You’ll Never Guess the Secret Ingredient in These Pillowy Light Pancakes

Whenever I’m on the road exploring a new city, I love turning to Instagram to help guide my way, so when I saw these incredibly beautiful pancakes at a coffee shop called Proud Mary in Portland’s artsy district of Alberta, I knew I had to check them out. Visually stunning for sure, but the best surprise was the taste and texture. I broke into the crisp exterior and greeted a tender and light interior that exceeded all expectations for what a pancake could be. The edible flowers might have drawn me in, but one bite and I knew I absolutely had to track down this recipe.

Owner Nolan Hirte vividly remembers the inspiration for this pancake recipe. It was a ricotta hotcake he tried around 12 years ago at a tiny cafe in Perth, Australia. He recalls fresh orange slices married with Grand Marnier and fresh mascarpone on top of one of the lightest hotcakes he’s ever had. That experience blew his mind, and when he opened up the first Proud Mary restaurant, he knew he wanted something similar on his menu. The ricotta is the key to making these pancakes so incredibly light and airy. And taking the time to create a meringue is the added step that puts these pancakes over the top. Once he’d cracked the code, the rest is history.

Proud mary hotcake recipe

Courtesy of Barney Hannagan, Proud Mary

(Serves 3-4)

Ingredients:

  • 4 eggs, yolks and whites separated
  • 1 1/4 cups whole milk
  • 1 1/4 cups ricotta
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 2 cups self-rising flour, sifted
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 5 Tablespoons ultrafine baker’s sugar

Garnishes:

  • maple syrup
  • pumpkin seeds, chopped
  • sunflower seeds, chopped
  • chia seeds
  • flax seeds
  • blueberries
  • whipped cream
  • edible flowers
  • fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 360 degrees Fahrenheit and preheat a 7-inch non-stick skillet so it’s warm.
  2. Add egg yolks, milk, ricotta, and vanilla into a stand-up mixer and mix slowly until combined but ricotta is still visible.
  3. Slowly fold sifted flour and salt into the ricotta mixture. Be careful not to overmix. Once the flour is combined, pour the batter into another mixing bowl and set aside. Clean the stand-up mixer.
  4. Add egg whites to the mixer and whisk on high for about five minutes or until they are just coming to a peak. Add sugar and keep whisking on high until a stiff peak is obtained.
  5. Gently fold the meringue into the ricotta batter.
  6. Pour about 1/4 of the batter into the warm skillet. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Repeat with remaining batter.
  7. Serve the hotcakes with maple syrup, seed mixture, blueberries, whipped cream, edible flowers, and fresh mint leaves.

Share your hotcakes photos with us on Instagram.

(Photos via Nicole Iizuka and Proud Mary)

We're still waiting to feel a crisp fall breeze in the air, but that's okay! It's still time for some hearty brunch recipes to spice up the upcoming cozy season. We know you'll gladly take *all* the pumpkin recipes, but while you're shopping at your local farmers' market this fall, arm yourself with some apples, squashes, corn, and sweet potatoes in anticipation of the weekend's best meal. Read on for some brunch recipes to cure your fall fever quicker than the color on leaves can change.

Vikalinka

Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls

No meal is complete with tasty rolls, especially if they're cinnamon. However, this recipe makes baking them a little easier because it uses puff pastries. They take a little over 30 minutes to make which means you won't have to wait long to sink your teeth into their ooey goodness!

The Original Dish

The Ultimate Scrambled Egg Breakfast

Skipped breakfast and need to eat a hearty meal because you're starving. Of course you'll eat your classic scrambled eggs, but there's also delectable bacon, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, and a secret herb sauce that'll make your tastebuds explode.

Pink Owl Kitchen

Collard Green Shakshuka

Rethink what you know about collard greens and shakshuka because this is one brunch meal you'll love cooking. You'll need ingredients like cayenne pepper, ground nutmeg, collard greens, and garlic cloves to help create this flavorful dish that takes less than 30 minutes to cook.

Julie's Jazz

Butternut Squash Waffles With Cashew Butter

We're going to squash this right here and right now: Butternut squash is just as good for breakfast as it is for dinner. Just look at the ooey gooeyness.

Baker by Nature

Morning Glory Muffins

Wake up on the right side of the bed with these scrumptious muffins. If you've never tasted these before, think about how tasty a spiced apple cake mixed with a carrot cake would be baked in one muffin. Yeah, it's that good.

