BRITS have revealed the weird and wonderful toppings they love on their pancakes – including baked beans, sweet chilli and tartare sauce.
A poll of 2,000 adults who eat pancakes found 85 per cent enjoy unusual topping combinations – with a few adding cheese (24 per cent) and bacon jam (12 per cent).
Others tuck into sweet and savoury combinations on Shrove Tuesday, with 23 per cent swearing by strawberry and cream cheese, and 22 per cent opting for brie and cranberry.
Drizzling golden syrup and walnuts proved popular for 33 per cent surveyed about their favourite pancake toppings, with 10 per cent going for indulgent dulce de leche and salty pretzels.
The survey went on to find 55 per cent believe pancakes are a blank canvas to be experimented on – with six per cent adding salty sardines and 27 per cent tucking into something spicy on top.
The research was commissioned by Lyle’s Golden Syrup, which has teamed up with Georgie Grasso, the Great British Bake Off winner in 2024, to develop recipes which marry ‘swavoury’ flavours – including a chorizo, bacon and golden syrup pancake.
However, the nation is divided on how they should be prepared – with 35 per cent preferring them thick and fluffy, and 31 per cent liking thin crepes for Pancake Day, on 4th March this year.
But when it comes to the more traditional toppings, many remain loyal to lemon and sugar (62 per cent), golden syrup (40 per cent) and chocolate spread (33 per cent).
It also emerged 59 per cent have childhood memories of making pancakes with family on Shrove Tuesday.
Nearly six in 10 (58 per cent) consider making pancakes a tradition that brings people together, according to those polled via OnePoll.
And 47 per cent always try and observe the tradition of Shrove Tuesday.
Rhian Moore, 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 combine 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 want to celebrate the weird, wonderful and downright strange ‘swavoury’ toppings.”
TOP 20 UNUSUAL PANCAKE TOPPINGS:
1. Golden syrup
2. Peanut butter
3. Cheese
4. Fried eggs
5. Bacon jam
6. Sweet chilli sauce
7. Ketchup
8. Garlic butter
9. BBQ sauce
10. Chorizo
11. Baked beans
12. Sardines
13. Curry sauce
14. Olives
15. Mashed potato
16. Marmite
17. Pickles
18. Houmous
19. Jalapenos
20. Kimchi
TOP 15 SWEET AND SAVOURY PANCAKES:
1. Maple syrup and crispy bacon
2. Golden syrup and walnuts
3. Peanut butter and jam
4. Caramel and roasted peanuts
5. Strawberry jam and cream cheese
6. Melted brie and cranberry sauce
7. Honey and goat cheese
8. Apple slices and cheddar cheese
9. Blueberries and feta cheese
10. Chocolate spread and sea salt crisps
11. Chorizo and goats cheese
12. Chocolate and bacon
13. Whipped cream and bacon bits
14. Fig and grilled chicken
15. Dulce de leche and pretzels
