With St-Patrick’s Day just around the corner, try a classic sweet breakfast with a special zing.  You can channel the luck of the Irish by starting your morning with some fluffy pancakes made with Guinness and drizzled with pure maple syrup.  Be sure to have a ravenous bunch to feed since this recipe yields about ten to twelve hotcakes.  Of course, no St-Patty’s Day meal is complete without an authentic cup of Irish coffee. Serve with the pancakes to toast the holiday!

Guinness Pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Guinness Stout
butter
maple syrup

1. Heat a greased skillet over medium heat.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.
3. In a separate large bowl, mix together the egg, milk, and Guinness.
4. Gradually mix in the dry flour mixture with the wet Guinness mixture.
5. When the skillet is hot, pour in about 1/8 cup of the batter.
6. When the pancake starts to bubble on top, flip it over and cook it until golden brown.
7. Place the pancake in a warm oven until they are ready to serve.
8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 until you have used all of the batter.
9. Serve pancakes topped with butter and maple syrup.

Prep time: 15 minutes, Cook time: 15 minutes. 

Adapted from The Little Pancake Company’s “Guinness Pancakes”.

Traditional Irish Coffee

1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 cup freshly brewed black coffee
1/4 cup Jameson Irish Whiskey
freshly whipped cream

1. Pre-heat a clear stemmed glass with very hot water
2. Empty the water, and add the brown sugar
3. Add the coffee and stir
4. As soon as the sugar is melted, add the whiskey and wait for the brew to still
5. Top with a dollop of fresh whipped cream

Prep time: 10 minutes.