Valentines’ Day is pretty much here, and naturally you want to make a good impression on your boo. Ditch the crowded restaurant scene and instead, make something that comes from the heart. Don’t consider yourself a chef in the kitchen?  No worries!  This simple, but foolproof recipe is sure to get your day off to a sweet start. Begin the day set aside for lovers by making a special breakfast of everyone’s favorite, red velvet pancakes with cream cheese syrup. You can serve this sexy breakfast in bed complete with a side of scrambled eggs, bacon and a mimosa, or champagne! For extra points, use a heart shaped cookie cutter for perfect heart pancakes.

They say food is everyone’s love language, so hit the kitchen and cook your way to love!

Ingredients- 2 servings

Pancakes:

¾ cup plus 2 Tablespoons Milk

¾ cup plus 2 Tablespoons All- Purpose Flour

2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

½ Teaspoon Baking Soda

½ Teaspoon Salt

½ Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

2 Teaspoons Red Food Coloring

1 Egg

2 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter- melted

Cooking Spray

 

Cream Cheese “Syrup”:

4 ounces Cream Cheese (room temperature)

½ cup Powdered Sugar

3 ounces Milk

½ Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
Method of Preparation:

Combine milk and vinegar in bowl and let sit to “sour” for five minutes.

In another bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

To the milk and vinegar mixture whisk in egg, melted butter, vanilla extract and red food coloring.

Combine dry and wet mixtures together until lumps are gone.

Heat large skillet to medium heat. Spray with cooking spray and scoop out ¼ cup-full of batter onto skillet. Flip pancake once bubbles appear on the surface. Cook for a remaining 1 ½ – 2 minutes.

In a mixing bowl- beat all ingredients of the cream cheese “syrup” together until smooth. Serve with pancakes.

New York City native Shaquay Peacock is a private chef, freelance caterer and food stylist. She holds a B.A. in Culinary Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University and is a lover of all things food, travel and culture related. Follow her culinary adventures on Instagram at @ChefShaquay