Season 3 Episode 1: Erika Kwee, The Pancake Princess

Have you ever found yourself lost in a sea of pancake recipes, wondering which one is worth your precious Saturday morning? Look no further! Welcome to the latest blog post where we dive into the world of Erika Kwee, better known as The Pancake Princess. As she navigates through the culinary landscape with data-driven precision, we uncover her journey and secrets to tasty success.

Meet Erika Kwee: The Pancake Princess

Erika Kwee, the brain behind The Pancake Princess, didn’t just stumble upon her sweet moniker. Initially intended as a joint venture with a friend (The Protein Prince), the royal title was left to Erika when her partner-in-crime bailed after one blog post. Since then, Erika has flourished in her reign. From vegetarian college cook-ups to becoming a full-time blogger celebrated by Southern Living and the Wall Street Journal, Erika’s journey is as rich as her pancake toppings.

Erika’s Blogging Journey

The Pancake Princess blog started as a passion project back in 2012. Erika, fresh out of college with time to spare, decided to dive headfirst into the food blogging world. She experimented with vegan and gluten-free baking, much to the delight (and sometimes dismay) of her siblings. It wasn’t until 2017, with her first bake-off, that the blog found its current, beloved format. Erika’s perseverance through trial and error is a testament to the idea that great things often come from humble beginnings.

From Tech to Full-Time Content Creation

Believe it or not, Erika didn’t start in the food world; she worked in tech as a product manager. Her transition wasn’t overnight, nor was it a straightforward path. Erika credits her tech background for helping her master the meticulous aspects of recipe testing, like organizing complex spreadsheets for her famous bake-offs. And let’s not forget networking—essential for any solo content creator navigating an isolated workspace.

The Bake-Off Process

Erika’s iconic bake-offs have captivated a large audience. Imagine pitting nine different brownie recipes against each other—sounds intense, right? Erika meticulously selects recipes based on seasonality, Instagram recommendations, and good ol’ Google searches. The goal? To provide a winning recipe so you can skip the hours of research and go straight to baking nirvana. Whether it’s comparing butter-based to oil-based batters or figuring out if adding sour cream makes a difference, Erika’s bake-offs are a thrilling journey through the culinary jungle.

Overcoming Challenges

Being a content creator isn't all syrup and butter. Erika shares that one of the biggest challenges is staying authentic while navigating the pressure to go viral. It’s a delicate balance, not unlike getting the perfect pancake flip. Another major hurdle? Ingredient scavenger hunts. Picture Erika hunting through five grocery stores in New York City just to find that elusive cocoa powder. The struggle is real!

Rewards and Positive Feedback

For Erika, the most gratifying part of her job is the feedback from her audience. Knowing that someone made her top-rated vanilla cake for a special occasion makes all the hard work worthwhile. Plus, she gets the perk of having a go-to recipe for almost any baked good without frantic Googling. It's a win-win for both Erika and her fans.

Future Hopes and Food Trends

Erika’s curiosity about the future of food content creation is palpable. While she’s not too focused on the latest food fads, what excites her is the idea that there’s a food content creator for everyone, inspiring people to experiment in the kitchen.

Ready to embark on your own baking journey?

Follow Erika on Instagram (@ThePancakePrincess), TikTok (pancake.princess), and her blog (ThePancakePrincess.com) for more delicious updates. Oh, and if you’re craving more behind-the-scenes content and bake-off invites, sign up for her Substack, Tasting Notes.

You can watch each episode, in its video version, on YouTube here.
Follow on Instagram for some behind the scenes and short form content here.
Listen to each episode as a podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.