A super easy holiday breakfast, these Grinch pancakes are fun and simple to make. Lightly flavored with vanilla, kids will love opening presents and enjoying these bright green pancakes with maple syrup on Christmas morning.
Watching Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a yearly tradition for many families, and these pancakes bring that playful spirit into the kitchen. Serve them with maple syrup and a mug of hot chocolate for a cozy, celebratory morning. The green buttermilk batter and red heart sprinkles make a memorable, kid-friendly breakfast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses a simple buttermilk pancake base with green food coloring added for the Grinch look. You likely have everything on hand.
- All-purpose flour. You can substitute part with whole grain flour if desired.
- Leavening agents. Baking powder and baking soda for fluffy pancakes.
- Buttermilk. Readily available in stores. If you don’t have buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice per cup of milk and let sit for a few minutes.
- Egg. Helps bind the batter.
- Vanilla extract. Adds subtle flavor.
- Green food coloring. For the Grinch-green color.
- Red candy hearts or sprinkles. Use small red hearts to finish the look and make them extra festive.
Equipment to Gather
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Liquid measuring cup
- Spatula
- Griddle or non-stick pan
How To Make Grinch Pancakes
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix until just combined. A few small lumps are fine—overmixing makes pancakes tough. Add green food coloring to reach your desired shade; 10–12 drops produces a bright but balanced color, and you can add more if you prefer a deeper green.
Preheat a skillet or non-stick pan over medium-low to medium heat. Melt about 1 tablespoon of butter on the griddle.
Pour about ½ cup of batter for each pancake onto the hot surface. For smaller pancakes, use ¼ cup or an ice cream scoop. Cook the first side for 2–3 minutes until bubbles form and the edges begin to dry, then flip.
Flip carefully with a spatula and cook another 2–3 minutes until golden brown. Serve immediately while warm.
Lynn’s Tip: Resist pressing the pancakes with the spatula after flipping. Pressing flattens them and can make them dense and tough—let them cook undisturbed until ready to serve.
Tips to Making the Perfect Pancakes
- Adjust batter thickness. Pancake batter thickens as it rests—thin with a splash of milk if needed.
- Flip at the right time. Flip when small bubbles appear across the surface and the edges look set and slightly dry.
- Consistent sizing. Use a scoop, small ladle, or measuring cup so pancakes cook evenly.
- Control the heat. Medium-low is ideal. Too hot and they’ll burn on the outside before cooking through; too low and they’ll take too long to brown.
How To Serve Grinch Pancakes
- Serve with warm maple syrup and a dollop of whipped cream for a classic combination.
- For extra color, tint whipped cream lightly green and pipe it on top.
- Add strawberry hearts or small fruit cutouts to include fresh fruit and a pop of red for a Grinch-inspired contrast.
Storage Tips
Storing the batter: Cover the mixed batter tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Freezing cooked pancakes: Cool cooked pancakes completely, wrap in plastic, and place in a freezer bag. Freeze up to 4 months. Reheat in a toaster oven, oven, or a dry skillet until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Prepare pancake mix according to package directions and stir in green food coloring to achieve the color you want.
Yes. A splash of mint syrup adds a minty note, or mix mint syrup into the syrup for a subtle mint flavor.
Yield depends on pancake size. Using ½ cup scoops makes larger pancakes; use a tablespoon for silver-dollar sizes.
More Pancake Recipes
- Eggnog Pancakes
- Pancakes with Self-Rising Flour
- Strawberry Banana Pancakes
- Kefir Pancakes
- Nutella Pancakes
- Cottage Cheese Pancakes
- Applesauce Pancakes with Cinnamon
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Recipe
Grinch Pancakes (From Scratch!)
A super easy breakfast—these Grinch pancakes are perfect for holiday mornings, lightly flavored with vanilla and served with maple syrup.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Liquid measuring cup
- Spatula
- Griddle or non-stick pan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk (or 1 ½ cups milk + 1½ tbsp vinegar)
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
- Green food coloring, to color
Instructions
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until just combined. A few lumps are okay. Stir in green food coloring until you reach the desired shade.
- Preheat a skillet over medium-low to medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon butter.
- Pour about ½ cup batter per pancake onto the skillet. Cook 2–3 minutes until bubbles form and edges look dry, then flip and cook 2–3 more minutes until golden.
- Serve warm with maple syrup, whipped cream, and red heart sprinkles.
Notes
- 10–12 drops of green food coloring gives a bright color; add more for a deeper shade.
- If you lack buttermilk, use 1 tablespoon white vinegar per cup of milk and let it sit briefly.
- Whole milk, 2%, or unsweetened non-dairy milk can be used if preferred.
Carbohydrates: 20 g |
Protein: 5 g |
Fat: 7 g
The provided nutrition information is an estimate and not guaranteed.