Fat Tuesday is celebrated around the world and whether the reason be religious, cultural or a tradition – it’s perfectly okay to indulge once in a while. However, having more than one sweet treat can quickly rack up the calories from sugar and fat. In Michigan, Paczkis put the fat in Fat Tuesday by packing in 25 grams of fat in the 400-500 calorie treat. For a healthier substitute in your home kitchen, try this Paczki-inspired pancake with raspberry sauce which flaunts 130 calories or 123 fewer football fields to burn off. Though the lower-sugar raspberry sauce is an easy stovetop recipe, picking up a jar of jam at the supermarket works too.
Swedish-style Thin Pancakes (makes 6-7 pancakes)
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cup milk of choice
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions:
- Whisk flour, eggs, melted butter, vanilla and half of milk together.
- Slowly add more milk while whisking, allowing for a smooth batter. The mixture is ready to pour when there are very few small bubbles left.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and spray with oil.
- Once pan is heated, pour 1/3 cup pancake mixture* into pan and spread into an even layer on the pan by moving the pan in different angles
- Cook for ~2-3 minutes or until bottom has a golden brown color and easily loosens from the pan, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- For a Paczki pancake, serve with raspberry coulis and optional whipped cream or custard. Dust with confectioner’s sugar.
*How much mixture should be poured depends on the size of the pan
Lower-sugar Raspberry Sauce or Coulis
Ingredients:
- 12-oz bag of frozen raspberries
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions:
- Combine raspberries, sugar, water in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Cook and stir until raspberries are syrupy, about 5-8 minutes.
- Serve sauce as-is to offer more fiber, or for a coulis – transfer to a blender, blending until smooth. Pour through fine mesh strainer over a bowl, pushing with a spoon to press the liquid through. Discard any remaining seeds.
Find our more recipes on AHealthierMichigan.org.
About the author: Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family.
Photo credit: Shanthi Appelö.
Author: A Healthier Michigan
Our mission is to help everyone in Michigan get healthier from the inside out. This means everything from giving you resources to help you make better decisions about diet and exercise, as well as information on creating and sustaining nurturing communities and successful businesses — everything you need to help create a healthier Michigan.
Our mission is to help everyone in Michigan get healthier from the inside out. This means everything from giving you resources to help you make better decisions about diet and exercise, as well as information on creating and sustaining nurturing communities and successful businesses — everything you need to help create a healthier Michigan.