Kitchen Confidante

Baked Oatmeal Stuffed Acorn Squash

Whether you're hosting a family brunch or just looking to switch things up, you absolutely need this recipe in your life. Plump prunes and brown sugar sweeten the baked oatmeal, which is perfect with the cranberry sauce served on the side.

The Almond Eater

Pumpkin Smoothie Bowl

Don't think for a minute that this bowl is going to leave you hangry in one hour. It's made with pumpkin puree, almond milk, and banana, making it *super* filling. For added nutrients, it's topped with apples, chia seeds, and walnuts, leaving no room for hunger attacks.

Macheesmo

Sweet Potato Hatch Chile Hash

There's just something about a sweet and spicy mixture that drives our taste buds insane. This recipe adds to the craziness with roasted hatch chiles, chili powder, and crispy sweet potatoes.

Little Spice Jar

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls always taste the best when they're homemade. Add some caramel and apples to the mix and it blows the socks off of store-bought options any day.

Cotter Crunch

Easy Spiced Hot Fruit Bake

If you're not drooling over this gluten-free and vegan recipe already, we're not sure if we can be friends. Seriously. We want to scoop the cranberry, apple, pears, and pineapple mixture over vanilla yogurt and lick the bowl clean.

Savory Nothings

Pumpkin Stuffed French Toast

Creamy pumpkin is sandwiched between crispy bread coated in pecans and drizzled in maple syrup. You'll taste a satisfying, warm, and sweet crunch in between each bite.

Glue Sticks and Gumdrops

Apple Cider Donuts

Is it really fall without grabbing a bottle of apple cider? We don't think so either and that's why these donuts are extra special.

Diethood

Very Berry Baked Oatmeal

Here's a hearty recipe to stick to your bones for those chilly days. Covered in berries and toasted nuts, this oatmeal can be prepared the night before.

Belle Vie

Pumpkin Brown Sugar Pecan Pancakes

Whether you eat your flapjacks cut in triangles or squares, you're going to love how this recipe shapes up. Caramelized pecans and brown sugar sweeten the deal, but a drizzle of maple sugar is non-negotiable.

The Original Dish

Autumn Hash with Homemade Turkey Sausage & Fried Eggs

Red potatoes, acorn squash, and turkey sausage are seasoned with rosemary and thyme. Kale is also wilted in it with sage to add some good old earthy flavors.

Well Plated

Pumpkin Overnight Oats

Pecan adds a nutty flavor to this slow cooked recipe. Unsweetened almond milk makes it a creamy bowl of goodness.

Cozy Cravings

Maple Pumpkin Bread

Let the warm, sweet smell of maple pumpkin bread fill your home with this scrumptious recipe. Combined with the tasty glaze, this is a comfort loaf you'll have no problem making throughout fall.

Pink Owl Kitchen

Fluffy Sweet Potato Pancakes

For an alternative to pumpkin bread, try making fluffy sweet potato pancakes for a more traditional fall brunch. Pair it with decadent omelets for a well-rounded breakfast.

Half Baked Harvest

Salted Bourbon Apple Crumble Coffee Cake

This is one cake you can have and eat without anyone challenging your decision. This fall brunch recipe is simple and full of the taste of an unforgettable spiced bourbon and apple blend.

Check out our B+C online cooking classes for more brunch recipe inspiration all year round!

This post has been updated.

My best friends mean the world to me, and though I wish I could give them the world, this year, I just want to get them gifts that are as special as our friendship. Whether it’s a personalized pendant, a cute skincare set, or the lip shade they simply can’t stop talking about, I want them to know just how much I care about their companionship! Thus, I’ve curated the ultimate list of gifts for best friends to help you gift your besties something they’ll truly love, especially if it comes from you. These gifts are so good, I really want them for myself, too.

Our 40 favorite gifts for best friends:

Scroll on to see the absolute best gifts for best friends to give in 2024!

Amazon

1. Scent Beauty by Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby Eau de Parfum

Leave it to Sabrina Carpenter to influence my list of gifts for best friends. Her "Cherry Baby" scent carries sultry notes of vanilla, peony, cherries, and chocolate, which is the perfect aroma for a night out with the girls.

Summer Fridays

2. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

This lip balm is viral for a reason. Your besties' lips deserve all the instant moisture, color, and shine this tube provides. This brown sugar shade looks decadent AF, but you can also snag it in other fun 'flavors' like iced coffee and mint.

Urban Outfitters

3. Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera

For the one that's always documenting the friend group's antics, they'll enjoy taking this unique, screen-free digicam on nights out, weekend trips, and cozy nights in! It captures film-style photos (without the time-consuming film photography process), and it can be used over and over again since it's rechargeable.

SeaVees

4. SeaVees Hayward Platform Shoes

Moccasin-style shoes are super popular this winter. I love how comfortable SeaVees' shoes are, so I might just have to share the love with my besties this holiday season... and snag a pair for myself so we can match, of course!

Dieux

5. Dieux Angel Face Cleanser + Moisturizer Bundle

Dieux is one of my go-to skincare brands for effective products that still take it easy on my sensitive skin. Their Baptism cleanser, part of this giftable duo, provides a nice clean without stripping any moisture from my skin. I also use their Instant Angel moisturizer religiously in the wintertime since things tend to get real dry. I'd say you can confidently gift this set to besties of any skin type.

Anthropologie

6. By Anthropologie Monogram Heart Locket Necklace

Personalized gifts will always feel special. Kick this gift idea up a notch by inserting a little pic of you and your BFF in the locket before wrapping and handing it over!

Urban Outfitters

7. Baggu Mini Nylon Shoulder Bag

I carry this Baggu bag just about everywhere I go. It's perfect for happy hours or dinners since it's small and not too much of a hassle to tow along, but don't let its size fool you: this baby can fit a lot. Your most stylish best friend will be wearing it the moment they open their gift!

Target

8. Jingle & Mingle 5 Days of Rosé Wine Set

You can never go wrong with rosé, baby! This gift set carries 5 personal-sized bottles of different varieties for them to sip on around the holidays.

Kulfi Beauty

9. Kulfi Beauty All Night Out Eye Set

This eye makeup set is complete with a bold eyeliner shade and a shimmery pot of eyeshadow. You get to choose the exact shades of each before purchasing, so this is truly one of the most fun personalized gift ideas. The set also comes with a funky pair of mismatched hair clips – so cute!

Dame

10. Dame Massage Oil Candle

This soothing candle melts down into a sweet-smelling massage oil that's easily dispensable, thanks to the pointed spout on the glass. This is a great gift for your single and partnered pals alike, whether they're using it to wind down themselves or for sexy time with their S.O.!

Life is Good

11. Life is Good 'I Deserve A Little Treat' Boxy Crusher Tee

Everyone deserves a little treat. Wrap up this awesome (and comfy!) tee alongside your bestie's favorite snack, sweet treat, or freshly-baked dessert to totally nail their gift this year!

Compartés

12. Compartés Pistachio Sea Salt Chocolate Truffles

These aesthetically-pleasing truffles could be the perfect sweet treat in question!

Nordstrom

13. OSEA Super Glow Body Set

I know anyone in my close friends circle would be happy to be gifted some nice skincare goodies. This luxe set from OSEA comes with a body wash, oil, and serum to keep skin looking and feeling happy!

Subscribe to our newsletter for even more holiday gift ideas!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

We all know that Saturdays are for brunch and bottomless mimosas and Sundays are for sleeping in and *lots* of coffee. Even though you may want to stay in bed ALL day, you still need to get up and make a decent breakfast. If you didn’t think of making a hearty make-ahead breakfast, the perfect alternative is a comforting and simple baked oatmeal. You can pop them in the oven, then swiftly return to your bed to start an episode of Gilmore Girls.

Scroll down to discover 17 varieties that are perfect for your lazy Sunday morning vibes.

Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Amish-Style Apple and Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Big chunks of tender apple are studded throughout this comforting baked oatmeal. Make it at the beginning of the week and you can have a quick, hot breakfast every day. (via Mel's Kitchen Cafe)

Cooking Classy

Banana Pecan Baked Oatmeal

This breakfast bake is dense, hearty and sweet. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a big cup of coffee, especially when eating it under your warm covers. (via Cooking Classy)

Running With Spoons

Baked AB&J French Toast Oatmeal

Can’t decide between oatmeal, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and French toast? Why choose?! This baked oatmeal has flavors of all three and will satisfy *each* craving. (via Running With Spoons)

Half Baked Harvest

Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Salted Coffee Caramel Apple Skillet Cookie

A baked oatmeal skillet cookie for breakfast or brunch? Count us in! This yummy dessert is full of chocolate, vanilla, and brown sugar goodness that'll taste like a slice of decadent Heaven with every bite! (via Half Baked Harvest)

A Few Shortcuts

Baked Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Whether you eat this oatmeal on the go or savor it in a bowl, it’s more than satisfying. Pre-package squares in bags for a great snack to grab on your way out the door. (via A Few Shortcuts)

