Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes

It’s faaaaall. Sweaters! Pumpkin spice! Hot drinks! Cold temps! Well, here in Texas we may still have some days creep into the 80’s and 90’s, but the brisk morning air is enough to make me want to sprint out my door and grab everything pumpkin-flavored at the grocery store! Enter, my favorite healthy pumpkin pancakes!

Why I love these pumpkin pancakes

My kids don’t love veggies. Your kids don’t love veggies. BUT! My kids will never say no to pancakes. Pumpkin is a great source of important vitamins and minerals, and it’s particularly high in vitamin A.

I love that these healthy pumpkin pancakes are easy to make, low in sugar, and get my kids to start the day with more than just plain carbs!

Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes

This healthy pumpkin pancake recipe is sweetened with just a little bit of maple syrup, which goes great with the pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon in the batter. This pancake recipe may just become your go-to for fall!

Ingredients Needed

All you need is:

• ¾ cup canned pumpkin puree
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup whole milk 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats, gluten free if desired
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

How to make healthy pumpkin pancakes

1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend completely, for about 30-60 seconds. 
2. Heat a large pan over medium heat, then grease lightly with butter or avocado oil. 
3. Add batter in ¼ cup dollops to the pan (you may need to spread a little with a spoon, since the batter is thick). 
4. Once bubbling, flip and cook the other side until golden brown on the bottom. If pancakes brown too quickly, lower heat to medium low.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use an alternative milk?

You can use an alternative milk for these healthy pumpkin pancakes if you prefer! I would recommend soy, as it’s more similar to cow’s milk than any of the others. Plus, other alternative milks *can* change the flavor or consistency. So you’re more than welcome to use any milk you have on hand, just know that things may turn out a little bit different in taste or texture.

I don’t have pumpkin pie spice! What do I do?

Pumpkin pie spice is actually just a combination of a bunch of fall spices. You can actually make your own, or just sub in small amounts of its components in a pinch! It’s usually made of cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Here is a recipe for making your own pumpkin pie spice at home.

Picky Eater Tips

The batter of these healthy pumpkin pancakes is a little bit orange from the pumpkin puree! If you are feeding a picky eater (or just want to jazz things up at breakfast one day), I think it’s so fun to make these orange pancakes INTO pumpkins.

You can use a tiny bit of Greek yogurt or cream cheese to draw some lines onto your round pancakes to make a pumpkin shape, and I even go so far as to throw a few sprinkles on top! Sprinkles can be your friend when you’re trying to entice picky eaters to accept more foods. They’re a great way to make food fun, and I don’t worry about the tiny bit of sugar they add to the meal. 

Also, it’s okay to serve these pancakes with some maple syrup! That’s how I like them best, personally. But it’s always helpful to have a familiar topping or dip for your picky eater, to get them more on board with trying something new, like this variation on the traditional pancakes they know and love.

What to do with leftovers?

You can refrigerate these pancakes for 2-3 days or freeze them and reheat for up to 2 months. If you refrigerate them, they are great to add to a lunchbox the next day, if they will eat them cold.

Other recipes you might like

Easy and Delicious Sheet Pan Pancakes

Protein Pancake Mix Recipe

Healthy Sweet Potato Pancakes

Make breakfast easier

If breakfast is a tough time in your household, check out these Breakfast Menu Choice Cards. They can help picky kids feel like they get to decide what’s on their plate, and makes the morning less stressful for everyone!

Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe