There’s something so comforting about waking up to a warm stack of homemade pancakes with a fruity twist. This Strawberry Pancakes Recipe brings that fresh, bright flavor straight to your breakfast table—plus, the subtle strawberry powder adds a lovely color and taste throughout. It’s really the kind of morning treat that feels special without much fuss.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I remember the first time I made these strawberry pancakes. The aroma filled the kitchen with that sweet, fruity scent that immediately lifts your spirits. It’s a fresh twist on a classic, and once you try them, you’ll see why they’ve become a weekend favorite for me and my family.
- Simple Ingredients: You only need pantry staples and one unique addition—freeze-dried strawberries—to make them shine.
- Vibrant Flavor and Color: Strawberry powder adds natural pink hues and a subtle fruity tang without watering down the batter.
- Quick and Easy: From mixing to flipping, this recipe only takes about 20 minutes, making it perfect for both lazy mornings and brunch guests.
- Versatile Toppings: Whipped cream, fresh berries, syrup—you can customize it any way you like for that perfect finishing touch.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe strikes a beautiful balance between traditional pancake ingredients and a special strawberry twist. The freeze-dried strawberries bring an intense flavor without adding extra moisture, so your pancakes stay fluffy and light.
- Freeze-Dried Strawberries: These crush into a powder that infuses strawberry flavor and color naturally, without sogginess.
- Flour: The base for structure, allowing the pancakes to rise beautifully with baking powder.
- Sugar: Adds just the right touch of sweetness to complement the strawberries.
- Baking Powder: Your secret weapon for fluffy, airy pancakes that puff up perfectly.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Milk: Moistens the batter so the pancakes cook up tender and soft; adjust for your preferred batter thickness.
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps pancakes moist and adds slight richness without overpowering flavors.
- Egg: Helps bind everything together and contributes to fluffiness.
- Red Food Coloring (Optional): For those who want a brighter pink hue, but the strawberry powder alone adds a nice tint.
Make It Your Way
One of the best parts about this Strawberry Pancakes Recipe is how easy it is to tweak based on what you have or what you’re craving. I often play around with different mix-ins or toppings to keep breakfast exciting.
- Variation: I sometimes add a handful of fresh strawberries folded gently into the batter for extra bursts of juicy sweetness—it’s a small change but makes mornings even more special.
- Dietary tweak: Use almond milk instead of cow’s milk for a dairy-free option without sacrificing creaminess.
- Color boost: If you want your pancakes to look extra festive, a few drops of red food coloring brighten the pink tones even more, especially for a weekend brunch party.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Pancakes Recipe
Step 1: Transform Freeze-Dried Strawberries into Magic Dust
Start by pulsing the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor until they’re a fine powder. This step is crucial because it ensures even distribution of strawberry flavor throughout the batter instead of clumpy bits. If you don’t have a processor, crushing the strawberries inside a sealed plastic bag with a rolling pin works in a pinch.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients for the Perfect Base
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and that lovely strawberry powder you just made. Stir everything together—this even mixing ensures your pancakes will rise evenly and taste great every time.
Step 3: Make a Well and Add the Wet Ingredients
Create a little well in the center of the dry mixture and add your milk, vegetable oil, and egg. Whisk gently to combine, adding more milk if you'd like thinner pancakes. If you're going for more color, stir in a few drops of red food coloring now.
Step 4: Cook on a Hot Griddle Until Golden Perfection
Heat a greased griddle or nonstick pan over medium heat. Use a ¼ cup to pour the batter onto the griddle. Watch for bubbles forming on the surface—that's your signal to flip. Cook the other side until it’s a beautiful golden brown. These pancakes cook quickly, so don’t walk away!
Step 5: Serve Immediately with Your Favorite Toppings
Stack ‘em high and add a generous dollop of whipped cream, a handful of fresh strawberries, and your preferred syrup—maple or strawberry both work beautifully here. Dig in while they’re warm and enjoy the fun, fruity flavor with every bite.
Top Tip
From my experience making strawberry pancakes, a few small details really make a difference to get them just right. These tips helped me nail the perfect texture, flavor, and appearance every time.
- Strawberry Powder Texture: Make sure your freeze-dried strawberries are finely powdered so the flavor integrates well without gritty bits.
- Don’t Overmix: Stir the batter until just combined; overmixing leads to tougher pancakes instead of fluffy ones.
- Temperature Control: Cook on medium heat—too hot and pancakes brown too fast outside but remain raw inside.
