Fluffy Gingerbread Pancakes: Your Ultimate Guide to a Magical Christmas Morning Breakfast

These fluffy Gingerbread Pancakes are the perfect breakfast or brunch for Christmas morning! They are easy to make and taste just like gingerbread, only in delightful pancake form!

Hello, wonderful readers! If you’re joining us from Love in My Oven as part of our festive Christmas Festival Blog Hop, a warm welcome to you! We’re absolutely thrilled to have you here this week, celebrating all things Christmas. Today, I’m excited to share a recipe that promises to elevate your holiday mornings: these incredible Gingerbread Pancakes. I don’t know about you, but I believe breakfast is truly the best meal of the day, and I could happily enjoy it for any occasion, especially during the holidays!

Christmas morning holds a special kind of magic, and a delicious, comforting breakfast is at the heart of it. Forget the rush and dive into the joy of a leisurely, spiced-filled morning. These gingerbread pancakes are more than just a meal; they’re an experience, filling your home with the nostalgic aromas of the season and creating cherished memories around the breakfast table.

While these gingerbread pancakes are undeniably a showstopper, if you’re looking for other fantastic breakfast or brunch ideas to keep your holiday menu diverse, consider trying these delightful Bean and Cheese Breakfast Tacos, savory Breakfast Enchiladas, or a hearty Hashbrown Sausage Breakfast Pie. Each offers a unique way to start your day right, whether it’s Christmas or any festive occasion.

The Magic of Christmas Morning Breakfast: Gingerbread Pancakes Edition

As I’ve confessed, my love for breakfast knows no bounds, but Christmas morning breakfast or brunch is truly in a league of its own. It’s the perfect occasion to go all out, to create something truly memorable and indulgent. And that’s exactly what these gingerbread pancakes are all about! To make them extra special, I topped mine with a dreamy, light-as-air whipped cream cheese topping – it’s an absolute game-changer and complements the warm spices beautifully.

Why Gingerbread for Christmas?

Gingerbread is synonymous with the holiday season. The blend of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves evokes warmth, comfort, and nostalgia. Imagine waking up to the enticing aroma of these spices wafting through your home, mingled with the anticipation of Christmas morning. These pancakes capture that essence perfectly, offering all the delightful flavors of your favorite gingerbread cookies but in a soft, pillowy pancake form. It’s a comforting hug in every bite, making them an ideal festive treat.

What are some of your most cherished Christmas morning breakfast traditions? I vividly remember my mom’s Swedish Tea Ring. She’d bake it every year, sometimes trying to hide it in hopes it would last until breakfast! The sweet, yeasty aroma and the tradition of sharing it with family are memories I hold dear. These gingerbread pancakes are my way of creating new, equally special traditions.

Crafting Your Perfect Fluffy Gingerbread Pancakes: A Step-by-Step Guide

You might think making pancakes from scratch sounds complicated, but I promise you, these Gingerbread Pancakes are actually quite simple to whip up! They’re no harder than using a store-bought mix, and the homemade flavor is absolutely unparalleled. Let’s dive into how to achieve that perfect fluffy texture and rich, spiced taste.

Mixing the Magic: Dry and Wet Ingredients

I always start by combining all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. This includes your flour, packed brown sugar (which adds a lovely depth and moisture), ground ginger, cinnamon, a touch of ground clove (start with 1/4 teaspoon and adjust to your preference for intensity), baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking these thoroughly ensures that all those wonderful spices and leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the batter. This is key for consistent flavor and a beautiful rise in every pancake.

Once your dry ingredients are perfectly mingled, it’s time to introduce the wet components. Gently add in the buttermilk, molasses, lightly beaten eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Now, here’s a crucial tip for fluffy pancakes: mix just until combined and no more. Use a spatula or a spoon and stir gently. You absolutely don’t want to overmix pancake batter, as this develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough, chewy pancakes instead of light, airy ones. If you still see a few small pockets of flour, don’t worry! That’s perfectly fine, and in fact, it’s a sign that you haven’t overmixed. Trust me, those tiny lumps will cook out beautifully, leaving you with wonderfully tender pancakes.

The Secret to Fluffy Pancakes: Ingredient Breakdown

Buttermilk: This acidic ingredient reacts with the baking soda to create carbon dioxide bubbles, which are essential for light and fluffy pancakes. It also adds a subtle tang that balances the sweetness. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup, then filling the rest with regular milk until it reaches 1 1/2 cups. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it slightly curdles.
Molasses: Beyond providing the characteristic gingerbread flavor and rich color, molasses adds moisture and a unique depth of sweetness that sugar alone cannot replicate.
Spices (Ginger, Cinnamon, Clove): These are the stars of the show, delivering that unmistakable warm, aromatic gingerbread profile. Adjust the clove amount to your liking, as it can be quite potent.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents work together to ensure maximum fluffiness. Baking powder provides an initial lift, while baking soda reacts with the buttermilk and molasses for an extra boost.

Cooking Your Gingerbread Pancakes to Perfection

Once your batter is ready, heat your griddle or non-stick pan over medium heat. A good test for temperature is to drop a few drops of water onto the surface; they should sizzle and evaporate immediately. Depending on your griddle, you may need to lightly grease it with butter or oil to prevent sticking. Drop 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the hot griddle. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until bubbles appear on the surface and the edges look set. Flip and cook until golden brown and cooked through.

Serving Suggestions: Indulge Your Holiday Spirit

While these warmly spiced gingerbread pancakes are delicious on their own, the toppings are where the true holiday indulgence begins! I absolutely adore topping mine with pure maple syrup for that classic pancake experience. However, my kids take it to the next level with the creamy whipped cream cheese topping, a generous scattering of festive sprinkles, and even a cute gingerbread man cookie for extra fun. I know, it sounds like a lot, but hey, it’s Christmas! It’s the perfect time to celebrate and truly indulge ourselves.

Beyond the whipped cream cheese, consider these other delightful additions:

A dusting of powdered sugar
Candied ginger pieces for an extra spicy kick
Fresh berries or sliced bananas
A drizzle of warm caramel sauce
Chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch

However you choose to dress them up, these gingerbread pancakes are guaranteed to bring smiles and holiday cheer to your breakfast table.

Before you get started on your gingerbread pancake adventure, be sure to hop on over to Walking On Sunshine Recipes to check out the delicious treats she’s making for the festival!

Gingerbread Pancakes

These fluffy Gingerbread Pancakes are the perfect breakfast or brunch for Christmas morning! They are easy to make and taste just like gingerbread only in pancake form!

Servings: 16 pancakes

Author: Malinda Linnebur

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients

Gingerbread Pancakes

▢ 2 cups (250g) all purpose flour
▢ 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
▢ 2 teaspoons ground ginger
▢ 2 teaspoons cinnamon
▢ 1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground clove
▢ 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
▢ 1 1/2 cup (355ml) buttermilk
▢ 1/3 cup (80ml) molasses
▢ 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
▢ 3 tablespoons butter, melted
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream Cheese Whipped Topping

▢ 2 ounces (60g) cream cheese, softened
▢ 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream
▢ 1/4 cup (25g) powdered sugar
▢ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Gingerbread Pancakes

In a large bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, clove, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the buttermilk, molasses, eggs, butter, and vanilla. Mix just until combined and no more. There should be some lumps in the batter.
Drop 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot griddle. May need grease your griddle if pancakes are sticking. Serve with maple syrup and cream cheese whipped topping if desired.

Cream Cheese Whipped Topping

In a medium bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla and beat until stiff peaks form.

Notes

Nutrition Facts- Calculated WITHOUT adding the cream cheese whipped topping. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate.
Make ahead- these pancakes can be frozen for up to 2 months. First freeze pancakes in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Stack frozen pancakes and place in a freezer safe container.
To reheat, you can pop them in the toaster, microwave, or warm them in a preheated oven until heated through.

Nutrition

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Join the Christmas Festival Blog Hop!

This post is part of a larger Christmas Festival Blog Hop, where talented bloggers are sharing their best holiday ideas throughout the week. Be sure to check out all the amazing inspiration for your holiday season!

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