Family Food on the Table

Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal

If you want all the flavors of banana bread with the warmth and nutrients of baked oatmeal, this recipe is for you. Plus, your house will straight-up smell like Grandma’s while you’re making this. (via Family Food on the Table)

Love and Lemons

Blueberry Coconut Baked Oatmeal

If you wake your overnight guests with the scent of toasted coconut and almond, you may get an award for best hostess. Serve with a pitcher of mimosas and they may never leave. (via Love and Lemons)

Flavor the Moments

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal With Cream Cheese Glaze

Some days just call for dessert for breakfast. There are tons of carrots, pineapple and coconut in this baked oatmeal, which totally makes up for the indulgent cream cheese glaze. Right? (via Flavor the Moments)

Love Grows Wild

Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal

In a dream world, we could eat cinnamon rolls every day for breakfast with no adverse effects. Thankfully, we have this baked oatmeal that tastes just like a cinnamon roll, minus the insane calories. (via Love Grows Wild)

Kim's Cravings

Coffee Baked Oatmeal

You can’t have your breakfast without coffee, so why not put your coffee IN your breakfast? This healthy baked oatmeal gives you plenty of energy from the oats and a slight buzz from strong brewed coffee, so you can take on your day like a champ. (via Kim’s Cravings)

The Wholesome Dish

Strawberry Cheesecake Baked Oatmeal

Weekends are for treating yo’ self, and this breakfast is a great way to do so. The cheesecake swirl is incredible, especially when you get a bite with a juicy strawberry. Go make this *NOW*. (via The Wholesome Dish)

Budget Bytes

Oatmeal Cookie Baked Oatmeal

Oatmeal raisin cookies just got a massive breakfast upgrade. The texture of this baked oatmeal is soft and chewy with a few crunchy bits, just like the perfect cookie. (via Budget Bytes)

Recipe Runner

Pear Almond Steel Cut Baked Oatmeal

Steel cut oats are decidedly more nutritious than the old fashion kind, so this baked oatmeal gets extra points for healthiness. It has pieces of diced pear, slivered almonds and cinnamon for a warm spice that will make you feel good from the inside out. (via Recipe Runner)

Five Heart Home

Piña Colada Baked Oatmeal

Wake up on your staycation to make this tropical Piña Colada breakfast bake. It’s full of cashews, coconut and pineapple, so it tastes like you’re sitting on your deck at a seaside resort. (via Five Heart Home)

Kate Moving Forward

Pineapple Coconut Baked Oatmeal

This oatmeal gets its extra creaminess and protein from Greek yogurt. Top with coconut and maple syrup and you may be going back for seconds! (via Kate Moving Forward)

The Wholesome Dish

To-Go Baked Oatmeal

To make your baked oatmeal travel-friendly, pour individual portions in a baking tin. You can customize the toppings for different days and take your breakfast on the go when you’re in a pinch. (via The Wholesome Dish)

Two Peas and Their Pod

Zucchini Bread Baked Oatmeal

Any time you can sneak vegetables into your meal is a win. This oatmeal does that by loading up with vitamin-rich zucchini but tastes like a sweet and warming slice of your favorite dessert bread. (via Two Peas and Their Pod)

Follow us on Pinterest for more easy + delicious breakfast ideas.

This post has been updated.

Header image via Love and Lemons

Our favorite dancing queens (Meryl Streep included) might be returning to the big screen for a third encore of Mamma Mia! and we’re already rewatching the first two movie musicals in preparation.

In an interview with Deadline in May of 2023, Mamma Mia! franchise creator and producer Judy Craymer said a third movie musical is in "earliest stages." She also shared that she has come up with a way to bring Meryl Streep back again.

"I don't want to over-egg it," she said of the unofficial news, "but I know there's a trilogy there…and I do think Meryl should come back, and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna."

"Of course I want to do it," Streep said during the 2024 Cannes Film Festival (via Deadline). Sounds promising to us!

Is Mamma Mia 3 happening?

Universal Pictures

Yes, Mamma Mia 3 is in its early planning stages! Christine Baranski just told The Hollywood Reporter that she's met with producer Judy Kramer, and that Kramer has plans for the third movie. "She gave me the narrative plotline of how it’s going to happen," Baranski says. "That’s all I can say! But, it’s not like, 'Oh, I wish it could happen!' Judy Kramer makes things happen. She made number two happen, and it was a phenomenal hit. I wouldn’t put it past Judy Kramer to get everybody back together."

