Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes

These pancakes are absolutely delicious! The recipe was easy and turned out perfectly. Just the right amount of spices and pumpkin flavor. I will definitely be making these again. Thanks for sharing!

— Sarah

When pumpkin season rolls around, I’m all about pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin cheesecake bars and these wonderful homemade pumpkin pancakes.

On Saturday mornings, I try to make my kids a special breakfast like a Dutch baby pancake or French toast. This pumpkin pancake recipe is the most requested breakfast during the fall season. These pancakes cook up light and fluffy with the most perfect pumpkin flavor.

I could eat a big pile of these every morning… and I would, if there were any leftover! My family gobbled these up the day we made them.

There were just a few leftover that we tossed into a baggie for the next morning. And you know what? They tasted just as good! We tried leftovers in the toaster and in the air fryer. Both ways resulted in warm, slightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside pancakes. Yum!

You guys are going to be head over heels for this delicious fall breakfast treat.

Why you’ll love these pancakes

• Incredibly delicious. All the cozy, fall flavors are in these pumpkin pancakes. Tastes almost better than pumpkin pie!
• Easy. Little prep time is needed to cook these up. Stir the batter ingredients together in a large bowl, cook and enjoy.
• Family-friendly. Need to prepare breakfast for a crowd? This recipe is great for all ages! Kids (and adults) love the sweet and fluffy flapjacks.

Ingredients needed 

You’ll find you probably have most (if not all) of these ingredients right now in your pantry/fridge! Nothing too crazy ingredient wise. 🙂

• Flour. Regular all-purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour work great for this recipe. I don’t recommend using whole wheat flour or oat flour.
• Pumpkin pie spice. The perfect blend of spices to give these pancakes that warm, cozy, fall flavor. See the “tips” section, below, for a way to make your own pumpkin pie spice blend.
• Baking powder + baking soda. A bit of baking powder and baking soda will help these pumpkin pancakes get nice and fluffy.
• Salt. Really brings out the pumpkin flavor!
• Milk. You can use any preferred milk. Even almond or cashew milk will work just fine.
• Egg. One egg will add fluffiness to this pumpkin pancake recipe. If you’re looking for a vegan option, you can try using 1 flax egg instead.
• Butter. A little bit of melted butter gives these pumpkin spice pancakes the perfect texture. To keep these pancakes vegan, use oil instead.
• Pumpkin puree. Use 100% pure canned pumpkin for this pancake recipe. Don’t grab pumpkin pie filling by mistake, which has added spices and sugar.
• Chocolate chips. Totally optional, but I’m a huge fan of the pumpkin/chocolate combo!

How to make this recipe

This recipe is super easy!

1. To get started we first whisk together the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and a healthy dose of pumpkin pie spice makes these so flavorful.
2. Then, in a medium mixing bowl, mix together the wet ingredients – milk, egg, melted butter and pumpkin puree.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir just until combined (batter should be slightly lumpy, don’t over-mix). Fold in chocolate chips, if using. Let batter rest 5 minutes.
4. While the batter rests, heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat.
5. Add a little butter or cooking spray to your pan or griddle. Pour batter about 1/4 cup at a time onto hot surface.
6. Spread pancakes outward just slightly with bottom of measuring cup or spoon.
7. Cook until golden brown on bottom (about 5-6 minutes) then flip and cook the other side until golden.
8. Repeat process until all of the batter has been used. Serve warm with butter and maple syrup.

These pancakes are the perfect fall breakfast. Stack them up, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Tips for recipe success

My tips and tricks for achieving the best pancakes!

• Make sure to use 100% pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling for this recipe.
• Make sure your baking powder is fresh. If it’s old or expired you’ll get flat pancakes.
• Do NOT over mix the pancake batter. A few flour streaks and small lumps remaining in the batter is perfectly acceptable. If pancakes are over mixed, they lose that perfect fluffy texture.
• A large nonstick skillet totally works for cooking these pancakes, but I really like to use a griddle. It’s much more efficient and an easier way to feed a crowd.
• The pancakes are ready to flip when the edges are set and you see little bubbles on the surface of the pancakes.
• If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand, use ¾ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp ground ginger or 2 teaspoons cinnamon only.
• Serve your syrup warm, if not hot. It helps the butter melt and spread.
• Place the finished pancakes on a baking sheet in a 250 degree F oven to keep them warm while you wait for the rest of the pancakes to cook.

Topping ideas

Change up your pumpkin pancakes with fun and delicious pancake toppings. Find some tasty ideas below!

• Syrups. maple syrup, honey, fruit syrups, chocolate syrup
• Nut butter. peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower butter, Nutella
• Fresh fruit. blueberries, apricots, strawberries, raspberries, apples, peaches, pears, banana slices, pom seeds
• Dried fruit. raisins, cranberries, figs, apricots, goji berries, dates
• Nuts. almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds
• Fun toppings. cream cheese, jelly, whipped cream, yogurt, sprinkles, chocolate chips, shredded coconut

Serving suggestions

These easy pancakes pair well with a variety of breakfast sides. Below are some of my favorite sides to serve with a pancake breakfast. 

• Hash browns or breakfast potatoes. Yes, please!
• Fresh fruit or fruit salad. To keep this breakfast on the lighter side, fruit is such a great option.
• Yogurt. Serve on the side or add a spoonful on top of your pancakes.
• Bacon, sausage, or ham. Anyone else love dipping bacon in maple syrup?
• Eggs. Scrambled on the side, or perhaps even over easy and served on top.

Frequently asked questions

Are pumpkin pancakes healthy?

There are many different ways to make pumpkin pancakes, some versions are healthier than others. I would not title this particular recipe as “healthy”, but it is made with simple ingredients, has no added sugar and only requires a small amount of butter. To make these more nutritious and lower in calorie, use plant based milk and whole wheat pastry flour. You can also omit the chocolate chips, if preferred.

What are the benefits of pumpkin pancakes?

These pancakes will satisfy any hunger cravings you have and will give you an extra spark to get through the morning. Pumpkins are actually a great source of vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy. These pancakes are loaded with fiber and nutrients. Plus, they don’t have added sugar to weigh you down.

What makes pancakes fluffy?

These pumpkin spice pancakes are thick and airy pancakes without the need for special equipment or buttermilk. Here are the top ways for fluffy flapjacks:

• Use fresh baking powder and baking soda.
• Don’t over-mix the batter.
• Let the batter rest.
• Gently flip the pancakes.

Storage recommendations

• Storing leftovers. Homemade pancakes keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let them cool completely and then put them in a zip-top baggie or another airtight container. You can reheat in a toaster, air fryer or microwave when you’re ready to eat.
• Freezing. Sometimes I double the recipe, and keep extra pancakes stored in the freezer for busy weekday mornings. Once completely cool, place them in a resealable plastic bag in a single layer and freeze until firm. Frozen pancakes stay fresh for up to three months. When you’re ready to eat, simply reheat in a toaster oven or air fryer. I cooked mine at 370ºF. for about 6 minutes in the air fryer. They get a nice crispy outer edge with a soft center. You can also microwave the pancakes in 30 second increments until they’re warmed through.

These pancakes are a family favorite breakfast! I know there are quite a few pumpkin pancake recipes out there, but after testing and tweaking this recipe multiple times, I can honestly say these are the BEST pumpkin pancakes! They’re so easy too, I make them all season long. I highly recommend making a double batch because they disappear so quickly!

If you try this pancake recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.