My toddler Lola and I have officially entered what I'd call the creative food phase. Earlier on, you could sculpt a plate into a smiley face or transform a sandwich into a penguin, yet the little one wouldn't register any of it — they're simply too young to catch on to what you've done. These days, Lola happily spots animal illustrations wherever we go and mimics the matching sound each creature makes. That's why I figured it was the right moment to branch out into fancier edible creations, and Valentine's Day offered the ideal excuse to experiment with heart-shaped pancakes for a festive family brunch.
Fruit shows up at nearly every meal Lola has, so I was eager to blend some fresh produce right into the pancake design. This piece was created in collaboration with Wonderful Halos. Their mandarins turned out to be a natural fit for my lion character because they taste wonderfully sweet, contain no seeds, and peel effortlessly. They make a tasty, wholesome, and filling snack that both grown-ups and children enjoy, and honestly, they're a smart pick anytime.
To assemble the lion, I dropped a heart-shaped pancake ring into a greased, heated pan to produce the base (any batter will do — boxed mix or a homemade recipe both work), then peeled my Halos mandarins and pulled the wedges apart so I could spread them out as a fluffy mane encircling the face. I also cooked up a couple of small round pancakes, sliced them in half, and tucked the rounded edges along the top "V" of the heart to shape the lion's chin where the inverted heart dips down. The finished result is just too cute!
Feel free to swap in whichever fruit your family prefers for the details, but here's what I chose: strawberries for rosy cheeks, a banana round topped with a chocolate chip for the snout, extra banana slices for the ears, and two blueberries for the eyes. Now your little lion is plated up and ready to devour!
How charming does that look?! Although we usually only manage a shared sit-down meal on weeknights — typically dinner — it's a treat to switch things up with a themed morning meal. I also believe playful plating like this can really nudge children toward sampling a fruit or vegetable they might otherwise refuse, so don't hesitate to tuck in anything you'd like your kid to eat more of. Lola cleared her plate of both the fruit and the pancake without any hesitation, so from her standpoint, this concept is a total winner. Wishing it brings a smile to a special little someone in your world too! xo. Laura
