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Celebrate the holidays with family and loved ones with this festive snowman-themed pancake and hot chocolate party!
I can’t get over how quickly this year is flying by! It seems like once Halloween is over, all of a sudden it’s Christmas, so I find that I have to start planning and preparing really early or it catches me off guard. I’m already getting a head start on my gift list and activity scheduling so I can enjoy this beautiful season rather than spending it feeling stressed and overburdened with “to do’s”. Are you the same way?
One thing my family and I always look forward to during this special time of year is gathering together and celebrating the season over delicious food. Warm, comforting meals have a way of bringing cheer on even the dreariest of days.
We’ll be experiencing our fair share of biting cold and grey skies here in the mountains. I’m enjoying these last little bits of fall before the flurries hit. But my kids can’t wait for the sparkly white stuff to grace our property so they can don their gear and make their own Frosty. 🙂
I knew I needed to put together at least one special event this season with the theme of snowmen, just for my kiddos, so this was the inspiration for today’s party.
When it’s cold out, all I want to do is lounge around in my pj’s and drink hot chocolate all day, so I included a station with easy access to those essentials. 🙂
Setting up a hot chocolate bar could not be easier. I placed some fun plaid fabric on top of a decorative dresser in our living area, then placed some foam snowflakes on top of that and a faux pine garland with snowflake pics in the back. I also draped a cute mitten bunting over the knobs, as you’ll see in the top photo.
Then, I just filled some milk glasses with the drink mix, marshmallows, peppermints, and chocolate chips. Then I placed a pitcher of hot water and a pretty bowl of whipped cream on the side.
And because everything tastes better in a mason jar, I included some fun glass mugs to hold our hot chocolate.
The framed snowman picture was so easy to pull off. I removed the front decoration from a gift bag and glued it to a piece of sparkly red wrapping paper, then placed it in a black frame.
Since we are huge breakfast people in my family, this brunch just wouldn’t be complete without pancakes! I always enjoy bringing the flavors of the season into my meals, so I transformed some Aunt Jemima Original Pancake and Waffle Mix into Gingerbread Pancakes!
I picked up all my supplies at Walmart.
I love gingerbread cookies, so I thought why not enjoy the same goodness in pancake form? 🙂
No worries…you will not be a slave to the stovetop. These puppies come together in a hurry and taste phenomenal! Seriously, your family will be singing you praises!
{GINGERBREAD PANCAKES}
2 c. Aunt Jemima Original Pancake Mix
1 2/3 c. milk
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. canola oil
2 Tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
In a large bowl, stir together pancake mix, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Add milk, eggs, canola oil and molasses and whisk into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased, hot griddle. Turn when bubbles form on top. Cook until second side is golden brown.
Pile ’em high on a platter, because these things will disappear in a hurry!
Drizzle with Aunt Jemima Original Syrup, add a dollop of whipped cream and then sprinkle with desired toppings.
I thought the perfect compliments to the gingerbread flavor would be some candied pecans, oatmeal clusters, dried cranberries, and apple pie filling, and boy was I right! I served them up in mini glass bowls.
Oh my goodness, this was a plateful of holiday deliciousness! Yum!!
{CANDIED PECANS}
2 cups pecans, unsalted, roughly chopped
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. corn syrup
Toss pecans in corn syrup. In a separate bowl, stir together granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add pecans and toss to coat fully. Place on a greased baking sheet in a single layer and bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes, removing every 20 minutes to stir and toss, until the sugar coating is fully cooked.
Remove from oven and let the baking sheet cool on a cooling rack until the nuts reach room temperature. Transfer nuts to a sealed container and store until ready to use.
Mini Pancake Fruit Skewers were a tasty addition to our family morning meal.
My little helper stirred together the Aunt Jemima pancake batter and then I made them into mini pancakes on the greased skillet by just adding single spoonfuls and turning them when they formed bubbles on top. Then I stacked a few cute pancakes on wooden skewers between some fruit, placed them on a platter, then drizzled Aunt Jemima Syrup over the top.
Because it is the season of giving, I wanted to put together a little gift that my family could bring to friends with the delicious Gingerbread Pancake Mix to show our love. I filled pint-sized jars about 3/4 of the way with the pancake mix (recipe below) and then added some dried cranberries and candied pecans to fill the remaining space. I hot glued three buttons in a vertical line on the jar and then hot glued some ribbon and a tied bow around the rim of the lid. I made it to resemble a snowman in keeping with our theme!
{GINGERBREAD PANCAKE GIFT MIX}
2 c. Aunt Jemima Original Pancake Mix
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
You won’t be able to fit the entire mixture into one jar if you’re also adding in cranberries and pecans, so just use enough to fill the jars about 3/4 full. Then, include this tag with the gift so the recipients know what to add to the mix when they make them at home.
Download and print the Gingerbread Pancakes Recipe Tag HERE.
My family thoroughly enjoyed this meal while having lots of great conversation and even more laughs around the table. I love the holiday season for many reasons, but especially for its ability to bring family and friends together.
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What is your favorite way to enjoy Aunt Jemima Pancakes? I’d love to hear in the comments section below!
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