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22 Delicious Pancake Mix-ins

Make your favorite pancakes extra delicious with these fun, unexpected mix-ins.

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Bacon

The king of breakfast meats doesn’t have to just go alongside pancakes—add cooked, chopped pieces to the batter, or pour batter over whole slices of cooked bacon in the skillet.

Or try these bacon pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Carrots

Add shredded carrots, cinnamon, and vanilla extract to batter for a healthy take on carrot cake (and of course, cream cheese would be a great topping).

Or try these carrot cake pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Orange Juice

Add a splash of OJ to your pancake batter for a citrusy kick, or mix in a spoonful of zest.

Or try these orange sunrise pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Chocolate Chips

Almost any pancake can benefit from the addition of chocolate chips…and there’s no reason to stop there. Chocolate sprinkles, chocolate sauce, and cocoa powder all make great mix-ins or toppers.

Or try these Chocolate Chip Pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Butterscotch Chips

If you’re already a connoisseur of chocolate chip pancakes, add a handful of butterscotch chips to mix up your sweet pancake routine.

Or try these Slumber Party Pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Yogurt

Substitute yogurt (regular or Greek, plain or flavored) for the milk or buttermilk in your favorite pancake recipe (or boxed mix). If the batter seems too thick, thin with a splash of water.

Or try these yogurt pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Corn Kernels

A handful of corn kernels (frozen or fresh) makes for a surprisingly sweet pop in pancakes—both savory and sweet versions. You can also try subbing in cornmeal for part of the flour.

Or try these Fresh Corn Cakes from Taste of Home.

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Raisins

Don’t stop at fresh or frozen fruit—dried fruit, like raisins, make great pancake mix-ins too.

Or try these Quick Oatmeal Raisin Pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Peaches

Blueberries are expected, but not their fruity counterparts like peaches. Use fresh, frozen, or canned varieties.

Or try these Peach Pancakes with Butter Sauce from Taste of Home.

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Bananas

And if all you want is a little twist, add a few banana slices to a half cooked pancake on the griddle…easy, classic, and delicious.

Or try these Banana Pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Shredded Cheese

What isn’t better with cheese? Pancakes most definitely are. Add a sprinkle of cheese to the batter and serve with maple syrup or a more savory topping, like a fried egg.

Or try these cheddar cheese pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Ginger

Add dried or fresh, grated ginger to your batter, along with winter spices like cardamom and cinnamon, for a warming kick.

Or try these gingerbread pancakes from Taste of Home.

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iStock/Dario Egidi

Ricotta Cheese

Creamy ricotta can play both sweet and savory when it comes to pancakes. Add a dollop to the batter for extra light, fluffy cakes, or top finished pancakes with a spoonful of cheese, a drizzle of honey, and freshly ground black pepper.

Editor’s Tip: Imagine thick, fluffy, delicious pancakes that you don’t even have to flip. Here’s how this popular TikTok pancake hack worked out in real life.

Or try these Lemon Ricotta Pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Eggnog

Why not? Simply sub eggnog for the milk called for in your pancake recipe, and you’ll have a sweet holiday breakfast.

Or try these eggnog-cranberry pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Sausage

Instead of serving links on the side, stir cooked, chopped pieces or thin slices into the batter.

Or try these Sausage Apple Pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Peanut Butter

Swirl creamy or crunchy peanut butter into your batter…and serve with a topping of jelly!

Or try these peanut butter pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Raspberries

Fresh or frozen raspberries make a bright addition to any pancake.

Or try these Berry Pancake Roll-Ups from Taste of Home.

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Spinach

Add a handful of chopped spinach to pancake batter and serve with a savory sauce (like mayo or yogurt spiked with spices). For festive all-green pancakes, blend the batter and spinach in a blender first.

Or try these Vegetable Pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Almonds

Almonds in any form—chopped, extract, flour, amaretto syrup—make regular pancakes seem elegant. Just add a small amount to the batter.

Or try these almond and blueberry pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Sliced Pear

Go autumnal with thinly sliced pears—pour batter into the griddle, top with pears, and then flip.

Or try these Country Pear Puff Pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Tomatoes

Thin slices of tomato in a pancake might seem strange, but think of them as a take on fried (green or not) tomatoes—a little bit of starch around a sweet, juicy bite.

Or try these tomato pancakes from Taste of Home.

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Pumpkin

Stir in a big spoonful of pumpkin puree to a batch of batter for a dash of color, autumn flair, and healthy beta carotene. (Add a dash of pumpkin pie seasoning for pumpkin pie pancakes.)

Or try these pumpkin pancakes from Taste of Home.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest