BUNNY BUTT CARROT CAKE PANCAKES

Bunny Butt Carrot Cake Pancakes image

These pancakes incorporate all of the familiar flavors of carrot cake, including cream cheese frosting, into one adorable breakfast. We like them best with honey, but you may also serve them with maple syrup.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories dessert

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

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Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup loosely packed finely shredded carrots (about 2 small carrots)
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for cooking the pancakes
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 bananas
24 chocolate chips or raisins
Honey or maple syrup, for serving

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Place a baking sheet in the oven to keep the cooked pancakes warm.
Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg in a large bowl. Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, carrots and melted butter in a medium bowl. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Stir in the pecans.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and brush with melted butter. Working in batches if necessary, use about half of the batter to make 4 round pancake "bodies" (about 1/4 cup batter per pancake). Cook until the pancakes are golden on the bottom and bubbly on top, 1 to 2 minutes, then flip and cook until they golden on the second side, about 1 minute more. Place the finished pancakes in the oven on the preheated baking sheet to keep them warm. Use the remaining batter to make 4 round "bunny head" pancakes and 8 oval "bunny paw" pancakes, using about 2 tablespoons of batter per pancake. Place the finished pancakes in the oven to keep warm.
Mix together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a small bowl until well combined and smooth. To serve, place a large pancake in the center of each plate, then place a small round pancake at the top of each large pancake to make a "bunny head". Pipe or dollop two small dots of the cream cheese mixture at the bottom of the large pancake to attach the "feet." Pipe or dollop a bunny "tail" between each set of feet.
Peel and cut the top and bottom 2 inches from both bananas and cut the pieces in half lengthwise. Use the halved banana pieces to make "bunny ears". Slice the leftover pieces of banana crosswise into 8 slices total and add them to the feet. Finish the feet with 3 chocolate chips or raisins each. Serve the bunnies with honey or maple syrup on the side.