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These Green Pancakes for St. Patrick’s Day are sure to be a hit with your little ones and start your lucky day off right.
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St. Patrick’s Day Pancakes
If you’re looking for a recipe that adds a splash of color and fun to your breakfast table, these Green Pancakes are just what you need. They’re fluffy, delicious, and ridiculously easy to make. Plus, they’re perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, birthdays, or any day you want to make a little more magical. Imagine surprising your family or friends with a stack of vibrant green pancakes, topped with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles—it’s a guaranteed way to brighten anyone’s morning.
Why You’ll Love These Pancakes:
- Super Fluffy: Thanks to the buttermilk and just the right amount of baking soda.
- Customizable Color: Make them as green as you want!
- Kid-Friendly Fun: Who doesn’t love colorful food?
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients for Green Pancakes
Before we get started, make sure you have all your ingredients ready to go:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Buttermilk
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Whipped cream (to taste)
- Rainbow sprinkles (to taste)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Give it a quick whisk to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
- Whisk the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and vanilla extract. Add 3 to 4 drops of green food coloring. Feel free to adjust the color to your liking—a few more drops for a deeper green or less for a softer hue.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Stir gently until just combined. A few lumps are totally fine; overmixing can make the pancakes less fluffy.
- Heat the Griddle: Set your griddle or non-stick pan to medium heat and spray it lightly with cooking spray. Give it a minute or two to heat up.
- Cook the Pancakes: Pour about ¼ cup of batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Let the pancakes cook until you see bubbles forming on the surface and the edges look set (around 2-3 minutes). Flip them carefully and cook for another 2 minutes or until golden brown.
- Check for Doneness: To make sure they’re cooked through, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, they’re ready to go!
- Serve and Decorate: Stack your green pancakes on a plate, top with whipped cream, and sprinkle on those rainbow sprinkles for the ultimate festive vibe. Serve immediately and watch everyone’s faces light up!
Green Dye Alternatives
If you’d like to avoid artificial food coloring, here are some natural alternatives to get that vibrant green hue:
- Spinach: Blend fresh spinach with your buttermilk before adding it to the batter. The color is subtle but natural.
- Matcha Powder: Add 1-2 teaspoons of matcha green tea powder to your dry ingredients for a green color and a hint of earthy flavor.
- Chlorophyll Drops: A few drops of liquid chlorophyll will give a deep green color without altering the taste.
- Avocado: Mash a ripe avocado and mix it into the wet ingredients. It will add a creamy texture and a mild flavor.
Tips for Perfect Pancakes
- If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own! Just mix 1 ½ cups of milk with 1 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Lumps are your friend for fluffy pancakes!
- Keep the cooked pancakes warm by placing them on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you finish cooking the rest.
Questions About Green Pancakes
Yes, you can prepare the batter up to 12 hours in advance and store it in the fridge. Just give it a quick stir before cooking.
You can make your own buttermilk substitute by mixing 1 ½ cups of milk with 1 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
Absolutely! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour.
Place cooked pancakes on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you finish cooking the rest.
Besides whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles, try fresh fruit, chocolate syrup, or a drizzle of maple syrup for extra sweetness.
Storage and Reheating
- Storage: Allow the pancakes to cool completely before placing them in an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: To reheat refrigerated pancakes, microwave them for 15-20 seconds per pancake or warm them in a skillet over low heat. For frozen pancakes, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as needed.
More St. Patrick’s Day Food to Try
Looking to make your St. Patrick’s Day celebration even more festive? Here are some fun and delicious ideas:
- Irish Soda Bread: A classic, slightly sweet bread that pairs perfectly with butter and jam.
- The Donovan’s Irish Pasties: An authentic Irish favorite in our family.
- Corned Beef and Cabbage: A hearty Irish meal that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
- Shepherd’s Pie: A dish of ground meat and veggies topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
- Green Smoothie: A naturally green drink loaded with healthy fruits and veggies.
- Shamrock Shakes: This McDonalds copycat is even better than the fast food version.
- Rainbow Fruit Display with Fruit Dip: Colorful fruits with a cream cheese fruit dip.
- Irish Beef Stew: An Irish stew of beef, potatoes, carrots and herbs in a rich beef base.
- All Our St. Patrick’s Day Food
Green Pancakes for St. Patrick’s Day
Video
Equipment
- Griddle or skillet
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- green food coloring
- whipped cream to taste
- rainbow sprinkles to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, and vanilla and 3 to 4 drops of green food coloring – more or less to your taste.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
- Heat a griddle to medium heat and spray with cooking spray.
- Pour ¼ cup of pancake mixture onto the griddle.
- Once the sides start to dry and the top is bubbling, flip the pancake using a large spatula.
- Cook until both sides of the pancake are golden brown and the middle is cooked through (you can check by inserting a toothpick into the middle of the pancake – if it comes out dry it is done).
- Remove from heat and serve with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles on top.
Nutrition Information
These Green Pancakes are not just a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. Whether you’re making them for a holiday or just to brighten up a regular morning, they’re sure to be a hit. Let me know if you try them out—I’d love to hear how they turned out! 🌈💚
