Easter “Bunny Butt” Carrot Pancakes Recipe

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground ginger
• ¼ tsp. baking soda
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 ¼ cups low fat buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup matchstick carrots, roughly chopped
• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
• ⅓ cup finely chopped pecans
• Cooking spray
• 4 oz. low fat cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 2 bananas
• Hershey’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, carrots and butter. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Add pecans and stir.
3. Head a large skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Use about half of the batter to make 4 round pancakes for the “bodies”, about ¼ cup batter per pancake. Cook until bubbly on top, 1-2 minutes, then flip and cook until golden on the bottom, about 1 minute.
4. Use the remaining batter to make 4 smaller round pancakes for the “heads” and 8 small oval pancakes for the “feet”.
5. In a small bowl, beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
6. To serve, place a small round pancake in the upper center of the plate. Layer a larger round pancake toward the lower center of the plate, then layer 2 small oval pancakes at the bottom of the larger pancake. Pipe or dollop a “tail” with the cream cheese icing in the center of the larger round pancake. Peel and cut the top and bottom 2 inches from both bananas. Cut these 2-inch pieces in half lengthwise and place above the small round pancake for “ears”. Cut the leftover pieces of banana crosswise into 8 total slices and place 1 slice on each “foot”. Place 3 chocolate chips at the bottom of each “foot”, using a small amount of cream cheese to secure them if desired. Serve immediately.

Substitute raisins for chocolate chips for a fun twist.

Just make pancakes and skip the toppings and plating for easier pancakes or for pancakes that can be served year-round!