Universal Pictures

A third installation was first mentioned way back in 2020, during a Collider interview with Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried said she was on board — and at the time, she thought the rest of the star-studded cast would be too.

"Listen, every single person in that movie would say yes in a heartbeat because we want to hang out with each other," Seyfried told Collider at the time. "That's what we talked about last time, like did we ever think that we'd end up here again on an Island in Croatia?"

When will Mamma Mia 3 come out?

Universal Pictures

We don't have an official answer about when to expect this highly anticipated sequel. The project is in the "earliest stages," according to creator and producer, Judy Craymer. Cher also revealed to Entertainment Weekly that everyone is "talking about it," but she doesn't "know when they're going to do it."

Has casting information been shared about Mamma Mia 3?

Jonathan Prime/Universal Studios

While nothing's been made official, Amanda Seyfried just said something that made my heart skip a beat. She told ABC News she loves Sabrina Carpenter's music and dropped this admission: "If Sabrina Carpenter wants to play my daughter, I’ll make it happen."

But before she admitted that, the actress said something else that made me raise my eyebrows. "Everybody says it’s gonna happen, but I mean, I haven’t seen a script."

Cher is also eager to return to the beloved franchise and is rooting for Meryl to make an appearance again. "I keep saying, 'Meryl, you've got to come back,'" she said (via Entertainment Weekly). She also said she's told her, "'It'll be fun. You'll have a good time. You'll be able to sing.'"

I don't know what it'll take, but hope someone gets a script in Amanda Seyfried, Cher, and Meryl Streep's hands ASAP!

What is the first Mamma Mia about?

Universal Pictures

The first film follows Donna (Streep) and Sophie (Seyfried) as mother and daughter living on a remote Greek island. When Sophie is about to marry Sky (Dominic Cooper), she sets out to learn who her real father is after discovering it could be one of three men (played by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth).

Who does the second Mamma Mia follow?

Universal Pictures / NBCUniversal

Mamma Mia 2takes viewers back to 1979, where young Donna (Lily James) embarks on a series of adventures throughout Europe following her Oxford University graduation. On her journeys, she makes the acquaintances of Harry, Bill and Sam – the latter whom she falls in love with. In the present day, pregnant Sophie dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her mother's old friends and boyfriends on a Greek island island.

TBH, we’re pretty happy that Mamma Mia! is far from over, and we can’t wait to see what the franchise has in store for us next. Stay updated on all the latest entertainment news with Brit + Co.

This post has been updated.

There's nothing ~normal~ about how much we love Normal People's Paul Mescal & Daisy Edgar-Jones. While it turns out we're not getting a Normal People season 2 (yet), the two actors are starring in some of 2024's biggest blockbusters (Twisters and Gladiator II, namely), and we've been soaking up their presences ever since.

Paul recently exhibited his ongoing friendship with Daisy at the Gladiator II premiere in Los Angeles. While he approached Brittany Broski on the red carpet for an interview, he recognized her from her recent 'Royal Court' interview with Daisy:

"You were with Daisy!" he chimed in excitingly. We just love this power duo!

Enda Bowe/Hulu

Daisy Edgar-Jones also revealed that she's remained incredibly close to Paul Mescal after their time on Hulu's Normal People. "Paul is one of my lifetime best friends," she says. "He’s an incredibly grounded person and I am too, I think, so it’s nice to be able to have those touchstones and those people you can laugh about it with and be lighthearted with. We met when I was 20 and Paul was 22; I’m so excited to see where we’ll be at 32, 42, and what life will bring us."

But the coolest thing is that not only is Normal People special for Paul and Daisy, but they've also been able to see the effect of the show on its fans.

"The thing I love people saying the most is, 'It made me contact my ex,'" Daisy continues. "Especially when much older people say, 'I just wanted to reach out to the person I was with when I was 17 just to say you were a big part of my history and thanks for being part of who I am, the tapestry of my life.' And that I really love, because I’m a massive romantic."

Daisy recently revealed they bonded over their training for Twisters and Gladiator II.

"I did running lessons — isn’t that crazy?" she told Variety. "Actually, Paul [Mescal] and I were laughing about it, because he was training for 'Gladiator II' and I was training for 'Twisters,' and obviously he had to be huge and I was like, 'Don’t worry, I’m going to be right up there with you.'"

Let us know your favorite Normal People moment in the comments and check out 5 Leading Ladies We'd Love To See In A Paul Mescal Rom-Com.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.