Nothing says festive like a pop of vibrant green on your breakfast plate, and that's exactly why this Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe has become my go-to holiday treat. Fluffy, colorful, and topped with a dreamy cream cheese glaze, it makes Christmas morning feel extra special without any fuss.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe has a magical way of turning a simple breakfast into a festive celebration. I adore how the bright green hue instantly lifts the mood, and the combination of flavors with that luscious cream cheese glaze makes it feel indulgent and fun at the same time.
- Festive Flair: The natural green color instantly transforms a classic pancake into a joyful holiday centerpiece.
- Deliciously Fluffy: Perfectly light and tender pancakes, thanks to just the right balance of baking powder and soda.
- Cream Cheese Glaze: This topping adds a subtle tangy sweetness that perfectly complements the pancakes.
- Easy to Make: No complicated steps or fancy ingredients – you can whip up a batch even on a busy Christmas morning.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The ingredients in this Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe play nicely together to give you light, fluffy pancakes with a vibrant green color and a rich, creamy glaze. Here's the scoop on why each one is key:
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure while keeping the pancakes tender.
- Granulated sugar: Just enough to add a hint of sweetness without overpowering the glaze.
- Baking powder & baking soda: The perfect combo to help your pancakes rise beautifully and stay soft.
- Kosher salt: Balances flavors, making the sweetness pop.
- Milk: Keeps the batter smooth and adds moisture.
- Eggs: Help bind ingredients and give pancakes their fluff.
- Pure vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth to the batter’s flavor.
- Green food coloring: The star that gives these pancakes their festive green – I prefer gel or liquid for the best intensity.
- Unflavored oil: Ensures pancakes stay moist and prevents sticking.
- Cream cheese: For the glaze, it adds a creamy tang that’s irresistible.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens the glaze smoothly without grit.
- Whole milk (for glaze): Thins the cream cheese glaze to the perfect consistency.
- Red heart sprinkles, whipped cream, fresh fruit: Fun garnishes that make each stack look and taste like holiday magic.
Make It Your Way
I love mixing things up with this Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe depending on the mood or who I'm cooking for. You can easily tailor this to make it your own festive tradition.
- Variation: I sometimes swap out vanilla for almond extract, which adds a cozy nuttiness that’s pretty delightful in these pancakes.
- Dietary tweak: For a gluten-free version, I’ve had success using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend—results are just as fluffy and festive.
- Green swap: To avoid synthetic colors, I’ve experimented with matcha powder, which gives a subtler green and a slightly earthy flavor.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe
Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients
Start by whisking together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. This ensures the leavening agents are evenly distributed, so your pancakes rise evenly. Taking this extra moment really makes a difference in texture.
Step 2: Whisk the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, beat the milk, eggs, vanilla, green food coloring, and oil until smooth. I use a fork to make sure the egg is fully incorporated, which prevents any streaks of color or uneven cooking.
Step 3: Combine and Rest
Pour the wet mix into the dry and stir gently until just combined. Resist the urge to overmix here! A few lumps are ok; they actually keep the pancakes tender. Let the batter rest for about 5-10 minutes – this little pause hydrates the flour and helps achieve fluffy pancakes.
Step 4: Cook Your Pancakes to Perfection
Heat a griddle or nonstick pan over medium heat and grease lightly with butter or cooking spray. I use a 1.5-tablespoon cookie scoop to measure out silver dollar-sized pancakes – it keeps the sizes uniform. Cook until bubbles form on top, then flip and cook until golden and cooked through. Repeat until all batter’s used. Don’t rush—medium heat is key to cooking through without burning.
Step 5: Whip Up That Cream Cheese Glaze
While your pancakes cook, mix together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, whole milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth and pourable. This glaze is the secret star – tangy, sweet, and creamy. Drizzle liberally over each stack.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Top your pancakes with the cream cheese glaze, red heart sprinkles for that festive pop, whipped cream, and fresh fruit if you like. It’s a guaranteed holiday morning winner.
Top Tip
Over the years of making this Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe, I’ve learned that little tweaks make all the difference between good pancakes and unforgettable ones. Here are my best tips to get you there.
- Don’t Overmix: Stir until combined but keep plenty of lumps; smooth batter means dense pancakes.
- Let the Batter Rest: Even a quick 5 to 10 minutes allows the flour to absorb liquid, making pancakes fluffier.
