Pancakes or Pikelets?

By Val
@valmnz (17097)
New Zealand
November 22, 2015 1:11pm CST
After taking part in a few comments about pancakes in a recent post by @troyburns I'm wondering if there is a difference in what we believe we are talking about as pancakes, as there seems to be with many other words. I know that pancakes at MacDonald here are more like what I call pikelets. When I make pancakes they are a very thin batter made from scratch with flour, egg and milk and poured into the pan, I usually add maple syrup as a topping or filling if they are folded over and have them with banana and bacon. Pikelets are fatter, fluffier and smaller, made to rise by the addition of what we call baking powder. These are buttered and have a variety of toppings added. They are not as common as they used to be, but are eaten with a drink for afternoon tea. My favourite topping is jam and cream. How do you make your pancakes? And, do you eat pikelets?
11 people like this
12 responses
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
the first thing sounded more like a crepe to me, never heard of a pikelet
4 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
22 Nov 15
Yes, our pancakes are the same as crêpes.
2 people like this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
@valmnz I do love a good crepe. so if crepes are your pancakes, it sounds like our pancakes are your pikelet
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
22 Nov 15
I am laughing as I read @Jessicalynnt 's comment as I just made the same observation.
2 people like this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
22 Nov 15
I think your pikelets are American pancakes. And your pancakes are like British ones that are more like French crepes - big and thin.
2 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
22 Nov 15
@boiboing that's what I'm thinking too. Do you have pikelets?
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
22 Nov 15
@valmnz They are not widespread. A UK Pikelet is like a very thin crumpet. But we have the US-style pancakes and those are often called 'drop scones'.
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
22 Nov 15
@boiboing as our pikelets were brought here by the English settlers, I guess that's what our pikelets are too. If only words meant the same thing wherever they were used
hlfbldmom
@hlfbldmom (743)
• Philippines
3 Dec 15
I love pancake and as much as Iove it my daughter can have a pancake all day. Pikelets never heard.
wetnosedogs
@wetnosedogs (1533)
• United States
22 Nov 15
Pancakes are good with syrup. I never had a pikelet, but I'd sure like to try one.
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
22 Nov 15
They are smaller, fatter versions of pancakes.
1 person likes this
Gudheart
@gudheart (12659)
•
23 Nov 15
I prefer pancakes personally. I am not into the thicker kind of pancake.
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
22 Nov 15
The dictionary tells me that pikelets are a speciality in New Zealand and Scotland.
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
22 Nov 15
Aah, so they came with the Scottish settlers, not the English. Thanks for that.
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
22 Nov 15
What you describe as a pancake seems much like a crepe, while your pikelets are what I would call a pancake. I've never heard of pikelets.
Anna
@LadyDuck (471355)
• Switzerland
23 Nov 15
Those you call pancakes are French crêpes (very thin), the pancakes I ate in the United States are thick.
MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (82714)
• United States
22 Nov 15
I love pancakes and eat mine with butter and maple syrup. Never heard of a pikelet
The Horse
@TheHorse (218548)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Nov 15
I'd never heard the term "pikelet" until I read it in your post!
Robin Lamb
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
22 Nov 15
@valmnz - And then there are griddle cakes, which are pikelet sized but made with slightly different ingredient ratios. They have more flour and baking powder, less milk, and lashings of butter in the recipe. These might be the drop scones that @boingboing mentioned.
Reine25
@Lucky15 (37374)
• Philippines
22 Nov 15
Have no idea with pikelets... With pancakes..i want those fluffy ones