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While it’s pretty easy to make your own pancakes from scratch with a few basic pantry ingredients, it’s also nice to have a trusted pancake mix on hand to save on time and dishes. Most pancake mixes only require the addition of water, so you can have pancake batter ready for a hot griddle in no time. It’s also easier to scale a batch of pancakes for a single person or for a crowd when using a pancake mix.
If you follow a particular diet, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of pancake mixes available that can accommodate a variety of eating styles, including low-carb, grain-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Tuck this list of the best pancake mixes away and consult it the next time a craving for a pancake brunch or breakfast for dinner hits.
Here are the best pancake mixes.
Best Overall: King Arthur Flour Cloud 9 Pancake Mix
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Affordable
Made from whole grains
Makes flavorful pancakes
Requires several ingredients to prepare
Can be hard to find
King Arthur Flour is known for its line of baking flours and trusted baking recipes, so it’s a little surprising that this pancake mix takes the cake. This mix promises easy, light, and fluffy pancakes.
The mix contains a blend of King Arthur’s tried and true unbleached flour, along with whole wheat flour and oat flour. You’ll get 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein per serving. It’s also got a touch of sweetness, contains no dairy, and is non-GMO verified.
This mix produces consistently fluffy, mildly sweet pancakes that are a blank canvas for fresh fruit, chocolate chips, whipped cream, or whatever other toppings make you happy.
Best Splurge: Stonewall Kitchen Farmhouse Pancake & Waffle Mix
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Available in several sizes
Tastes homemade
Expensive
Requires several ingredients to prepare
Stonewall Kitchen considers this mix one of its best sellers. It’s available in 5.3 ounces, 16 ounces, or 33 ounces. This mix is one of the more expensive, and the brand is usually found in high-end and specialty grocers, but it's also available online. Stonewall Kitchen is known for its collection of curated jams, jellies, syrups, and sauces—many of which would complement a piping hot stack of pancakes.
This mix requires the addition of egg, milk or buttermilk, and melted butter. The additional ingredients add to the overall cost, but deliver on fresh, homemade flavor. Reviewers claim this mix makes the best pancakes they’ve ever had, with a crisp, golden exterior and fluffy interior with a hint of butter and vanilla.
This mix may result in pancakes that are bit less sweet-tasting than other mixes, since it contains 1 gram of sugar per serving, which is lower than most competitors. The higher cost may make these more of a special weekend treat or holiday brunch than an everyday breakfast staple.
Best Buttermilk: Stonewall Kitchen Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix
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Makes flavorful pancakes
No artificial ingredients
Expensive
Requires several ingredients to prepare
This mix is more expensive than some competitors, but it’s made with minimal ingredients and offers consistent results. This mix requires the addition of egg, milk or buttermilk, and melted butter.
Is the taste superior to other, more budget-friendly pancake mixes? That comes down to individual preference. Some reviewers think they taste better, while others say they’re comparable.
It’s worth mentioning this mix is sweeter than Stonewall Kitchen’s Farmhouse Pancake Mix. Sugar is the second ingredient, and one serving of pancakes contains 5 grams of sugar versus 1 gram of sugar per serving in the Farmhouse mix.
Best Family-Size: Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
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Affordable
Available in several sizes
Easy to make
Contains more added sugar than other brands
Krusteaz offers an extensive line of affordable done-for-you mixes for whipping up everything from pancakes to quick breads, cookies, and muffins. The brand has a pancake mix for every occasion, including a wide variety of flavors like blueberry, chocolate chip, honey wheat, and pumpkin spice.
When it comes to getting traditional buttermilk pancakes prepped for a crowd, you can’t beat this mix available in 5-pound or 7-pound family-sized packages, which will make about 130 and 180 pancakes, respectively. You don’t need any other ingredients on hand since this pancake mix simply needs to be mixed with water.
Best Keto: Birch Benders Keto Pancake and Waffle Mix
Made from grain-free flours
Easy to make
Can be used for waffles
Expensive
Only 8 servings per bag
Somewhat gritty texture
Grain-free consumers turn to Birch Benders for their pancake needs. The brand offers both “keto” and “paleo” pancake mixes. The keto mix is made from a blend of grain-free flours, including almond, tiger nut, coconut, and cassava. Tiger nut and cassava, if you’re wondering, are made from root vegetables similar to tubers. This special blend of flours results in 5 grams of net carbohydrates per serving.
Like most specialty diet products, this pancake mix is on the pricey end, and you don’t get a ton for the cost. A 10-ounce package only makes 16 pancakes. If you’re new to grain-free mixes and baking, you should know this mix won’t produce the same light and fluffy texture as traditional wheat flour mixes. Several reviewers have been disappointed with the texture of these pancakes, noting that they have a tendency to stick to the pan, fall apart, and/or have a gritty texture. Others praise them for being the closest thing to “real” pancakes they can enjoy while following a low-carb diet and swear that adding an egg improves the texture and consistency.
Best High-Protein: Kodiak Cakes Protein Packed Buttermilk Flapjack & Waffle Mix
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Contains whole grains and fiber
Contains added protein
Available in several flavors
Texture is denser than more traditional mixes
Kodiak Cakes produces an entire line of protein-enriched whole-grain mixes, including cornbread, brownies, and muffins. Some of the brand's mouthwatering flapjack mix flavors include chocolate chip, almond poppy seed, strawberry chocolate chip, and pumpkin flax. Of course, if you like to customize your pancake flavors, you can’t go wrong with classic buttermilk, and yes, Kodiak Cakes makes a flapjack mix for that as well.
The buttermilk mix is made with whole-grain wheat flour and whole grain oat flour. Kodiak Cakes also adds a powdered protein to its products, made from a blend of wheat, whey, and milk protein sources. We love that Kodiak Cakes offers different prep methods for different amounts of protein. You’ll get 14 grams of protein making these with just water, 17 grams if you replace the water with milk, and 20 grams of protein if you use milk plus an egg.
Best Gluten-Free: Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Pancake Mix
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Includes recipes for pancakes and waffles
Produced in a gluten-free facility
Somewhat pricey
For those with a gluten sensitivity or those who choose not to consume gluten for other reasons, this pancake mix is a favorite. It uses a gluten-free flour blend consisting of sweet and brown rice flours, sorghum flour, potato starch, and tapioca flour. Bob’s Red Mill assures its gluten-free products are produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility and undergo laboratory testing to ensure there’s no cross-contamination with gluten-containing products.
This mix does require adding egg, milk, and melted butter, but the results seem to be worth the added effort—customers love the light and fluffy texture and liken it to pancakes made with wheat flour. The mix itself is dairy-free, and if you’d like to create dairy-free pancakes, you can opt to use your favorite butter and milk substitutes.
Best Whole Grain: Bob's Red Mill Buckwheat Pancake Mix
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Contains fiber and whole grains
Produces hearty pancakes that can hold heavier toppings
Includes recipes for pancakes and waffles
Not for those looking for a light and fluffy pancake
There are a lot of whole grain and multigrain pancake mixes to choose from. If you prefer whole grains, we suggest keeping it simple and going with a classic buckwheat pancake mix. This mix is made with organic whole grain buckwheat flour and organic whole wheat flour. Buckwheat creates a thick and hearty flapjack that stands up well to heavier fruit toppings. Reviewers rave about the nutty, whole-grain flavor.
This mix will produce pancakes that have a whopping 7 grams of fiber per serving. There are only 2 grams of sugar per serving. This mix is prepared with oil, egg, and water, and it’s also dairy-free.
Best Blueberry: Birch Benders Pancake & Waffle Mix, Blueberry
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Made with real blueberries vs. flavoring
Easy to prepare
Can also be used to make waffles
Somewhat pricey
Yes, you can turn any pancake mix on this list into blueberry pancakes by tossing a handful of fresh blueberries into the batter. But fresh blueberries can be expensive, and blueberry season is a short one, so we thought it best to include a done-for-you blueberry pancake mix to enjoy year-round.