- Medium Heat is Your Friend: Cooking pancakes too hot browns them outside before the inside cooks through.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: This keeps pancake sizes consistent so everything cooks evenly.
How to Serve Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe
Garnishes
I personally love piling on the cream cheese glaze first, then sprinkling red heart-shaped sprinkles for that festive pop. A generous swirl of whipped cream is a must—it adds lightness and balances the tangy glaze. Fresh berries or sliced strawberries add a fresh, juicy contrast that both kids and adults appreciate.
Side Dishes
On particularly chilly December mornings, I serve these pancakes with crispy bacon or maple sausage links for a savory contrast. A side of warm apple cider or peppermint hot chocolate rounds out the holiday vibe perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special Christmas brunch, I’ve topped stacks with edible gold dust or sprinkled crushed candy canes around the plate to add sparkle and crunch. Using festive holiday plates or arranging pancakes in tree or star shapes can make for a truly memorable presentation.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once completely cooled, I stack my leftover pancakes separated by parchment paper inside an airtight container and pop them in the fridge. They stay fresh for about 3-4 days. Whenever I reheat, they come out almost as good as freshly made if done right.
Freezing
These pancakes freeze beautifully! I flash freeze them individually on a wax paper-lined baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. They keep well for up to 3 months—perfect if you want to prep ahead for holiday mornings when time is tight.
Reheating
To reheat, I use a toaster oven or regular toaster for a minute or two to bring back that slight crisp outside. Microwaving is also fine but can make them soft—just cover with a damp paper towel to keep moisture balanced.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can! However, keep in mind that natural green colorings like spinach juice or matcha may fade or change color when the pancakes cook. For that bold festive green, artificial or gel food colors work best.
Make sure to not overmix the batter and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before cooking. Also, using a combination of baking powder and baking soda helps the pancakes rise nicely, resulting in a fluffy texture. Cook on medium heat to avoid burning.
I don’t recommend making the batter too far in advance as the leavening power can diminish, leading to flatter pancakes. However, you can mix the dry and wet ingredients separately the night before and combine them just before cooking for a fresher result.
Reheating in a toaster oven or regular toaster helps retain a slight crispness on the outside while warming through evenly. If using a microwave, cover them with a damp paper towel to lock in moisture and prevent dryness.
Final Thoughts
This Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe is truly a delightful way to bring a burst of joy and color to your holiday mornings. I’ve made these for years now, and every time, the faces around the table light up—there’s just something about the green glow and creamy glaze that feels like a gift wrapped in every bite. I can’t wait for you to try it and make your own holiday memories with these festive pancakes.
Print
Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 28 pancakes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in festive Green Christmas Pancakes, perfect for holiday breakfasts. These fluffy pancakes get their vibrant green hue from food coloring, paired with a luscious cream cheese glaze and festive garnishes like red heart sprinkles, whipped cream, and fresh fruit.
Ingredients
Pancakes
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon green food coloring
- 2 tablespoons unflavored oil (avocado, vegetable, or canola)
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Garnishes
- Cream cheese glaze
- Red heart sprinkles
- Whipped cream
- Fresh fruit
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients. Measure out the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together until well incorporated.
- Combine wet ingredients. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, green food coloring, and oil using a fork until fully combined and the egg and coloring are evenly distributed.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain pancake texture.
- Let batter rest. Set aside the batter and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes to hydrate the flour and improve texture.
- Preheat cooking surface. Heat a griddle or nonstick skillet over medium heat and lightly grease with butter or cooking spray.
- Cook pancakes. Using a cookie scoop or measuring spoon, dollop about 1.5 tablespoons of batter per pancake onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook through until golden and cooked inside. Repeat with all batter.
- Prepare cream cheese glaze. In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, whole milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Serve pancakes. Stack pancakes on plates and drizzle with cream cheese glaze. Garnish with red heart sprinkles, whipped cream, and fresh fruit as desired.
Notes
- Using natural green food coloring may cause the batter to lose some color when cooked; for a more vibrant hue, use artificial green food coloring.
- To store pancakes, allow them to cool completely and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in a microwave or toaster oven.
- For freezing, lay pancakes on a wax paper–lined cookie sheet and freeze individually. Once frozen, transfer pancakes to a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pancake
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
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