Some traditions follow you wherever you go. They don’t stay behind when you move continents. They don’t fade with time. They settle into your kitchen and quietly wait for their turn each year. For me personally, Shrove Tuesday smells like cinnamon sugar. Thin South African pancakes, aka crepes, just barely golden at the edges, rolled up tight with warm cinnamon sugar inside.

And these days, my children wait for them the same way I used to. There’s something special about that.

As a pastor’s wife, I have so many special memories of a church we once served in, where the ladies spent hours making pancakes (if you know, you know). The hall would be filled with people who had brought their own favourite fillings to share. The choices were numerous.

What Is Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar. The word shrove comes from “shrive,” meaning to confess and receive forgiveness. Traditionally, it was a day to prepare hearts before entering the season of Lent – a season for repentance, reflection, and renewal leading up to Easter. But there was also something practical happening. Before Lent began (when many families would fast or give up rich foods), they would use up ingredients like eggs, milk, butter, and sugar. And what do those ingredients make?

Pancakes.

In the UK, it’s called Pancake Day. In many parts of the world, it’s tied to Mardi Gras celebrations. In our house, it’s called Shrove Tuesday; it’s simply the night we gather around the table, pass the sugar jar, and flip one too high at least once, and yes, one almost always lands on the floor. I really do need a good pancake pan.

Traditional South African Pancake Recipe (Pannekoek)

If you grew up in South Africa, you know exactly what I’m talking about. These are thin, closer to crepes, and always, always served with cinnamon sugar.
You don’t stack them. You roll them. You eat them warm. And you tell yourself you’ll stop at two, but let’s be honest, it’s usually six.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted and slightly cooled

FIlling:

  • 3-4 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 lemon

Instructions

  • Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder.
  • Whisk together eggs and milk. Slowly whisk into the flour until no lumps remain. Whisk in the melted butter.
  • Place a large skillet over medium-low heat. Grease with additional butter or oil.
  • Pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup of batter into the centre of the pan. Immediately swirl the pan to coat the bottom in a thin layer.
  • Once bubbles begin to form and the bottom is starting to turn golden, flip and cook the other side. Cook until golden.
  • Combine sugar and cinnamon.
  • Squeeze a little lemon juice on the cooked crepe and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.
  • Roll up and repeat.

*A tip from a South African – make the pancake batter the day before and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Pour it into a squeeze bottle (T-sauce, mustard, anything like that), it makes for easy “pourage” – yes, I just made that word up!

Now mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle generously while the pancake is still warm. Roll it up. Stack them and cover with a dishtowel (a clean one, obviously) to keep warm. This is how we eat them; however, there are so many different filling options. See below.

12 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Fillings (other than cinnamon & sugar)

Sweet Fillings

1. Lemon & Sugar
Fresh lemon juice and sugar. Bright and simple.
2. Banana & Nutella
Warm, melty, and always a crowd pleaser.
3. Banana & Caramel
Drizzle warm caramel over sliced bananas. Add a pinch of sea salt if you like.
4. Strawberries & Whipped Cream
Fresh and light.
5. Blueberries & Maple Syrup
Warm the berries slightly so they release their juices.
6. Cinnamon Apple
Cook apples in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until soft and caramelised.
7. S’mores Style
Chocolate, marshmallows, crushed graham crackers. Expect sticky fingers.
8. Peanut Butter & Honey
Simple and filling. Perfect for growing boys who are somehow always hungry, no matter how many you make.
9. Toasted Coconut & Dark Chocolate
A slightly more grown-up option.

Savory Fillings

Because not everyone wants dessert for dinner.
10. Ham & Cheese
Add grated cheddar and thin slices of ham. Let everything melt together.
11. Savoury Mince (Ground Beef)
Fry up some onions and ground beef. Add your favourite spices.
12. Creamed Spinach with Feta
Spread warm creamed Spinach inside and add cracked pepper and a little feta cheese.

Why We Keep This Tradition

In a world that moves quickly, I love small traditions that slow us down. Shrove Tuesday doesn’t require decorations. It doesn’t require a perfect table. It doesn’t require a complicated plan. It requires a bowl, a whisk, and people gathered close. It’s a chance to talk about Lent. It’s a chance to pass down culture.
It’s a chance for our children to step into something older than they are. And if I’m honest, it’s also just a perfectly good excuse to eat cinnamon sugar and not feel bad about it.

Traditions don’t have to be elaborate to matter. Sometimes they just need to be repeated.