Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes – Perfect For Halloween!

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Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes are the perfect Halloween breakfast! Adorable pumpkin pancakes with little Halloween faces that the whole family will love!

Four Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes on three different plates surrounded by small white pumpkins on a white tablecloth

Cute Halloween Pancakes

Having a great Halloween breakfast is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit, so let these Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes bring the fun to your table that morning!

These little pumpkin pancakes will only take you a couple of minutes at the stove and they’re a super fun fall breakfast. 

While they taste like regular pancakes (for those picky eaters!), you do have the option of adding a little bit of your favorite seasonings to the batter. Pumpkin spice, cinnamon, or vanilla extract could each work, or just eat them with your very favorite toppings! 

Halloween doesn’t have to be a spooky holiday – it can just be fun! – and this Halloween pancakes recipe is going to be a huge hit. They’re so cute!

Three Jack-O-Lantern pancakes on white plates on a white table with white mini pumpkins

Recipe Notes:

  • The batter shouldn’t be too runny or too thick. If it’s too runny, it’ll spread out too much in the pan; if too thick, it won’t spread enough. Aim for a creamy texture, similar to thick yogurt.
  • Avoid overmixing the batter! Stirring the batter too much will make the pancakes tough. Those small lumps will cook out, so don’t worry about them.
  • Before making your first themed pancake, consider pouring a small test pancake. This will help you gauge the pan’s temperature and get the hang of the process.
  • Gel food coloring is preferable because it will give you vibrant colors without much added liquid, but you can use any food coloring you have. 
  • You can use milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips for your jack-o-lantern faces. 
  • Use any remaining pancake mix to make some fun pancake shapes or mini pumpkins. 
  • Consider serving these with a side of whipped cream or whipped topping tinted with a little orange food coloring and flavored with a drop of vanilla extract. It will complement the Halloween theme!

Ingredients for Jack-O-Lantern pancakes in clear bowls including butter, flour, chocolate chips, orange food coloring, green food coloring, and more

How To Make Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes

Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 large egg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Orange food coloring
Green food coloring
Vegetable oil or butter for the pan (as needed)
Chocolate chips (as needed)

Supplies Needed:

Large mixing bowl
Medium mixing bowl 
Large whisk
Large skillet
Pastry bag, Ziploc bag, or kitchen squeeze bottle
Broad spatula
Medium ladle (optional)

A clear mixing bowl with ingredients for Jack-O-Lantern pancakes

Directions:

Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

A clear mixing bowl with pancake batter for Jack-O-Lantern pancakes being mixed with a whiskStep 2: Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the egg, melted butter, and milk.

Mix everything until it is just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay.

Step 3: Divide the pancake batter into two separate bowls, one with 2/3 of the batter and the other with 1/3 of the batter. The larger portion will be for the orange batter and the smaller portion will be for the green batter.

A large bowl of orange pancake batter and a smaller bowl of green pancake batter for Jack-O-Lantern pancakesStep 4: Add a few drops of orange food coloring to the larger portion of batter. Mix well until the color is evenly distributed and you achieve your desired shade of orange.

Depending on the food coloring you use, you may have to add several extra drops to break through the lighter color pancake batter. 

Step 5: In the smaller, medium bowl of batter, add a few drops of green food coloring and mix well.

Step 6: Place a non-stick frying pan or griddle on the stove over medium heat. Add some butter or vegetable oil for frying. 

An orange pumpkin pancake with a green stem on top for Jack-O-Lantern pancakesStep 7: Pour a ladleful of the orange batter onto the hot griddle or skillet to form a round pancake. Allow it to cook until small bubbles form on the surface and the edges look slightly set.

Step 8: While your pumpkin pancake is cooking, place the green batter into a squeeze bottle or piping bag. Once the orange pancake edges have just set, carefully draw the pumpkin stem on the top of the cooking orange pancake. 