There’s a big difference in terms of ingredients when it comes to blueberry-flavored versus actual blueberries. Our top pick for this category is Birch Benders Blueberry Pancake Mix since it contains dried blueberries as the second-most ingredient by weight. In other words, these pancakes will be bursting with real, whole blueberries.
Using real blueberries eliminates artificial coloring and flavors that other blueberry pancake mixes contain. Making things even better, this mix only needs water to prepare.
King Arthur's Cloud 9 Pancake Mix (view at Amazon) is our top recommendation because of its quality ingredients and the fluffy flapjacks it creates. If you don't mind spending a little more on breakfast, Stonewall Kitchen's Farmhouse Pancake and Waffle Mix (view at Amazon) is worth the splurge.
FAQs
Can I use pancake mix for waffles?
Yes, most pancake mixes can also be used to make waffles. Pancake mix packages usually include directions for how to make waffles from the same mix. The steps are similar to making pancake batter, but usually require adding more fat in the form of oil or butter.
How you do make funnel cake with pancake mix?
You can use pancake mix as a shortcut to make funnel cake batter. Funnel cake traditionally contains flour, sugar, and a leavening agent, which are the same ingredients found in dry pancake mix. This works best with traditional pancake mix that contains wheat flour.
Start by adding approximately 1/2 cup of water for every cup of pancake mix you're using. Add additional water if needed until the consistency of the batter is thinner than what you'd use for pancakes, but not overly runny. It should be similar to cake batter. You can add a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract for extra flavor. You can also add sugar for a sweeter funnel cake, but if you're using a pancake mix that already contains added sugar, it's not necessary.
Pour the batter into a squeeze bottle or a resealable plastic baggie with a corner snipped off, then squeeze batter in a circular, squiggly pattern into a Dutch oven of hot oil and fry on each side, about 1 minute, until golden brown. Use tongs or a wire strainer to flip and remove funnel cakes from hot oil. Drain funnel cakes on a wire rack or paper towel lined plate, then dust with powdered sugar.
Can you make biscuits with pancake mix?
If you're short on all-purpose flour or time, pancake mix can be used to make biscuits. Some pancake mixes are on the sweeter side, so if you're craving savory biscuits, a tangier, buttermilk pancake mix is your best bet.
Add 1/2 cup of milk to 2 cups of pancake mix and stir just until a dough forms. If you don't have buttermilk pancake mix, you can add a tablespoon of white vinegar to your milk before adding it to the dry mix. You can fold extras into the dough, like garlic, herbs, shredded cheese, or cinnamon, for flavored biscuits.
Some recipes call for rolling the dough on a floured work surface and cutting into rounds with a biscuit cutter, but it's quicker and easier to use a drop method. Drop the dough by heaping spoonful onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, brush the tops with melted butter, and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.
Does pancake mix go bad?
Pancake mix will keep for a long time, usually up to 12 months, when stored properly. Pancake mix should be stored at room temperature in a cool, dry environment and away from any sources of moisture. Once opened, leftover pancake mix should be kept in an airtight bag or storage container.
Pancake mix can start to grow mold if exposed to air and humidity. If you notice any blue or green specks in the mixture, or it smells off, toss it and reach for a fresh package. If you've had an unopened package of pancake mix in your pantry for some time, check for a best by date on the package.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Sharon Lehman, author of this pancake mix roundup, is no stranger to studying ingredient lists and nutrition labels looking for products that offer the best combination of flavor, ease of preparation, and nutrition. Although a big fan of scratch-made baked goods, flapjacks made from Kodiak Cakes mixes are a weekend staple in her home. She also keeps her personal pantry stocked with several products from other brands on this list, including Bob’s Red Mill, King Arthur Flour, and Stonewall Kitchen.
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