Rudolph Reindeer Pancakes

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/9/21
Reindeer pancakes recipe

​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
370 Calories
17g Fat
41g Carbs
14g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 370
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 8g 39%
Cholesterol 74mg 25%
Sodium 861mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 224mg 17%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 270mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Trying to figure out what to make for a festive breakfast or Christmas morning brunch? These reindeer pancakes are the perfect option! Super fun and adorable, they are manageable for any home chef and don't require any special tools. We are certain that both the children and adults in your household will fall in love with these cute little reindeer faces on their breakfast plates!  

Below we include a homemade pancake recipe, but you can also easily use a store-bought ready-made pancake mix.

To make it your own, feel free to swap the maraschino cherry for another red berry o get Rudolph's nose alight. You can also substitute the marshmallows for two dollops of whipped cream and the chocolate chips can also be replaced with small blueberries if you want something healthier. Once you have your version of these pancakes made, serve with maple syrup and butter, or just enjoy them as is.

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 1/2 cups milk

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 tablespoon granulted sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • Butter, or oil, for frying

  • 12 slices cooked bacon

  • 12 large or jumbo marshmallows

  • 12 chocolate chips

  • 6 maraschino cherries

  • Maple syrup, or confectioners' sugar and butter, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for reindeer pancakes
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Heat up a cast iron griddle or pan on medium heat before you begin. Get it nice and hot, then turn it down to low before cooking the pancakes. 

    Cast iron
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. While the pan is heating, beat together the egg, milk and melted butter. If you are adding vanilla, add it in at this time too. Make sure the butter is not hot when combining it with the egg. 

    Whisk egg
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.

    Whisk
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and stir to form a lumpy batter. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. It will puff up; if it is too thick, add a little more milk.

    Pour wet mixture over dry mixture
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Add some butter or oil to the griddle before cooking. Turn down the heat on the griddle to medium-low. 

    Add butter
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Using a liquid measuring cup or spoon, pour about half a cup of batter onto the hot griddle to make the reindeer face. Shape it into a large oval.

    Pour pancake on griddle
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Pour about 1/8 cup of batter on the griddle to create each of the ears.

    Pour batter on pan
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  9. Cook the pancakes for a few minutes per side and then flip. Finish cooking and remove from the griddle.

    Cook pancakes
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  10. Place the pancakes in a 200 F oven to keep warm while you finish making the rest of the pancakes. 

    Place pancake in oven
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  11. Arrange the face and ears of the reindeer on a plate. Put two slices of bacon at the top of the head and in between the ears.

    Add bacon
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  12. Cut the marshmallows in half to create the eyes. Place the eyes on the large oval and place a chocolate chip on each marshmallow half to create the pupils.

    Cut marshmallows in half
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  13. Place a maraschino cherry at the bottom of each face to create the nose. 

    Place cherry at bottom
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  14. Serve with maple syrup or confectioners' sugar and butter if desired.

    Reindeer pancake
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck