Fluffy Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

Light and fluffy pumpkin spice pancakes are a family favorite fall breakfast. All you need are pantry staples, seasonal spices, and pumpkin puree to make this addictively delicious and easy recipe that’s packed with pumpkin flavor!

Fall is finally here, and with it comes so many things I love. At the top of my list? Pumpkin spice! Yes, I admit it—I’m obsessed! The comforting (and delicious) blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves pretty much screams cozy sweaters and crisp autumn days.

Honestly, I love pumpkin in anything and everything. It’s one of my absolute favorite foods to cook and bake with.

So, when Nate said he wanted to make pancakes a couple of days ago (he’s the pancake maker in our house), I quickly went to find a recipe. After some tweaking, we came up with the fluffiest, most deliciously spiced pumpkin pancakes I’ve ever tasted.

They are so so sooo good!

I must admit that I did not make these pancakes – Nate did.

I’m a pretty good cook, but I cannot flip pancakes. They flop instead of flip, and a mess ensues with awful-looking squished-up pancakes. Every time.

Luckily for me, Nate is excellent at pancakes, so we’re covered in that department.

And he whipped up an amazing batch of these pumpkin spice pancakes! Top them with a drizzle of maple syrup for an irresistible breakfast treat!

If you are a fellow pumpkin spice fanatic, you’ll also be obsessed with these pumpkin spice pancakes! They are fluffy and full of fall flavor—and super easy to make.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for these spiced pumpkin pancakes. For all the details, you can get a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• All-purpose flour – you could use whole wheat flour if you prefer
• Sugar – we used granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ground ginger
• Cloves
• Milk
• Canned pumpkin puree
• Vanilla extract
• Egg
• Coconut oil

How to make pumpkin spice pancakes

Are you ready to enjoy your new favorite breakfast treat? Just follow these step-by-step instructions!

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

In a small bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (milk, pumpkin, vanilla, egg, and oil).

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Stir until just combined, being careful not to over-mix. The batter will be thick.

If you have the time, let it sit for a few minutes—this helps give you that ultra-fluffy texture! (If you don’t have time, don’t worry – they are still fantastic!)

Ladle batter into desired portions over a hot nonstick pan or griddle on medium heat and flip when bubbles begin to break on the top.

Cook another minute or two and remove.

Serving ideas

Here are a few ways to enjoy your pumpkin spice pancakes!

• Classic Butter and Syrup: Serve warm pancakes with a pat of butter and a drizzle of syrup for a simple yet satisfying topping. Sure, you could use basic maple, but I highly recommend making this pumpkin spice syrup! This is our go-to!
• Whipped Cream and Cinnamon: Add a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a touch of indulgence. The whipped cream, in particular, works really well here. And if you want to REALLY take it to the next level, you’ve GOT to try this pumpkin spice whipped cream!!
• Fruit Toppings: Freshly sliced apples or pears complement pumpkin spice really well. While you can just add some sliced fruit on top, I like to place the sliced fruit in a pan with some butter, a bit of brown sugar, and pumpkin spice (of course!) and sauté it a bit so it is served warm.

Tips for fluffy, flavorful pancakes

Achieving the perfect pancake texture is an art. Here are some expert tips to ensure your pumpkin spice pancakes are both fluffy and flavorful:

• Don’t overmix: Stir gently to prevent the overdevelopment of gluten, which can make pancakes chewy.
• Rest the batter: Allow the batter to sit for about 5 minutes before cooking. This helps the gluten relax and the baking powder to activate.
• Use the right heat: Cook pancakes on medium heat. Too high, and they’ll burn on the outside before cooking through; too low, and they won’t rise properly.
• Butter the pan: Lightly butter the pan before pouring the batter to add flavor and help create a nice, golden-brown crust.
• Don’t press down: Resist the urge to press down on the pancakes with a spatula while they’re cooking. This will flatten them and make them less fluffy.
• Only flip once: Flip the pancake only when you see bubbles forming on the surface and the edges start to look set. Overflipping can make them dense.

Pumpkin spice pancakes as part of a well-rounded breakfast

Round out this delicious breakfast idea with some eggs, Protein Breakfast Muffins, or Mini Zucchini Quiche With Sausage to keep you full all morning long!

Some other breakfast options that you may enjoy with these pancakes (or when you want to change things up) could be our Chock-Full-of-Good-Stuff Morning Glory Muffins, Strawberries and Cream Overnight Oats, or Tropical Green Smoothie!

Pumpkin spice pancakes FAQs

Here are a few questions that I see readers often ask about making pumpkin spice muffins. If you don’t see your question answered below, please leave it in the comments!

What alternatives can I use for granulated sugar?

You could use brown sugar (which will give these pancakes a more caramelized flavor) or a sugar-free sweetener such as Stevia or Monk Fruit.

Could I just use pumpkin pie spice instead of all the spices listed?

Yes, you could! Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and ground allspice, and this recipe calls for all of those except for allspice.

Using pumpkin pie spice instead of the spices listed in the recipe will slightly change the flavor of the pancakes, but you may enjoy it even more!

Since this spice blend can seem a little “strong,” I recommend starting by only adding half a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Then, if you want it stronger, add more in 1/4 teaspoon increments until you reach the flavor you want.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! If you want to adapt this recipe to be gluten-free, simply replace the flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour mix. Converting recipes like this has become much easier over the past few years because there are now many measure-for-measure gluten-free mixes that you can use!

Can I make pumpkin spice pancakes in the oven?

Definitely, but they will come out differently than when you cook them on the stove. Oven pancakes are sheet pan pancakes, so they’ll cook to the shape of the baking pan you use and need to be cut to the size you want.

To make these pancakes in the oven, heat your oven to 400 degrees. Butter your baking pan, and pour the batter into the pan. Bake for about 20 minutes until the pancake is fully cooked in the center (check with a toothpick).

More delicious ways to use pumpkin

• Ultra Creamy Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream
• 10-Minute Perfect Whipped Pumpkin Mousse
• Healthy Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
• Easy Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Print