Create your very own Grinch Pancakes at home with green buttermilk pancake batter, cream cheese frosting, green whipped cream and heart sprinkles!
“ You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch!” Another week and another song lyric mentioned at a start of a post! Sorry I can’t help it!
Last year, my then four-year-old son was obsessed with Grinch pancakes! I can thank the nonstop commercials from IHOP on tv for this. Of course, being the nice parents we are, we surprised him with a breakfast trip to IHOP, so he could get his Grinch fix. As soon as I tasted the pancakes I knew I could re-create these at home and, to be honest, probably better. That’s when I decided to use the base of my buttermilk pancake recipe and transform them into Grinch pancakes!
What supplies do you need to make Grinch Pancakes?
Here is a list of all the kitchen supplies you’ll need to create these buttermilk holiday pancakes. All of these items can be found directly on Amazon. I’m an Amazon affiliate.
- Cookie Scoop – to grab the perfect amount of batter each and ever time.
- Frying Pan – To cook the pancakes in.
- Spatula – To flip the pancakes!
- Mixing Bowls – to mix and measure
- Angled Measuring cups – to measure the wet ingredients for the batter.
- Measuring Cups – to measure the dry ingredients for the batter.
- Measuring Spoons – to measure the ingredients.
- Hand Mixer – a cheaper and much smaller alternative for small kitchens!
- Stand Mixer – this is what I like to use.
- Green Food Coloring – for dyeing the pancakes and whipped cream.
- Wilton No 1. M Star Tip – you will want this for adding the green colored whipped cream to your pancakes.
- Piping Bags – to pipe the whipped cream on top of the pancakes.
- Heart Shaped Sprinkles – to sprinkle on top of the pancakes.
How do you make Grinch Pancakes?
First, In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then add in the buttermilk, milk, eggs, and melted butter. Mix this batter for 30 seconds until all ingredients are blended.
Spray cooking spray on a griddle or frying pan. Heat at medium heat. Using a small ladle or ice cream scoop (using about ¼ cup batter for each pancake (or less if you want silver dollar pancakes)), pour the batter onto the griddle.
Let the pancakes cook until you begin to start to see bubbles form on the top of the batter (about 1-2 minutes). Then flip, and cook an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove from griddle and repeat until all the batter is used.
Next make the cream cheese frosting. When I first tasted the pancakes while dining at IHOP, they seemed to have a canned “cream cheese” glaze taste to them. You can get a can of cream cheese frosting from the grocery store or you can make your own.
If you make your own (which is what I prefer) mix together using a hand mixer or stand mixer the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and water. Mix until smooth. If the frosting is too thick you can mix in additional water until your desired consistency. Then, set the bowl to the side.
For the whipped cream. You can go the easy route and take green food coloring and color some CoolWhip. Or you can go the extra step and make fresh homemade green whipped cream. Using a stand mixer, mix in the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and green food coloring.
Once the whipped cream is done you’ll then place into a piping bag to give that professional polished look. In case your wondering, Heart shaped sprinkles can be ordered on the Internet. I’m also starting to see a wide variety of sprinkles at my local arts and crafts store. So you can check their too. Or use what you have on hand. I had some leftover Valentine’s Day sprinkles, so I just picked the hearts out of those and used the remaining sprinkles I had.
FAQs
In case your wondering what the Grinch pancakes taste like they are light fluffy buttermilk pancakes died green. On top, they have a cream cheese frosting that is sweet and
Sadly, IHOP does not serve the Grinch pancakes any more! The Grinch pancakes were a limited time menu item for the 2018 Christmas season.
Pancake Recipes
Here are a few more of my favorite pancake recipes.
If you are looking for a fun holiday tradition host a Grinch themed breakfast for your kids (or family and friends) this holiday season. I hope everyone enjoys the holiday season, and maybe add a new tradition to your month of festivities!
If you make this recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a ⭐ star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!
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Grinch Pancakes
Equipment
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer
- Stove Top
Ingredients
Pancakes:
- 1 cup All-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon White Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Buttermilk
- 3 tablespoon Milk
- 1 Egg
- 2 tablespoons Butter melted and slightly cooled
- 1 teaspoon Green Food Coloring
For the cream cheese frosting:
- 8 oz Cream Cheese softened
- ½ cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Clean Vanilla Extract
- 3 tablespoons Water
For the green whipped cream:
- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- ¾ cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Adams Extract Green Food Coloring
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then add in the buttermilk, milk, eggs, melted butter, and food coloring. Mix for 30 seconds until all ingredients are blended.
- Spray cooking spray on a griddle or frying pan. Heat at medium heat. Using a small ladle or ice cream scoop (using about ¼ cup batter for each pancake (or less if you want silver dollar pancakes)), pour the batter onto the griddle.
- Let the pancakes cook until you begin to start to see bubbles form on the top of the batter (about 1-2 minutes). Then flip, and cook an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove from griddle and repeat until all the batter is used.
For the cream cheese frosting:
- Mix together using a hand mixer or stand mixer the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and water (start with 2 tablespoons and add additional water as needed to thin frosting). Mix until smooth, and set to the side.
For the green whipped cream:
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, mix the heavy cream, powder sugar, and green food coloring until stiff peaks form (about 3-5 minutes on medium high speed). Place in a piping bag fitted with a star (no. 1) tip.
- To assemble the pancakes, stack pancakes then drizzle on the cream cheese frosting. Top pancake with green whipped cream. Add heart shaped sprinkles on top. Repeat until all the pancakes are done and enjoy.
Notes
- Quantity – 1 batch of pancakes makes enough for my family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) for breakfast.
- Scoop – Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to help evenly divide batter and pour onto griddle.
- Substitution – A reader named Sam was able to succesffully make this recipe gluten free. Here is what he had to say; “To make these gluten free I just substituted the flour with a Gluten free all purpose flour. Bob’s Mill or Crusteaz brand. They are nice and fluffy.”
Nutrition
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Emily
The pancakes are green but nowhere in the recipe or instructions does it say to add green food coloring to it. I’m confused 🙁
Katie
Hi Emily! Oh my gosh, thank you so much for letting me know! I just added the green food color dye to the recipe card. You add the food dye in the liquid portion of the batter! 🙂
Sam Duncomb
Made the recipe gluten-free and it turned out great for the grandkids.
Katie
Sam this is so great to read! Thank you again!
Kayla
So fun, festive, and delicious!!! Thanks for sharing!
Katie
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a 5-star review. I’m so happy you love this recipe!