- Test First Pancake: The first pancake often acts as your ‘test’—adjust heat or batter thickness accordingly afterward.
How to Serve Strawberry Pancakes Recipe
Garnishes
My go-to garnish is always fresh strawberries paired with lightly sweetened whipped cream. It turns every bite into a strawberry celebration! Sometimes I sprinkle a little powdered sugar or add a drizzle of strawberry syrup on top for extra flair. The visual appeal also amps up the fun factor if you’re serving friends or family.
Side Dishes
To round out the meal, I like to serve crispy bacon or turkey sausage alongside these pancakes—the salty-savory balance pairs so well. Fresh fruit salad or a yogurt parfait are great lighter sides too when I’m aiming for a refreshing brunch.
Creative Ways to Present
For birthdays or special weekend brunches, I’ve layered these pancakes with cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberry slices between each layer to create a sort of cake. It’s a delightful surprise and perfect for celebrations. You can also shape the pancakes using cookie cutters for fun designs kids love!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers (rare in my house!), store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. To keep their texture, I separate the pancakes with parchment paper so they don’t stick together.
Freezing
Freezing is a game-changer for busy mornings. I layer pancakes with wax or parchment paper in freezer-safe Ziploc bags. When I want to eat them, I just pop a few in the toaster or microwave for a quick, satisfying breakfast that tastes almost freshly made.
Reheating
My favorite way to reheat the leftovers is in a toaster oven or under a broiler for a few minutes—this keeps the outside crisp while warming the inside nicely. If you’re in a rush, the microwave works too; just watch out not to overdo it or the pancakes can get rubbery.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Fresh strawberries add extra moisture that can throw off the batter consistency, so it’s best to stick with freeze-dried for the strawberry powder. However, you can add chopped fresh strawberries gently folded in after preparing the batter if you want extra fruit bursts.
Be careful not to overmix the batter; stir until just combined. Also, make sure your baking powder is fresh and cook the pancakes on medium heat so they have time to rise and cook through without burning.
To make this recipe vegan, substitute the egg with a flax or chia egg and use a plant-based milk. For gluten-free, swap the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, but baking powder should be double-checked to ensure it’s gluten-free. Adjust liquid amounts as needed for consistency.
Classic choices like whipped cream and maple syrup are fantastic, but you can also get creative by adding fresh strawberries, yogurt, a drizzle of strawberry sauce, or even a sprinkle of toasted nuts for added texture.
Final Thoughts
This Strawberry Pancakes Recipe is one of those joyfully simple breakfasts that’s just a little more special than your everyday flapjacks. It brings bright, fresh flavor together with ease and always makes for a happy start to my day. I hope you enjoy making (and eating) them as much as I do—and who knows, they might just become your new favorite too!
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Strawberry Pancakes Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These strawberry pancakes combine the sweet, fruity flavor of freeze-dried strawberries with a fluffy, tender pancake base. Perfect for a delightful breakfast, topped with whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and syrup, these pancakes bring a charming twist to your morning routine.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ounce freeze-dried strawberries
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups milk (or more for thinner pancakes)
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- Red food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Strawberry Powder: Add the freeze-dried strawberries to a food processor and pulse until they become a fine powder.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and the prepared strawberry powder. Stir well to evenly distribute the strawberry flavor.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Create a well in the center of the dry mixture. Pour in the milk, vegetable oil, and egg into the well. For thinner pancakes, add more milk as desired.
- Combine Batter: Whisk the wet and dry ingredients together until the batter is smooth. Stir in red food coloring if a more vibrant color is preferred.
- Cook Pancakes: Heat and grease a griddle or skillet to medium heat. Use a ¼ cup measuring cup to scoop the batter onto the hot surface. Cook until bubbles appear on the top of the pancakes, then flip carefully.
- Finish Cooking: Cook the second side until it turns golden brown and the pancakes are cooked through.
- Serve: Serve your strawberry pancakes hot topped with whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and maple or strawberry syrup for extra flavor.
- Storage: Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days. Pancakes can also be frozen in Ziploc bags for quick, convenient breakfasts later.
Notes
- Using freeze-dried strawberries gives an intense strawberry flavor without adding moisture to the batter.
- Adjust the milk quantity for desired pancake thickness; thinner batter yields lighter pancakes.
- Red food coloring is optional but enhances the visual appeal of the strawberry pancakes.
- Serve with your favorite toppings like whipped cream, fresh fruit, or syrup to complement the flavor.
- Leftover pancakes freeze well; separate with parchment to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 411 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 598 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 61 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 42 mg
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