Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Jack O’ Lantern Pancakes are as fun to make as they are to eat! The fluffy pancakes are infused with vibrant orange color, making them look just like little pumpkins on your plate. The best part is that you can get creative with the decorations—whether you use chocolate syrup, Nutella, or fresh fruit to make pumpkin faces, the possibilities are endless. Perfect for a Halloween-themed breakfast or brunch, these pancakes are a festive way to start the day and get everyone excited for the season. Plus, they’re a great way to involve the kids in the kitchen!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Orange food coloring (gel or liquid)
- Optional: chocolate syrup or Nutella for decorating
- Optional toppings: banana slices, blueberries, mini chocolate chips
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well mixed.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can make the pancakes tough.
- Add Orange Color: Add orange food coloring (either gel or liquid) to the batter, a few drops at a time, until the mixture reaches a pumpkin-like shade.
- Cook the Pancakes: Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and grease lightly with butter or cooking spray. For best results, use a squeeze bottle or piping bag to shape the batter into pumpkin-like shapes with a small stem. Cook for 2–3 minutes until bubbles start to form on the surface, then flip gently and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and Decorate: Let the pancakes cool slightly, then decorate with chocolate syrup or Nutella to create Jack O’ Lantern faces. You can also add banana slices for eyes, mini chocolate chips for a mouth, and more fruit for extra details.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the pancakes immediately with your favorite Halloween toppings, or let kids get creative with decorating their own pancakes!
Servings and Timing
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (about 8 pancakes)
Variations
- Add Fall Spices: For extra fall flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon to the pancake batter.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of regular flour for a gluten-free version.
- Vegan Option: Use plant-based milk (like almond or oat milk) and replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water) for a vegan version of these pancakes.
- Mini Pancakes: For bite-sized treats, make smaller pancakes and decorate them like mini Jack O’ Lanterns!
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store any leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Freeze pancakes with parchment paper in between each one for easy separation. They’ll stay fresh for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Reheat pancakes gently in a toaster or microwave. If frozen, reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
FAQs
Can I make the pancake batter ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the pancake batter the night before and store it in the fridge overnight. Just give it a gentle stir before cooking the pancakes.
Can I use regular food coloring instead of orange?
While orange food coloring is recommended for a pumpkin-like color, you can experiment with yellow and red food coloring to achieve a similar effect.
How do I make the Jack O’ Lantern faces?
You can use chocolate syrup, Nutella, or even icing to draw faces on the pancakes. For the eyes and mouth, banana slices, mini chocolate chips, or blueberries work great!
Can I make the pancakes smaller?
Yes! You can make smaller pancakes for a fun, bite-sized Halloween treat. Adjust the cooking time slightly for smaller pancakes, flipping them as soon as bubbles form.
Can I use a pancake mix instead of making the batter from scratch?
Yes, you can use your favorite pancake mix. Just add orange food coloring to the prepared batter, and follow the cooking instructions on the package.
Can I make these pancakes savory?
For a savory version, you could make a cheesy pancake batter and skip the food coloring. You could then top the pancakes with a savory filling, like scrambled eggs or avocado, and create faces with veggies!
Can I decorate the pancakes before cooking them?
For the best results, it’s better to cook the pancakes first and then decorate them after they’ve cooled slightly. This way, the decorations won’t melt into the pancakes.
How can I make these pancakes even more festive?
Add Halloween-themed toppings like candy corn, sprinkles, or whipped cream, or serve the pancakes with pumpkin spice syrup!
Can I use a griddle instead of a skillet?
Yes! A griddle works great for cooking multiple pancakes at once. Just be sure to grease it lightly, and adjust the heat as needed to avoid burning.
Are these pancakes suitable for kids to make?
Absolutely! Kids will have a blast decorating their own pancakes, and it’s a great activity to do together on Halloween morning.
Conclusion
These Jack O’ Lantern Pancakes are the ultimate Halloween breakfast treat, offering a fun and festive way to start the day. They’re easy to make, delicious, and fully customizable, making them perfect for both kids and adults. Whether you’re looking to impress guests at a Halloween brunch or want to add some excitement to your family’s breakfast tradition, these pancakes will bring plenty of smiles and spooky fun to the table. Get creative with the decorations, and enjoy a spooktacular start to your Halloween celebrations!
Spooktacular and Fun Jack O’ Lantern Pancakes for the Ultimate Halloween Breakfast
These Jack O’ Lantern Pancakes are a fun and festive Halloween breakfast treat. Made with fluffy pancakes shaped like smiling pumpkins, they are easy to make and even easier to decorate, perfect for family breakfasts or Halloween-themed brunches.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (about 8 pancakes)
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Orange food coloring (gel or liquid)
Optional: chocolate syrup or Nutella for decorating
Optional toppings: banana slices, blueberries, mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well mixed.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Add orange food coloring to the batter, a few drops at a time, until it reaches a pumpkin-like shade.
- Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and grease lightly. Use a squeeze bottle or piping bag to shape the batter into pumpkin-like shapes. Cook for 2–3 minutes until bubbles form, then flip and cook for 1–2 minutes more until golden brown.
- Let the pancakes cool slightly, then decorate with chocolate syrup, Nutella, or other toppings to create Jack O’ Lantern faces. Use banana slices, mini chocolate chips, and fruit for eyes and a mouth.
- Serve immediately with your favorite Halloween toppings or let kids decorate their own pancakes.
Notes
For extra fall flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon to the batter.
For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour for a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
For a vegan version, use plant-based milk and a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water) instead of the egg.
Mini pancakes can be made for bite-sized Halloween treats!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pancake
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
