Gingerbread Pancakes Recipe (2024)

By Yossy Arefi

Gingerbread Pancakes Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 30 minutes
Rating
5(773)
Notes
Read community notes

These warmly spiced pancakes have all of the classic flavors of gingerbread cookies. Finely grated fresh ginger and lemon zest brighten the deep molasses and spice flavors. Serve these pancakes with warm maple syrup and butter.

Learn: How to Make Pancakes

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 2cups/256 grams all-purpose flour
  • 2tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • ½teaspoon baking soda
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½teaspoon ground allspice
  • cups whole milk
  • cup unsulfured molasses (not blackstrap)
  • 2eggs
  • 3tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
  • ½teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

493 calories; 14 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 80 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 30 grams sugars; 12 grams protein; 490 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Gingerbread Pancakes Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.

  2. Step

    2

    In a separate bowl, whisk milk, molasses, eggs, melted butter, fresh ginger and lemon zest until well combined.

  3. Step

    3

    Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently stir until combined. (A few small lumps are fine.)

  4. Step

    4

    Heat a lightly greased griddle or nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Drop the pancakes into the pan by the quarter cup, making sure to leave plenty of room in between for the batter to expand.

  5. Step

    5

    Cook until the batter bubbles on the surface and browns on the bottom, a minute or two, then carefully flip. Cook until the batter is completely cooked through and the pancakes are slightly dark brown. Repeat until all the batter is used. Serve pancakes as you make them or keep them warm as you cook them by setting them on a baking sheet in a 250-degree oven.

Ratings

5

out of 5

773

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

PRA

I suggest:-Adding 1/2 cup cold coffee to liquid ingredients. This enhances the gingerbread flavor and solves the thick batter that some reviewers mentioned.* Coffee is an ingredient in the famous gingerbread pancakes from Magnolia Cafe in Austin. -Letting the batter sit for 10 minutes before using to let the gluten work its magic. These pancakes were delicious, fluffy, tender. A kitchen scale is useful to weigh ingredients and saves cleanup. *Too much flour makes a tough, dense pancake.

Mary McKim

For those who don’t have fresh ginger on hand, I learned something from my daughter-in-law whose family comes from India - I wash and peel fresh ginger root, cut into appx two-inch knobs and freeze it. It fine grates easily right out of the freezer and you always have fresh ginger for whatever calls for it.

Nicki

Based on comments of overly thick batter, I did 3/4 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup whole milk. Really fluffy this way. These were amazing and so gingery!

Katie

Very tasty. Thick and sturdy. Subbed half whole wheat flour.

Ann

I second the suggestion above to add half a cup of cold coffee to the liquid ingredients. Worked like a charm!

Paul

We made these pancakes following the recipe closely (except: didn’t have allspice and added an extra teaspoon of the fresh ginger). Then we did a test pancake, the importance of which can’t be overemphasized, as it is the key to adding more flour or liquid. In our case, the test pancake rose nicely and was light and fluffy. Taste was good, but for us, a bit more ginger would not have been amiss. We got about 16 four-inch pancakes. On the whole, this is an excellent recipe, which we will remake.

ERH

I made the latest batch replacing 1/4 of the flour with rolled oats that I blitzed in the food processor. I think it improved the texture of the finished pancakes and helped them cook more evenly somehow. (I also used oat milk since that's what I always have on hand.) Definitely a nice recipe to repeat throughout the winter.

Sara

Perversely, I made these as written and found the batter quite thin. My personal preference would also be for a somewhat spicier waffle, possibly through the addition of some finely chopped candied ginger in addition to the dried and fresh ginger.

Linda

To avoid wasting lemon zest, I always zest an entire lemon and freeze the extra. Whenever I eat an orange or juice a lemon or lime, I zest the fruit first and freeze the zest. I have three containers of zest in my freezer, ready to go: lemon, lime and orange.

Christopher

These are AMAZING! My husband loves them and requested (demanded) them for Christmas morning. I followed the recipe to a “t” but the butter hardened in the liquids before I mixed them. Next time I will whisk the butter in as I pour it.

JV

So delicious - subtle and fluffy - about half an inch high. I used almond milk instead of whole milk and added 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra (though not sure if I really needed to). I used 2 Trader Joe’s frozen ginger cubes (each is equivalent to 1 tsp) since that’s what I had. They include some lemon juice so I skipped the zest. Served with caramelized pears and maple syrup. Will definitely make again - would be nice for a seasonal brunch.

karen

Molasses makes them burn more easily; use lower heat, otherwise excellent

Jody

These were DELICIOUS. I made a few changes: I ran out of fresh ginger, so I added 1/2 tsp extra to my dry ingredients. The batter was too thick, so I ended up adding 1 3/4 C Total milk. AND I added 1/4 TSP ground white pepper (I have that in a gingerbread cookie dough recipe, and it's super).

Casey

These are my new favorite pancakes! I added the coffee as recommended in the comments and about 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt added to the total amount of milk. Dare I say these are better than Kerby Lane?!

Laura

This is a great recipe! I heeded others’ advice and added 1/4 cooled light roast coffee. I didn’t have any lemon juice or fresh ginger and it was still great. Was a hit with the whole family.

Sandy

Warm milk slightly or let it come to room temperature (eggs, too) so that the melted butter doesn't re-solidify when you mix them together.

Linda

To avoid wasting lemon zest, I always zest an entire lemon and freeze the extra. Whenever I eat an orange or juice a lemon or lime, I zest the fruit first and freeze the zest. I have three containers of zest in my freezer, ready to go: lemon, lime and orange.

El Ray

These are delicious. We prefer to omit the fresh ginger and double the lemon zest. We serve with apple cider syrup, not maple. Great seasonal breakfast!

marina

These were perfect as written. Don’t skimp on the maple syrup and even better with a dollop of creme fraiche or whole milk yogurt on the side with pecans.

