Fluffy Carrot Cake Pancakes (Printable)
Spiced, fluffy pancakes loaded with grated carrots, walnuts, and orange zest for a cozy morning treat.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 1 cup whole milk
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1/4 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Zest of 1 orange (optional)
→ Add-Ins
14 - 1 cup finely grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
15 - 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
16 - 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
→ For Serving
17 - Maple syrup, to taste
18 - Cream cheese glaze or yogurt (optional)
19 - Extra chopped walnuts
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt until evenly distributed.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, oil or melted butter, vanilla extract, and orange zest if using, until smooth and well blended.
03 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the pancakes light and fluffy.
04 - Gently fold in the grated carrots, chopped walnuts or pecans, and raisins if using, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
05 - Place a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease with oil or butter, allowing it to come to temperature.
06 - Drop approximately 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto the hot skillet. Cook until bubbles form across the surface and edges appear set, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and continue cooking another 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
07 - Repeat with the remaining batter, re-greasing the skillet as needed between batches to prevent sticking.
08 - Serve the pancakes warm, drizzled with maple syrup and topped with cream cheese glaze or yogurt and extra chopped nuts as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It gives you full permission to eat something that tastes like dessert before noon without a single ounce of guilt.
- The orange zest is a sneaky little trick that makes people ask what is in these every single time you serve them.
02 -
- Overmixing the batter is the fastest way to tough rubbery pancakes so stop folding while there are still small lumps visible.
- Grating the carrots on the finest holes of your box grater prevents stringy chewy bits and helps them practically melt into the pancake.
03 -
- Toast your nuts in a dry skillet for three minutes before chopping them, it doubles the flavor with almost zero effort.
- If you are making cream cheese glaze, a splash of orange juice in it ties the whole dish together beautifully.