Brits have shared their love for weird and wonderful pancake toppings, with favourites ranging from baked beans and tartare sauce. While some stick to classic choices, many drizzle sweet chilli instead of syrup on their pancakes, and others embrace sweet and savoury combinations like strawberries with cream cheese or brie with cranberry.
The recent poll of 2,000 people found that over half of Brits see pancakes as a blank canvas for culinary experiments. In fact, eight in 10 plan to enjoy unusual topping combinations for Shrove Tuesday, which falls on March 4th this year. Among the more adventurous choices, 6% admitted to adding salty sardines, while 27% opted for something spicy. But when it comes to traditional toppings, many Brits still remain loyal to old favourites like lemon and sugar, golden syrup, and chocolate spread.
However, opinions are divided on pancake styles, with 35% preferring thick and fluffy pancakes, while 31% favour thin, crêpe-style ones. The research, commissioned by Lyle’s Golden Syrup, coincides with the brand's collaboration with Georgie Grasso, winner of the Great British Bake Off in 2024. Together, they’ve developed creative recipes that marry "swavoury" flavours, including a chorizo, bacon, and golden syrup pancake.
Rhian Moore, a representative from Lyle’s Golden Syrup, said: “Some of the greatest combinations of all time would have seemed unusual at first. Imagine being the first person to mix salt and vinegar, or peanut butter and jam—history favours the bold when it comes to flavours.
“We’re proud champions of creativity and experimentation, and we want to celebrate the weird, wonderful, and downright strange ‘swavoury’ toppings.”. For many, making pancakes remains a cherished tradition. Nearly half of those surveyed said they always try to observe Shrove Tuesday, and 59% recalled fond childhood memories of making pancakes with their families.
