Pancake Day on the Slopes: The Sweetest Après of the Season

Pancake Day. Shrove Tuesday. The one day of the year when eating your bodyweight in batter is not only acceptable, it’s encouraged. And if you ask us? It’s basically made for skiers.

Whether you’re in the Alps, the Dolomites or planning your next ski holiday from home, Pancake Day and skiing go together surprisingly well.

Why Pancakes and Skiing Just Work

Let’s start with the obvious: skiing burns calories.

A decent day on the mountain, from first lifts to last run, can easily clock up the energy burn. So if there was ever a sport that justifies a stack of pancakes dripping in Nutella, it’s skiing.

But it’s more than that. Skiing is about comfort. Cosy mountain restaurants. Long lunches. Steam rising from mugs of hot chocolate. Pancakes fit right into that picture.

Across Europe’s best ski resorts, you’ll find their own versions too:

• French crêpes folded with sugar and lemon
• Austrian Kaiserschmarrn – fluffy, shredded pancakes dusted in icing sugar
• Italian crespelle served sweet or savoury

Different name, same idea: carbs + sugar = happy skier.

The Best Pancake Stops in the Alps

If you’re lucky enough to be skiing over Pancake Day, here’s where you’ll find some serious batter-based brilliance:

• In Val d’Isere, mountain crêpe huts are dotted along the pistes, perfect for a mid-afternoon sugar boost.
• Over in St Anton, traditional Austrian mountain restaurants serve Kaiserschmarrn the size of your helmet.
• And in Cervinia, you’ll often find sweet Italian pancakes with chocolate or jam, best enjoyed with views of the Matterhorn.

Top tip: Order one to share. You won’t share. But it sounds sensible when you say it.

Pancake Day at Home (With a Ski Twist)

Not heading to the mountains this week? You can still keep it ski-themed.

Why not:

• Create a “ski run” of toppings along the table
• Stack pancakes into a mini “mountain” and dust with icing sugar snow
• Pair with a ski film night (bonus points for wearing your ski socks)

It’s also the perfect excuse to start talking about your next ski holiday. Because nothing says “we should book that trip” quite like reminiscing about slopeside lunches and mountain views.

The Ski Season Isn’t Over Yet

If Pancake Day has you craving Alpine comfort food and crisp mountain air, there’s still time to book a last-minute ski holiday. March and April skiing often bring longer days, sunnier terraces and some brilliant deals.

And yes, pancakes taste even better when you’ve earned them.

So whether you’re flipping at home or tucking into Kaiserschmarrn at 2,000 metres, here’s to a Pancake Day done properly – with a side of skiing.

Now the important question: lemon and sugar, or Nutella?