CKR

Delicious. Used 3/4 cup Buttermilk, 1/2 cup Coconut Milk and added ~1/4 cup cold coffee to liquid. Let batter sit while griddle heated up. I don't love pancakes but these were outstanding. I didn't need syrup.

Mason Morgan

Yummy

Lisa

These are my current favorite! I’ve had to make them gluten free- I use at least 1 c buckwheat flour and will either do all buckwheat, or mix it with gf flour and/or almond flour. Regardless of the combination, it works. Might not appeal to some but they are also great with some blueberries or chocolate chips thrown in - even better with both!Bon appétit!

k

Having made elisenlebkuchen last winter, I used that spice blend in place of those called for here. Also added that coffee, then some almond flour to rethicken it. A pancake worthy of making again.

Casey

These came out so thick and fluffy! I added the 1/2 coffee as suggested but reduced the milk to accommodate for the coffee. I might in the future add some cloves or allspice...? I feel like it needs a little extra spicy kick.

HB

Made exactly as written, measuring the flour by weight. Delicious!

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Gingerbread Pancakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding more eggs do to pancakes? ›

A typical pancake recipe also uses only one egg, where as a typical crepe recipe will use three. The extra liquid from the eggs gives you a much thinner batter, and therefore much thinner crepes. Q – How do I avoid having holes in my pancakes or crepes?

What makes pancakes extra fluffy? ›

5 Tips for Fluffier Pancakes
  1. Allow the Batter to Rest. A good rule of thumb when you're wondering how to make fluffy pancakes is to let the batter rest. ...
  2. Beat the Egg Whites. Separate your yolk from the egg white then beat to create a fluffy pancake. ...
  3. Don't Over Mix! ...
  4. Wait for the Bubbles. ...
  5. Follow a Good Recipe.
Dec 1, 2019

Why are my pancakes flat and not fluffy? ›

Why are my pancakes flat and not fluffy? A flat pancake is usually the result of the batter being too wet. This is because there isn't enough strength from the flour to trap the bubbles produced by the baking soda.

What happens if you double the eggs in pancakes? ›

With little gluten, pancakes rely on eggs to provide the additional structure necessary to hold the bubbles and allow the pancake to rise. The fat in the yolk also provides richness and flavor. Too much egg, however, will make the pancake dense and custard-like; not enough will make it drier and more biscuit-like.

What happens if you don't put egg in pancake mix? ›

Remove the egg from pancakes and without a binder, they'll fall apart on the griddle. Eggs make things fluffier. Eggs help foods to rise, leaven or puff up, making them have a light and airy texture. Eggs add color and richness in flavor.

What ingredient keeps pancakes from falling apart? ›

Gluten, which is found in flour, keeps pancakes from falling apart. Gluten, a type of protein, forms a “spiderweb” within baked goods, giving them structure. As the starches gelatinize, and turn from a batter to bread, the gluten strands hold them in place.

Does adding more baking powder make pancakes fluffier? ›

Don't be tempted to add more than the recipe suggests, as too much baking powder will make pancakes taste soapy. Alternatively, you could use self-raising flour, which will add to the amount of raising agent in the recipe and potentially make your pancakes fluffier.

What makes pancakes rise the most? ›

Pancakes and waffles typically both contain baking soda, which causes them to rise. As soon as the baking soda is combined with the wet ingredients (which contain an acidic ingredient, like often buttermilk), it starts producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause the batter to rise.

What makes restaurant pancakes taste so good? ›

Using milk instead of water when you're utilizing it as a mix-in creates a fluffier texture in the end, much like it does when the same is done to scrambled eggs. Restaurants also refrain from using butter and oil on the griddle, popular ways to grease pans when in your own kitchen, which tend to affect the flavor.

Should I let pancake batter rest? ›

Before you cook your pancakes, you should allow your batter to 'settle'. 24 hours in the fridge is ample time, but it may have thickened up a little when you take it back out, so just loosen up with a splash of milk. When you come to cook the perfect pancakes, the temperature of your pan is crucial.

Is baking soda or baking powder better for pancakes? ›

Baking soda is essential for baked goods, but baking powder is really what makes pancakes and biscuits rise and become so super fluffy. Double-acting baking powder, which is the kind that you'll find in the grocery store, produces bubbles in two ways: when it is mixed with wet ingredients and then when it gets heated.

What happens if you overmix pancake batter? ›

Overmixing pancake batter can cause your flapjacks to deflate, for two main reasons. The stirring or whisking motion may cause the batter's air bubbles to pop, and can also cause too much gluten to develop. Air and small amounts of gluten are both essential in developing the ideal pancake texture.

What happens when you add more eggs to a recipe? ›

If there isn't enough egg, your batter or dough may not be able to hold its structure or could end up overly dry or dense. On the other hand, if there is too much egg, your baked goods could lose their shape due to excess liquid, or have a rubbery (or even overly cakey) texture depending on the recipe.

What happens if you add more eggs to batter? ›

Eggs also contain a variety of proteins that create the structure of a cake, and when beaten, they can act as a leavening agent by adding air to the cake batter. However, if you add too many eggs to your cake batter, then your end result could be spongy, rubbery, or dense.

Why are my pancakes flat and rubbery? ›

If you stir your pancake batter too much, the gas bubbles that your acid and base just produced will be released. Over stirring causes tough, rubbery pancakes.

What happens when you add more eggs to dough? ›

Adding eggs to a dough makes it softer and richer,more like challah or sandwich bread. There's nothing wrong with that, and you can certainly roll it out and make a flatbread with it, but it won't have the chew of a good pizza dough, and the bottom won't get as crisp.

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