Even in the dark, damp and chilly days of February,Dominique Anselknows how to warm the soul: comfort food.The man who brought the world the Cronut, has concocted another piece of baking bliss. In celebration of International Pancake Tuesday on Feb. 17, Ansel hasteamed up with Nutellato create the Nutella Pancake Cone.
We’ll just let that sink in a little.
Hoping to bring commuters a little pick-me-up snack, the chef is crafting hundreds of his new treat to be passed out for free in New York’s Grand Central Terminal starting at 11 a.m.
“The weather is sad, it’s cold. It will be nice to have a happy day. We’re going to give everyone something good to eat,” says Ansel.
Pancakes, free food, gobs of Nutella? Mark International Pancake Tuesday as our new favorite holiday. For those not in N.Y.C. on Feb. 17, don’t fret — you can find Ansel’s recipe for theperfect pancakebelow.
To prepare for the celebration, PEOPLE talked to Ansel about his favorite comfort foods, baking tips and the secret behind his irresistible new treat.
How did you come up with making a Pancake Cone for the Nutella event?
Nutella is something I loved since I was a kid. I remember growing up in France and eating Nutella for breakfast. I created the Nutella Pancake Cone as a fun way of eating a pancake and Nutella.
What’s your favorite way to make pancakes at home?
I like pancakes that are simple. I always enjoy just maple syrup. I know some people like fruit, or yogurt and cream with it. I like them simple. Nutella is perfect for this because it is not too sweet. It’s nutty. It’s chocolatey. It’s a perfect match for pancakes.
What are some of your other go-to comfort foods?
We do madeleines at the bakery. We bake them to order. It’s like a two-bite fluffy, pillowy, lemony cake. It’s almost like a pancake, actually. I love them. I love them in the morning. I love them in the afternoon. I love them anytime.
I love Japanese food, because it is simple and all about the ingredients. It’s always tasty. It’s always clean and neat.
What advice of you have for those who find baking intimidating?
It’s something everyone does growing up. I think it’s easier to make a cookie than to sear a steak properly. And it’s more fun. In my book there is a lot of recipes for beginners. Very simple recipes that anyone can do at home. Most of them have four to eight ingredients. Just mix them together, and you can bake. It can be very technical, but the basics are there for people to have fun in the kitchen.
Dominique Ansel’s Perfect PancakeMakes 20 4-inch pancakes
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour1 tbsp. baking powder⅓ cup sugar1 ½ tsp salt1 tbsp. honey3 each eggs2 cups milk⅓ cup melted butter
1.Combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl.
2.Stream in milk, while whisking.
3.Combine eggs and honey, then stream into the mixture while whisking.
4.Stir melted butter in until mixture looks smooth.
5.Pour into lightly greased, preheated griddle. Alternatively, you can pour into lightly greased molds and bake in the oven at 350F.
—Kelli Bender
source: people.com
