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uncle Sam pancakes
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Uncle Sam Pancakes

    These Uncle Sam pancakes are shockingly simple and oozing with that festive 4th of July spirit. Baked in a sheet pan, these banana-based pancakes are decorated with tons of fresh berries and fruit. Without too much effort, they look like Uncle Sam!

    Best of all, you don’t have to stand in front of the stove flipping pancakes. These come together in a food processor or blender, poured into one sheet pan, and baked for 20 minutes. It’s simple, light, and fun.

    These Uncle Sam pancakes are made with banana in the batter and have a delicious banana flavor. I would want to eat these with a strawberry-banana smoothie, maybe livened up with a little mint. Serve them alongside some whole fresh strawberries and a lot of maple syrup. 

    uncle sam pancakes served on a plate

    Use melted butter or cooking spray to really coat the inside of the pan well. The corners require extra care so the pancake does not stick. Make sure to give them a little extra oil or butter.

    When I made this recipe the first time, I laid out my fruit in a clean sheet pan to practice the design first. That way, I knew where all my fruit needed to go to keep Uncle Sam looking good.

    You can also skip this decoration and randomly scatter the fruit over the pancake, or arrange the fruit into stripes, or stars of the flag. However, you want to celebrate! 

    What You Need To Make Uncle Sam Pancakes

    This recipe requires eggs, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, kosher salt, vanilla extract, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, baking soda, unsalted butter, and maple syrup.

    You can use just strawberries or just raspberries or could substitute cherries, but make sure one of the fruits you have is red. 

    ingredients to make uncle Sam pancakes

    Ingredients:

    • All-purpose flour
    • Granulated sugar
    • Kosher salt
    • Unsalted butter, melted
    • Milk, 1%, 2%, or whole
    • Strawberries
    • Raspberries
    • Blueberries
    • Banana
    • Baking powder
    • Vanilla 
    • Large eggs
    • Maple syrup, for serving

    Equipment: 

    Uncle Sam pancakes require a sheet pan, a knife, and cutting board, a microwave-safe bowl (to melt butter), and a food processor or a blender. If you don’t have a food processor or blender, use a fork to mash the banana in a large bowl and a whisk to mix up the batter. Make sure you mash the banana really well if you use this method.

    How To Make Uncle Sam Pancakes

    Make the batter: Melt your butter. Allow it to slightly cool. In a food processor or blender, add the milk, banana, melted butter, sugar, and vanilla. Run for roughly 30 seconds, or until the banana starts to break down. Add in the eggs and pulse until the eggs are incorporated. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend for 30 seconds. 

    Prepare the fruit: Wash and dry your fruit. Cut off the tops of the strawberries and cut the strawberries in half. Cut the banana into ½-inch thick rounds, and then cut most of those into half moons, reserving 4-5 rounds.

    cut fruits

    Assemble the pancake: Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Pour the batter into a prepared sheet pan. Add the fruit into the shape of Uncle Sam.

    From the top of his head: His hat has vertical stripes of red (raspberries) and white (half-moon-shaped bananas), a horizontal band of blue (blueberries), and a red brim (raspberries).

    Trace his face with blueberries and use the banana rounds to create his beard. Use a few more blueberries to create his eyes and mouth, and a few strawberries to create the nose and bow tie. 

    assembled uncle sam pancakes

    Bake: Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Do not overbake. 

    Serve: Cut into squares, top with maple syrup and enjoy! 

    uncle sam pancakes served on a plate

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use frozen berries?

    I have never tried this, but I think you could produce similar results. You might find that the frozen fruit bleeds a little bit more into the pancake. I would use the berries still frozen and not defrost them before baking. 

    Can I reheat this?

    Yes! Place leftovers in a preheated oven or in the microwave to rewarm. 

    What other designs can I make?

    While it wouldn’t be an Uncle Sam Pancake, it would be fun to do fireworks, a flag, stars, or really any shape or design with the different red, white, and blue colors.

    uncle Sam pancakes

    Uncle Sam Pancakes

    Arielle Hess
    Surprisingly simple, but definitely destined to be a huge hit, these Uncle Sam pancakes are perfect for a Fourth of July party. Banana pancake batter is decorated with tons of fresh berries and fruit to look like Uncle Sam and baked right in the oven, so you don’t have to stand in front of the stove flipping pancakes. Simple, easy, and crowd-pleasing, try this dish for the Fourth of July!
    No ratings yet
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 388 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 1/2 cups milk
    • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
    • ½ tsp kosher salt
    • 8 oz unsalted butter melted
    • 2 ½ cups milk 1%, 2%, or whole
    • 2-3 strawberries
    • ¾ cup raspberries
    • ¾ cup blueberries
    • 2 bananas
    • 1 tbsp baking powder
    • 2 tsp vanilla
    • 2 large eggs
    • Maple syrup for serving

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
    • In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 8 oz of unsalted butter. Allow it to cool slightly.
    • In a food processor or blender, add the 2 ½ cups milk, 1 banana, melted butter, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Run your machine for roughly 30 seconds, or until the banana starts to break down.
    • Add 2 large eggs. Pulse until the eggs are incorporated.
    • Add the 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Blend for 30 seconds.
    • Wash and dry 2-3 strawberries, ¾ cup raspberries, and ¾ cup blueberries.
    • Cut off the tops of the strawberries and cut the strawberries in half.
    • Cut the second banana into rounds, roughly a half-inch thick. Reserving 4-5 rounds, cut the rest in half.
    • Pour the batter into a prepared sheet pan.
    • Shape the fruit to resemble Uncle Sam (as described above).
    • Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
    • Cut into squares and top with maple syrup.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    If you don’t have a food processor or blender, use a fork to mash the banana in a large bowl and a whisk to mix up the batter. Make sure you mash the banana really well if you use this method.
    Also, use melted butter or cooking spray to really coat the inside of the pan well. The corners require extra care so the pancake does not stick — make sure to give them a little extra oil or butter.
    When I made this recipe the first time, I laid out my fruit in a clean sheet pan to practice the design first. That way, I knew where all my fruit needed to go to keep Uncle Sam looking good. You can also skip this decoration and randomly scatter the fruit over the pancake, or arrange the fruit into stripes or stars of the flag — however you want to celebrate!
    You can use just strawberries or just raspberries or could substitute cherries, but make sure one of the fruits you have is red.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 388kcalCarbohydrates: 67.75gProtein: 11.78gFat: 26.38gSaturated Fat: 15.511gFiber: 3.2gSugar: 22.62g
    Keyword holiday, make ahead, pancakes
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    Arielle is a food and drink photographer based in Washington, D.C. She was previously a social science researcher before she fell in love with photography.

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