Pretty Magnificent Pancake Christmas Tree

Are you thinking about elevating your cooking game this Christmas? Perhaps you're stuck on what to make for dessert? Or maybe you're even looking for a way to festive-y breakfast on Christmas morning? 

If any of those questions speak to you then we have the best. pancake. recipe. ever (and we're not even joking). 

Introducing, the pancake Christmas tree! 

Yes, you read that right. With a cooking time of only 15 minutes, you can fill your family with joy by cooking and putting together a Christmas tree made out of pancakes, filled with strawberries, raspberries and cherries and drizzled in maple syrup.

Perfect for adding a little festive flair, this sweet creation will get you a lot of 'I love you's in only 4 steps! 

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Method 

1. Combine the flour and the sugar in a large bowl and make a well in the centre before adding the milk, egg and vanilla. Whisk the mixture until it's  smooth. 
2. Heat a lightly greased non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Then separately pour 3 tablespoons, 2 tablespoons and 1 tablespoon of pancake mixture into the pan to make 3 different-sized pancakes. Cook them for 1 minute each side or until they're nice and golden. Repeat the process. Once done you should have 2 pancakes of each of the 3 sizes (6 pancakes in total). 
3. Use electric beaters to beat the cream and icing sugar together in a bowl until firm peaks form, or if you're in the Christmassy spirit, until peaks form that look like the mountains outside of Whoville. Spoon the mixture into a plastic piping bag and snip off the end to create a small opening.
4. Place one of your largest pancakes on a serving plate and pipe on some cream before decorating it with some of the fruit. Top with the next biggest pancake. Repeat layering with cream, fruit and pancakes in ascending order, finishing with fruit. Drizzle over maple syrup and sprinkle with coconut flakes. Dust with icing sugar to serve and enjoy your festive, fruity creation! 

INGREDIENTS 

• 150g (1 cup) of self raising flour 
• 2 tbsps of caster sugar 
• 185ml (3/4 cup) of milk 
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp of vanilla essence
• 300ml of thickened cream 
• 45g (1/4 cup) of icing sugar, sifted, plus extra to dust 
• Fresh red fruit, such as strawberrries, raspberries and cherries, to decorate 
• Maple syrup, to serve 
• Toasted coconut flakes, to serve