So Yummy...

photo credit: lisaclarke via photopin cc

So I decided that I'm in the mood to do some baking this year for Valentine's Day, from cupcakes to sugar cookies, I'm just really in the mood to do it this year.

Anyone that's not an avid baker knows that you really have to be "in the mood" to bake anything. I love to bake, but I'm just not an avid baker.

And I was also trying to think of something different and fun to do for breakfast that involves pancakes when I decided to make strawberry heart shaped pancakes with my favorite whipped cream/cream cheese frosting for the topping. This recipe is for anyone who is looking for fun and yum, anyone searching for Valentine's Day breakfast ideas as well as any strawberry lover out there!

I'll be including strawberries within the pancake, in the syrup, and to top the whipped cream/cream cheese frosting. I also decided that I'd like red and pink pancakes, so you'll need food coloring and to get ready for some creativity to do this. Ready, set, time for strawberry heart shaped pancakes to start your Valentine's Day...

Strawberry Heart Shaped Pancakes

Ingredients:

Pancake mix - store bought or homemade
Non-stick heart shaped pancake ring
1-1/2 of a package of strawberries, chopped and diced
Food coloring - to make red and pink pancake mix
2-3 medium or large mixing bowls
Optional: Valentine's Day sprinkles or candies

Directions:

Step 1) Mix up your pancake mix.

Step 2) Separate your pancake mix and then make your pink and your red. Use three bowls to make whiter pancakes, pink pancakes and red pancakes, or use two bowls to keep it simple and just make pink and red pancakes. The choice is yours. A couple of drops of red food coloring will give you the color pink. Keep adding drops of red until you find the pink that you'd like to achieve.

To achieve red, you'll have better luck using gel food coloring. Continue adding red food coloring until you achieve the color red that you would like. If you're not familiar with gel food colors this is what they look like. For natural alternatives to food coloring, check out these tips: Homemade Food Coloring; Make Your Own Natural Red Food Dye for Valentine's Day Treats.

Step 3) Chop your strawberries.

Step 4) Begin making your pancakes, dropping a few strawberries into the pancake while it's on the pancake griddle or throw some strawberries right into the bowls of pancake mixture. Whatever is easier for you.

Step 5) Butter your pancakes, add strawberry syrup, top with a dollop of whipped cream and cream cheese frosting as well as some extra strawberries! For this step you could also frost the entire pancake and then add the syrup over top of the pancakes. That last method is how I intend on making my pancakes.

Strawberry Syrup

Ingredients:

1 cup of white granulated sugar
1 cup of water
1 and 1/2 cup of mashed strawberries

Directions:

Step 1) Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Slowly add in your mashed strawberries a little at-a-time. Stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cook uncovered for ten minutes on low heat, stirring the mixture occasionally. Allow to cool a little bit before use or store in a seal-tight container for later use.

Whipped Cream and Cream Cheese Frosting

I should add that this whipped cream and cream cheese frosting recipe is great for cakes as well! This recipe gives you a sturdy whipped cream frosting thanks to the cream cheese and it's soooo yummy.

Ingredients:

1 8ounce package of reduced fat cream cheese softened
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups of heavy cream or whipping cream

Directions:

Step 1) Combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Whip on medium speed with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.

Step 2) Begin stirring in your heavy cream or whipping cream a little at a time while you continue to mix with your hand mixer on medium speed. Continue to do this until you've added all of your heavy cream or whipping cream. Whip until the cream holds a "stiff peak."

Whipped Frosting Tip: Try freezing the beaters to your hand mixer, along with the bowl that you intend on using for at least 15 minutes to 1 hour before mixing.

Last but not least, have fun and enjoy! I know I will!