Pancakes vary widely across cultures, from fluffy American stacks to thin French crepes. With Pancake Day here, I conducted a taste test of five supermarket varieties—Scotch, British sweet, Dutch-style, buttermilk American, and chocolate-hazelnut crepes—to find the best. I evaluated taste, texture, and satisfaction using consistent toppings: maple syrup, whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. My niece and nephew joined the tasting, and I polled 170 Instagram followers for their preferences.
Instagram Poll Results
Followers favored crepes at 38%, followed by American pancakes at 31%, British at 23%, Dutch at 8%, and Scotch at 0%.
5. Dutch-Style Pancakes (4/10)
Dutch pannenkoeken fill the whole pan, thicker than crepes, made with flour, eggs, milk, and sugar. They suit breakfast, lunch, or dinner, often topped with cherries, whipped cream, or cheese. These offered a richer, buttery, eggy, bready flavor with a thick, chewy texture. The slight bitterness and texture disappointed me, my niece, and nephew, earning a low score.
4. British Sweet Pancakes (5/10)
British pancakes resemble smaller, thicker crepes without raising agents, unlike fluffier American ones. Traditional toppings include lemon juice and sugar, but I found that too tart. Even with syrup, the light, sweet, eggy, buttery profile felt neutral. The texture fell short compared to crepes or fluffy styles.
3. Scotch Pancakes (7/10)
These mildly sweet, buttery pancakes mimic smaller, softer American versions. They pair well with syrup, fruit, or savory items like sausage. My niece and nephew called them bland next to sweeter, fluffier options, but I enjoyed them highly.
2. French Crepes (8/10)
Originating in 13th-century France, crepes use eggs, milk, flour, and butter—no sugar in classic recipes for versatile sweet or savory fillings. Plain versions prove scarce; I tested chocolate-hazelnut ones. Light and airy, they shine with toppings, though the pancake itself plays second fiddle. The chocolate overwhelmed slightly, but polls ranked them tops.
1. American Buttermilk Pancakes (10/10)
Fluffy, sweet, light, and moist, these excel with any topping while standing out on their own. Emerging in the 1700s and popularized as flapjacks by the 1870s, they cook quickly on a stove. Key ingredients include baking powder, salt, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and flour. Serve with syrup, cream, fruit, bacon, or sausage for perfection.
