It’s Sunday! You know what that means: it’s time for Sunday Brunch. Why don’t you skip the line and make brunch at home this week? The coffee’s truly bottomless, the booze doesn’t have a crazy markup and you can chill out in your pajamas. Every Sunday I’ll post a brunch recipe. Soon you won’t be asking, where should we go for brunch– instead it’ll be, what should we make for brunch today?
heehee. looks like my stove needs a clean. please excuse the mess!
It’s Totoro Week! If you know me at all, you know that I’m a wee bit obsessed withHayao Miyazakiand in particular, Totoro. He’s furry, he’s friendly, he’s absolutely adorable. It’s been my lifelong wish to meet a totoro in real life, but since that will never truly happen, me and Lyndsay of Coco Cake Land decided to make (and eat!) a bunch of totoro inspired food.
As a kid, heck, even as an adult, my brunch would be MADE if someone gave me a plate of Totoro pancakes. It would be even better if they were apple pie pancakes made with shredded apple, cinnamon, buttermilk, and all the good stuff. I know it’s a little finicky to decorate your pancakes, so if you just make plain apple pie pancakes, I would totally understand. To be honest, I only made three of these guys before resorting to regular fluffy rounds.
Do you guys find it meditative to make pancakes? I love standing by the stove waiting for those little bubbles to break the surface. Way better than heading out in the inevitable Sunday morning rainto waitin line for brunch. Plus, making pancakes at home means that I can eat them right as they come out of the pan. Minimal time from pan to stomach is my ideal kind of Sunday. Hope you guys are having a happy one!
Apple PiePancakes
makes 7-8 pancakes
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup finely chopped or shredded apple
Preheat the oven to 200°F.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and spices. In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, vanilla, and apple. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and gently combine with a fork. Do not over mix. This is a thick, lumpy pancake batter. The little lumps will make your pancakes fluffier. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes some moisture works its way into the lumps.
Heat up a non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Brush a thin layer of butter or oil on your pan. Drop the batter by the tablespoon into the pan and cook until small bubbles form on the surface and at the edges. The pancakes should be a golden brown. Flip and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the pan and place on a wire rack inside a baking sheet. Keep the cooked pancakes warm in the oven until you finish pancaking.
To make totoros: spoon the batter on your lightly greased pan and maker sure to spoon on two ears. Use whipping cream to spoon on a belly and two eye whites. Pipe on melted chocolate or black frosting for the eyeballs, nose, whiskers, and tummy triangles.
PS – Check out Lyndsay’s Totoro cake! He’s super kawaii!
25 Comments
October 26, 2014 at 2:59 am
Umm…apple pie Totoro-themed pancakes?!?! AHHHHHHHH!!! This is the best.
Reply
October 26, 2014 at 3:55 am
This is the cutest thing I’ve seen all day! Amazing!
Reply
T.Kuo says:
October 26, 2014 at 5:52 am
So adorable! Where did you get your knives & forks? Thank you!
Reply
See AlsoStar Wars™ Popcorn Mix Recipesteph says:
October 26, 2014 at 10:12 am
they’re from cb2 :)
Reply
jenna @ just j.faye says:
October 26, 2014 at 7:40 am
Oh my goodness, these are the cutest pancakes I’ve ever seen in my life.
Reply
Millie l Add A Little says:
October 26, 2014 at 8:22 am
OMG I CAN’T EVEN. this is too cute Stephanie! I’m such a Hayao Miyazaki and Ghibli lover – I watch the new films every year in Japan ^.^ But OMG I have to make these for a brunch party!
Reply
October 26, 2014 at 8:37 am
totoro-themed food is the best!
Reply
Love CompassionateLee says:
October 26, 2014 at 10:42 am
O yea! O yea! O yea! Apple pie pancakes …I’m so hungry and so happy for this recipe :) Enjoy a restful Sunday, Stephanie!
Reply
October 26, 2014 at 11:18 am
I’ve never heard of a Totoro, but he’s cute! And your pancakes look yummy, too.
Reply
Amanda Vuy says:
October 26, 2014 at 11:40 am
Ahhhh!! I am so in love with totoro and these pancakes!! A.d.o.r.a.b.l.e.
Reply
Erika says:
October 26, 2014 at 7:15 pm
OMG STOP. Can pancakes get any cuter?! No. No they can not. AMAZING <333
Reply
October 26, 2014 at 8:10 pm
KAWAII TOTORO APPLE PIE PANCAKES! that picture of you and catbus made my DAY! i would be so freaked if totoro showed up at my house. i’ve imagined that before, too, haha!! i think teddy needs a plate of totoro apple pie pancakes in his near future! xoxo
Reply
yessi says:
October 27, 2014 at 1:38 am
This is seriously so cute! I need to try this as soon as I get a chance too. I always make pancakes but Im not the best pancake maker. Seriously so adorable and hopefully it comes out like yours when i try it . :)
Reply
October 27, 2014 at 11:25 am
Brunch is my favorite meal, because it means you can have a mimosa at 10:00 AM ;) These pancakes look amazing!
Reply
jaime : the briny says:
October 27, 2014 at 2:39 pm
i love totoro! it’s kind of a fantasy of mine to live in a japanese style house near a bunch of big trees. maybe it would up my chances of meeting a totoro, too. :)
i didn’t know there was any such thing as a totoro week, but i’m really excited to find out from you. cheers!
Reply
MizzJ says:
October 29, 2014 at 10:44 pm
Omg this is so cute and actually pretty simple to do! Thanks for the inspiration.
Reply
Sara @ Cake Over Steak says:
October 30, 2014 at 4:13 am
You guys are so cute. And yes, I agree – making pancakes can be very meditative. :-)
Reply
Mackenzie M. says:
November 24, 2014 at 6:53 pm
Mmmmmm those look delicious!! I love making apple biscuits for breakfast and this would be a yummy change of pace. Can’t wait to try these!
Reply