A Jack-O-Lantern pancake cooking on a black frying panStep 9: Place some chocolate chips on the orange part of the pancake to finish drawing in the eyes, nose, and mouth. Get creative and design a fun and spooky face!

Step 10: Once the bottom of the pancake is golden brown and the edges are set, use a spatula to carefully do a quick flip of the pancake. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the other side is cooked through.

Four Jack-O-Lantern pancakes on white plates Step 11: Gently transfer the pancake to a serving plate and continue making the rest of the jack o lantern pancakes. 

Serve your pancake pumpkins with a pat of butter, maple syrup, whipped cream, or any other toppings of your choice. Enjoy!

How To Store Leftover Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes

Store any leftover pancakes in a resealable bag, removing as much air as possible. Keep the bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can use an airtight container, but you’re best off using a bag. 

Four Jack-O-Lantern pancakes on white plates with small white pumpkins on a white table

Can I Freeze These Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes? 

Yes! Allow the pancakes to cool to room temperature after cooking. Place the pancakes in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag with wax paper or parchment paper layered between each pancake. Freeze for up to 2 months for the best results. 

Can I Use Pumpkin Puree For Added Flavor?

Because there are a decent number of wet ingredients in this recipe, it is best not to add pumpkin puree or the batter will be too loose. If you want to add some fall flavors, add some pumpkin pie spice to the batter instead. 

Can I Use Anything Other Than Chocolate Chips To Make These Healthier?

Yes! If you want to make these healthier pancakes or you have a picky eater, you can omit the chocolate chips and add other ingredients to the top of the pancakes. 

Get creative with some raisins, sliced strawberries, or blueberries for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Halloween morning shouldn’t be overly complicated, so do what works best for your family. 

A Jack-O-Lantern pancake being cut into with a fork on a white plate on a white table

Are You Looking For More Fun Halloween Recipes? Here Are Some Of My Favorites:

Yield: 6 pancakes

Jack O Lantern Pancakes

Four Jack-O-Lantern pancakes on white plates with small white pumpkins on a white table

Jack-O-Lantern Pancakes are the perfect Halloween breakfast! Adorable pumpkin pancakes with little Halloween faces that the whole family will love!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • Orange food coloring
  • Green food coloring
  • Vegetable oil or butter for the pan (as needed)
  • Chocolate chips (as needed)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  2. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the egg, melted butter, and milk. Mix everything until it is just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay.
  3. Divide the pancake batter into two separate bowls, one with 2/3 of the batter and the other with 1/3 of the batter. The larger portion will be for the orange batter and the smaller portion will be for the green batter.
  4. Add a few drops of orange food coloring to the larger portion of batter. Mix well until the color is evenly distributed and you achieve your desired shade of orange.
  5. In the smaller portion of batter, add a few drops of green food coloring and mix well.
  6. Place a non-stick frying pan or griddle on the stove over medium heat. Add some butter or vegetable oil for frying. 
  7. Pour a ladleful of the orange batter onto the hot griddle or skillet to form a round pancake. Allow it to cook until small bubbles form on the surface and the edges look slightly set.
  8. While your pumpkin pancake is cooking, place the green batter into a squeeze bottle or pastry bag. Once the orange pancake edges have just set, carefully draw the pumpkin stem on the top of the cooking orange pancake. 
  9. Place some chocolate chips on the orange part of the pancake to finish drawing in the eyes, nose, and mouth. Get creative and design a fun and spooky face!
  10. Once the bottom of the pancake is golden brown and the edges are set, use a spatula to carefully flip the pancake. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the other side is cooked through.
  11. Gently transfer the pancake to a serving plate and continue making the rest of the jack o lantern pancakes.

Notes

Serve these with pat of butter, maple syrup, whipped cream, or any other toppings of your choice.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 241Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 306mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 5g

This calculation is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a doctor or dietitian. This calculator is a guide, but makes no guarantee of being exact or fully accurate.

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