There are more than 13.9 million posts on Instagram with the hashtag #pancakes, and they’re equally as popular on TikTok, with videos about pancakes gaining hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions of views.
While some say pancakes were invented by the Romans and others claim they're a modern-day creation made by someone’s grandma, the truth is a little more mysterious and way more fascinating.
Over the years, the origin and history of pancakes has been become muddled with misinformation, unusual claims and even a few far-fetched theories.
So where do they really come from?
When is Pancake Day?
Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, falls on Tuesday 4 March this year. The date of Pancake Day varies from year to year as it marks the start of the Christian festival of Lent.
Sri Lanka, Greece, Maryland or Columbus?
Where did pancakes originate? The debate continues on X with Sri Lanka, Greece, Maryland and Columbus just a few of the places namechecked. But is there any truth behind the claims?
There is evidence of pancakes dating back more than 5,000 years after the body of an Iceman, discovered in the Italian alps in 1991, revealed that his last meal was in the form of a pancake-like flatbread.
Fast forward to the first century, and Ancient Romans are believed to have eaten Alita Dolcia (meaning 'another sweet' in Latin), which were sweet pancakes made from milk, flour, eggs and spices.
The much-debated origin on social media platforms likely comes from the fact that the definition of a pancake differs greatly from country to country.
Pancakes come in many different varieties around the world
In France, they refer to pancakes as crêpes and these are traditionally thin and are made using plain flour and eggs. In America, the pancakes are thick and fluffy. The fluffiness comes from an added ingredient - baking powder.
Then there are German Dutch baby pancakes, Swedish raggmunks, Dutch poffertjes, Finnish pannukakku, Australian pikelets, Italian crespelles and many more – each offering their own twist on the original pancake recipe.
The popularity of pancakes can be credited to a number of different recipes and cultures, with each version having its own origin story. However, there is no definite answer as to where pancakes originally came from.
Three times pancakes made the headlines
Popular hashtags across social media include #pancakestack, #pancakerecipe and #pancakelover. But which ones have created the biggest stir?
The Carlos Sainz Pancake Method
Carlos Sainz is famous for two things: being a Formula One racing driver and his fluffy pancakes. A TikTok video of Sainz and his pancake recipe went viral in February 2024, reaching a huge 18.1 million views. His video has been saved by over 263,000 followers with viewers commenting they’re the “best pancakes ever”!
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Who could forget the viral cinnamon swirl pancakes first posted on TikTok by foodie lover Winnie? With over 49.7 million views, these pancakes are made by swirling cinnamon sugar into the pancake batter before cooking, resulting in a sweet and spicy flavour.
Japanese Soufflé Pancakes
Despite their name, these pancakes reportedly originated in Hawaii after chef Nathan Tran - who is of Japanese descent - made them for Japanese tourists who requested American-style pancakes in his restaurant. Years later these fluffy desserts went viral on TikTok, with one recipe posted by TikTok food influencer @annfakhira gaining more than 26 million views!
This article was published in February 2025
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