Carrot Cake Pancakes Recipe

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

Fluffy and full of cinnamon, this Carrot Cake Pancakes Recipe takes your breakfast up a notch.  Imagine a favorite dessert for a morning treat!

This pancake recipe is perfect for a special holiday brunch or breakfast.  Serve with maple syrup or a side of orange maple whipped cream.

What is the science behind pancakes?

Like most baking, pancakes rely on chemical changes in the ingredients in the recipe.  It is important to understand these changes to have the best success in making fluffy pancakes.

Baking recipes are generally divided into two categories - dry ingredients and wet ingredients.  It is when these two components are combined that you will notice changes in pancake batter.

In this Carrot Cake Pancakes Recipe, the dry ingredients include chemical leaveners important for the rise of the pancakes.  To aid this chemical reaction, some of the wet ingredients are acidic in nature.

Gluten formation

One important chemical reaction in baking is the formation of gluten.  Gluten is a protein found in some grains which provides structure to a baked good.  When gluten molecules come in contact with a liquid, they become stretchy.  As they are mixed and stretched, gluten molecules in a dough start to create a weblike structure.  The more you manipulate a dough, the tighter the bond of the gluten molecules.  How much you develop the gluten structure depends on the recipe.

One benefit of the formation of gluten in pancakes is how it affects the chemical leaveners.  As baking powder and baking soda are activated, the bubbles are trapped in the web of gluten strands, allowing for rise in fluffy pancakes.

However, it is important to be aware of how much pancake batter is mixed.  Overmixing will lead to tough and doughy pancakes.  

Carrot Cake Pancakes Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• baking soda
• salt
• cinnamon
• cardamom

Wet Ingredients

• melted unsalted butter
• buttermilk
• egg
• brown sugar
• vanilla extract
• orange zest
• orange juice
• shredded fresh carrots

Making Carrot Cake Pancake Batter

• It helps to bring the liquid ingredients to room temperature before combining them. Let the buttermilk and egg come to room temperature for about 20 minutes.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients - all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Stir with a whisk to break up any lumps in the flour.
• In another medium bowl, combine the buttermilk with melted butter, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together.

• Add the egg and combine it with the other wet ingredients.
• Combine the brown sugar with the wet ingredients, stirring until it has dissolved.
• Using a whisk, add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir just until the ingredients are combined. It is okay if there are a few lumps. Do not overmix.  This is a thicker batter.  

• Fold the grated carrots into the pancake batter, evenly distributing them throughout.
  

Preparing the fluffy carrot cake pancakes

• Heat a griddle over medium-high heat water will sizzle when dropped onto the surface.
• Melt enough butter to cover the surface of the griddle. Use a metal spatula to spread the butter.
• Using a ⅓-cup measure, drop the pancake batter onto the griddle. It will spread somewhat. You can spread the batter lightly with a rubber spatula.
• Cook each pancake for 1 ½ - 2 minutes a side, until golden brown.  When removing the pancakes from the griddle, spread a little butter across the top of the pancakes.

• Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup and orange maple whipped cream.

Orange Maple Whipped Cream

• In a mixing bowl, whip 1 cup of heavy cream with an electric mixer until there are stiff peaks.
• Add 6 tablespoons of maple syrup and 2 tablespoons of orange juice.
• Whip until everything is combined and the cream is at stiff peaks.

Tips

1. Make sure to sift the dry ingredients to remove any lumps.
2. It is helpful to have the buttermilk and egg at room temperature.  The melted butter will not harden into little lumps when added to the wet ingredients.
3. To make the best pancakes do not overmix the batter.  You want fluffy and tender pancakes.  Only mix until the dry ingredients are moistened by the wet ingredients.  Do not worry about any lumps.  Overmixing deflates the batter and develops too much gluten formation.
4. Fold the shredded carrots lightly into the batter.
5. Don't let the mixed pancake batter rest too long before you start to cook your pancakes.  The bubbles from the chemical leaveners will start to break down leading to flat pancakes.
6. Make sure your griddle or pan is at the correct temperature.  My test is flicking a few drops of water onto the cooking surface.  If the water dances around the pan, it is ready for pancakes.
7. Use pure maple syrup - it is worth the splurge!

Brinner

Every once in a while we have brinner - breakfast for dinner.  This generally happens when I can't think of what to make for dinner and is definitely a treat.

This Carrot Cake Pancakes Recipe is a great idea for dinner.  It's almost dinner and dessert in one bite!

Looking for a holiday breakfast or brunch recipe?  Have a special occasion breakfast or Sunday brunch on the calendar?  This Carrot Cake Pancake Recipe is a great option and a  delicious way to celebrate with friends and family.  Full of carrot cake flavor with cinnamon and a touch of orange, these pancakes will be a favorite.

Here is another fantastic recipe you may enjoy - https://tenpoundcakecompany.com/lemon-blueberry-buttermilk-pancakes/