Five Irresistible Pancake Fillings for Pancake Week

Maslenitsa Week in 2026 will run from February 16 to 22 — and it is just around the corner. Traditional jam and sour cream are delicious, but sometimes you want to surprise yourself and guests. Here are five step-by-step recipes for unusual, easy-to-make, and incredibly tasty pancake fillings.

An important tip. It is best to prepare all fillings in advance so they have time to cool/steep while you bake the pancakes. By the way, we already shared a simple recipe for delicious pancakes just like grandma«s.

1. Pumpkin with Ricotta and Sage (Sweetly Spiced, Creamy)

The delicate sweetness of pumpkin, airy ricotta, and a spicy hint of sage create an exquisite taste.

Ingredients:

• 400 g pumpkin (butternut or other)
• 250 g ricotta cheese
• 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 5-6 fresh sage leaves (or ½ tsp ground)
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Salt, ground black pepper
• 30 g butter

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Peel and seed the pumpkin, cut into 2-3 cm cubes.

2. Preheat oven to 200°C (392°F). Place pumpkin on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes until soft and caramelized.

3. In a skillet, melt butter, add sage leaves (or ground) and fry for 1-2 minutes until crispy, letting the butter absorb the aroma. Remove sage.

4. In a bowl, mash the baked pumpkin with a fork into a puree (not necessarily smooth). Add ricotta, nutmeg, and the aromatic butter from the skillet. Mix thoroughly.

5. Spread the warm pumpkin-cheese mixture on a pancake, fold into an envelope or roll.

2. Mushroom with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Parmesan (Savory, Bold)

Deep mushroom flavor, tanginess from tomatoes, and salty Parmesan.

Ingredients:

• 500 g fresh mushrooms (champignons + wild if available)
• 1 onion
• 70 g sun-dried tomatoes in oil
• 50 g hard cheese (Parmesan, Grana Padano)
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• A few sprigs of thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
• Salt, pepper
• Vegetable oil for frying

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Clean and slice the mushrooms. Finely chop onion and garlic.

2. Heat oil in a skillet, fry onion until translucent. Add mushrooms and cook over high heat until all liquid evaporates and mushrooms are browned.

3. 2 minutes before done, add garlic, thyme, and finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Remove from heat and let the filling cool slightly.

5. Place mushroom filling on a pancake, grate cheese on top. Fold. You can also sprinkle cheese on top and bake for 2 minutes until melted.

3. Banana Caramel with Bacon and Sea Salt (Bold Dessert)

Perfect combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy. A classic of American cuisine in pancake form.

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe bananas
• 6-8 slices bacon
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp water
• 30 g butter
• Pinch of sea salt (coarse)
• Neutral oil (for pancakes)

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Cut bacon into small pieces and fry in a dry skillet until crispy. Place on paper towel.

2. Make caramel: In a saucepan, mix sugar and water. Over medium heat, without stirring, bring to a boil until sugar dissolves and turns golden brown. Remove from heat, carefully add butter, and stir until smooth.

3. Slice bananas into rounds. You can quickly fry them in the same pan used for bacon (30 seconds per side).

4. On a pancake, place bananas, drizzle with warm caramel, sprinkle with crispy bacon and a pinch of sea salt. Roll up.

4. Cottage Cheese and Vegetable with Avocado and Arugula (Fresh, Healthy)

Light, almost salad-like filling for health enthusiasts and lovers of unusual combinations.

Ingredients:

• 200 g cottage cheese (preferably not dry)
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 small cucumber
• Handful of arugula
• 1-2 tbsp natural yogurt or sour cream
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Salt, pepper, herbs (dill, parsley)

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Mash cottage cheese with a fork, add yogurt, salt, pepper, and finely chopped herbs. Achieve a soft paste consistency.

2. Peel avocado, mash in a separate bowl, drizzle with lemon juice (to prevent browning), season with salt.

3. Slice cucumber into thin strips or rounds. Wash and dry arugula.

4. Spread a thin layer of cottage cheese paste on a pancake, then avocado paste. Top with cucumber slices and a few arugula leaves.

5. Carefully roll the pancake into a tight roll or envelope. Serve immediately to prevent avocado from browning.

5. Cheese with Pear and Walnut (Elegantly Sweet)

Perfect balance: sharp blue cheese, sweet pear, crunchy walnut, and honey.

Ingredients:

• 150-200 g blue cheese (Dorblu, Gorgonzola) or soft goat cheese
• 1-2 ripe but firm pears
• 50 g walnuts
• 2 tbsp honey
• Butter for frying

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Chop walnuts and lightly toast in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.

2. Peel pears, remove cores, and slice into thin wedges.

3. Melt a little butter in a skillet, fry pear wedges on both sides until soft and golden (3-4 minutes).

4. Crumble cheese with a fork.

5. On a warm pancake, spread a layer of cheese, top with warm pear wedges. Sprinkle with walnuts and drizzle with honey. Fold into an envelope.