulds for lovely shaped creations
We know this is a fried egg mould, but it would work easily as well with pancake mixture. This way, you can have different shaped American-style pancakes from heart-shaped ones to star pancakes, flower ones or just a perfectly rounded stack.
KATOOM Fried Egg Mold | £7.97 at Amazon
Made from food grade heat-resistant silicone, these moulds are non-toxic and non-stick. Just pop them in your pan, pour in the batter and wait. Use the handle to move or flip your pancake (or egg). Also included comes two oil brushes.View Deal
11. You'll also need a stylish fruit washer (and server) like this one...
Cute and practical, use this berry basket for cleaning, storing and serving your fruit. You can also pop it in the fridge – it has handles for easy carrying. Not just pretty, clearly!
Joan Berry Basket | £18 at Anthropologie
Dishwasher-safe and available in two colours, this stoneware berry basket is perfect for a Pancake Day spread, a summer table or a picnic in the park. View Deal
12. Hang this cute pancake wall art up in your kitchen to add some colour
If you are a true pancake fan, and if you love a bit of wall art in the kitchen, then this print is lovely! We think it would be a great addition to a gallery wall, or perfect placed on open shelving. And who doesn't love pancakes?
GeminiPrintsWallArt Pancakes Wall Art Print | £3.65 at Etsy
This eye-catching pancake print is available in plenty of sizes, and it'll be printed on high quality 225gsm matt photo paper. A perfect pop of colour for an otherwise plain kitchen.View Deal
13. Don't forget this jumbo pancake turner – for when flipping is too risky
Whether you are a flipper or not, this pancake turner can prove handy. With a large surface area for easy flipping, it can also be used for eggs and omelettes. Choose from a range of colours, too.
Colourworks KitchenCraft Nylon Headed Jumbo Pancake Turner | £6.65 at Amazon
Large so easy to use, this pancake turner can help when you're too scared to go flipping crazy. With a large nylon head for picking up all of your pancake, it's anti-scratch and it has a strong stainless steel handle.View Deal
14. You'll need a spoon (or whisk) rest to prevent messy worktops
A spoon rest is a kitchen must-have whether it's pancake day or not, but especially if you don't fancy cleaning up batter for the days after Shrove Tuesday. This one is pretty, practical and you can use it to hold spatulas, wooden spoons, whisks and more.
Female Form Spoon Rest | £12 at Urban Outfitters
Made from ceramic, this spoon rest is dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe. It'll complement any kitchen worktop...View Deal
15. A personalised whisk for a thick batter and a pretty utensil pot
Whether you have your cooking utensils on show or not, this sweet personalised whisk is a great buy. You'll use it for everything from pancakes to Yorkshire puddings and cake batter, and it'll be used for years to come by your family. You know we love a personalised gift...
NaturalGiftStore Personalised Egg Whisk | £20 at Etsy
Handmade from stainless steel and wood, this whisk can be personalised with a maximum of two to three words – whether that be a family name or a nickname of yours.View Deal
16. If you are a year-round pancake lover, then invest in a crepe maker...
If you prefer your pancakes to be thin and more crepe-like, or you plan on making pancakes more often than once a year, you might consider investing in a handy crêpe maker. This Breville one is perfect – for sweet breakfast pancakes, savoury dinner ones or a dessert party.
Breville VTP130 1000W Traditional Crepe and Pancake Maker | £29.99 £24.99 (save £5) at Robert Dyas
A very easy way to enjoy thin, crispy pancakes every weekend, this pancake maker is simple to use, fast to heat up and it's on sale. It's completely non-stick and easy to wipe clean, and it boasts temperature control.View Deal
