This whole wheat pancakes recipe is light and fluffy. You'll love making from scratch pancakes with this healthy, easy recipe. Instructions for substituting other whole grains like flaxseed, buckwheat, or amaranth. Kid approved.
For this recipe you'll need: whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, buttermilk, vanilla, eggs, melted butterÂ
Is it even possible to make light, whole grain pancakes? I'm talking about the kind that you don't have to cut with a chain saw and won't hang around in your stomach until Christmas. Sure, we all want healthy but if you're anything like me you want healthy AND delicious.
Yep, you can do it with this homemade whole wheat pancakes recipe. One thing that makes whole grain pancakes lighter is using a combination of flours, but the biggest secret of all is buttermilk. Buttermilk does what it has always done — gives baked goods a light tender crumb.
My kids eat a lot, it doesn't matter what meal it is. I found that whole grains fill them up faster and they definitely have more nutrition than cereal. One of my children, who shall remain unnamed, once ate 14 large whole wheat pancakes for breakfast -- if that gives you any idea of what I am talking about. If you make a batch on the weekend and freeze them you'll have your own frozen pancakes just like you buy at the store and it won't have all the junk in it.
The best way I have found to freeze them is to let them cool completely and then layer the pancakes with waxed paper. Freeze them in a resealable freezer bag and  reheat in the microwave when you're ready to have breakfast. These whole grain pancakes freeze well for up to three months but I have forgotten about them in the freezer as long as six months and they were fine.
These are pure country, y'all. That nutty, wholesome, whole wheat flavor really shines here — and it will make you think of red checked table cloths, lazy Saturday mornings, and roosters crowing even if you've lived all of your life on the 18th floor of a big city condo.
Yeah, they're that good.
Grain Variations on this Whole Wheat Pancakes Recipe.
You can also use part whole wheat flour, and mix up other flours to make it a bit different. Just use mostly whole wheat flour. For example:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup buckwheat flour
- ½ cup amaranth flour
Or
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup buckwheat flour
- ¼ cup flaxseed
- ¼ cup coarsely ground sunflower seeds
You can also add:
- Dried cranberries
- Blueberries
- Dried cherries
- Chocolate chips and graham cracker crumbs. Top with a dollop of marshmallow fluff (don't ask!)
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
- Raisins
- Sunflower seeds
- Punpkin seeds
- Almonds, chopped or almond flour
You May Need...
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A cast iron griddle sits on top of two burners and allows you to cook several pancakes at a time. because of the cast iron everything cooks evenly. I love this Lodge griddle --- It's the one I have and I think it's the perfect size. Another thing I've enjoyed over the years is my wheat grinder. I can grind fresh wheat flour whenever I want and you wouldn't believe the difference in flavor! I have had a Blend-Tec for 20 years... the SAME Blend-Tec!
Whole Wheat Pancakes Recipe
This is my favorite recipe, especially for cold weather. Hot, whole wheat pancakes with melting butter and warm maple syrup just taste cozy and comforting when the wind is howling outside. Give them a try and if you like this recipe please consider giving it 5 stars.
📖 Recipe
Light, Whole Grain Pancakes
Print Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 3 ½ cups buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 eggs, beaten
- â…“ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in the other.
- Add the two together and stir quickly -just until well blended. The batter will be lumpy.
- Spoon ¼ cup size ladles of batter onto a hot griddle.
- When bubbles form in the top flip the pancake and cook until done.
- This makes about a dozen pancakes. They freeze and reheat really well.
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Tania says
I made this morning and my husband and I loved them! They are light, which we love, and we love the whole grain. I used 90% whole wheat pastry flour and 10% ground whole oats. I added blueberries to some of the pancakes, which was really yummy. Great recipe!
Yany says
Thank you so much for this recipe Marye! I used the whole wheat/buckwheat/amaranth combo and it was perfect! Added some chia seeds to the batter for an extra boost of nutrition! This recipe is a keeper!!!
Marye Audet says
YAY! That's awesome! Thanks!
Healing Tomato says
I have been looking for a healthier pancake recipe. This one looks delicious and very creative.
Marye Audet says
Thank you so much!
Kristen says
My kids have always gone cuckoo for pancakes. I like the spices you added for flavor.
Marye Audet says
🙂 thanks!
christina conte says
Wonderful to see a healthy recipe that kids would love! Your pancakes look fabulous and I'm sure they taste that way too!
Marye Audet says
Thank you!
Kristy @ Southern In Law says
You can't go wrong with thick, fluffy pancakes! These look amazing!
Marye Audet says
Agreed!!
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
Pancakes are always so versatile, which is great because you know every kid is going to be difficult with their order! Love the idea of using whole grains instead of white flour.
Marye Audet says
🙂 these are light, too. I think that makes them more appealing to kids.
Michelle De La Cerda says
I like making food for my daughter that I know has some nutritional value to it, and I think these definitely qualify.
Marye Audet says
Yep -- it's good to get as much good stuff as possible packed in a recipe they'll eat... 🙂
Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary says
your homemade pancake looks appetizing Merye... And love the color shade at first picture above..gorgeous..!
Marye Audet says
Thank yOU!!
heather @french press says
I love making pancakes from scratch, and I love your grain combinations. I have never tried amaranth, but we love using buckwheat
I think my kids could eat pancakes all day long and never get bored
Marye Audet says
Pancakes are just awesome! I like experimenting with different flour combos!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Great recipe Marye, I could go for a stack right now. I find I can get away with healthier flours in pancakes and the kids don't even know the difference. Might have something to do with the puddle of maple syrup on their plates!
Marye Audet says
Can't beat a puddle of maple syrup!
Kristen says
Love homemade pancakes and these look FABULOUS and healthier!
Marye Audet says
Thanks!