Recipe: Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Topping or Spiced Syrup

RED VELVET PANCAKES

"Treat your family to a Valentine's Day breakfast with these red velvet tinted pancakes. Serve with your choice of a sweet Cream Cheese Topping or a Spiced Syrup."

2 cups pancake mix
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons red food color
FOR SERVING (optional):
Cream Cheese Topping (recipe follows)
Spiced Syrup (recipe follows)

Mix (dry) pancake mix, cocoa powder and granulated sugar in large bowl until well blended. Stir in buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and food color just until blended.

Pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto preheated lightly greased griddle or skillet. Cook 1 to 2 minutes per side or until golden brown, turning when pancakes begin to bubble.

Serve pancakes with Cream Cheese Topping or Spiced Syrup, if desired.

CREAM CHEESE TOPPING

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Miix cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in small bowl until well blended. Stir in milk, a little at a time, until smooth. Stir in vanilla.

SPICED SYRUP

1 cup pancake syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice)

Mix pancake syrup, vanilla and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice in microwavable bowl or measuring cup. Microwave on HIGH 1 to 2 minutes or until warm, stirring once.

Makes 5 servings
Source: McCormick