French Toast Pancakes

French Toast Pancakes… YES – you read that right! French. Toast. Pancakes! Y’all if you love breakfast foods and have not tried a mash up of these two classics together, you’ve been missing out!! You’ve got a fluffy buttermilk pancake base with cinnamon “scented” (bc I am extra like that) French toast custard. It’s straight up wild!

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Delicious stack of french toast pancakes recipe with syrup and raspberries ready to serve

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I have expressed my love of pancakes many times on this site.  It runs deep like a firstborn.  I never want to be without them, and they feel the same about me.  So when a book comes along that nourishes my love of pancakes, I must celebrate it to the depths of my core.  That present is Stack Happy by Karly Campbell. Karly’s blog Buns In My Oven has always supplied me with fantastic goodies and luckily I stumbled on these French toast pancakes, which are absolutely bomb.

The Low Down On These French Toast Pancakes

Cuisine Inspiration: American with a Twist
Primary Cooking Method: Griddling and Dipping
Dietary Info: Vegetarian Comfort
Key Flavor: Sweet, Cinnamon-y Goodness
Skill Level: Beginner Friendly

  • Fluffy Meets Custardy: A cloud-like pancake meets the texture of French toast. It’s a texture tango on your tongue!
  • Easy-Peasy Cooking: No fancy techniques here. Just a straightforward, fun way to make French toasts with pancakes!
  • Versatile Vibe: Dress ’em up with syrup, fruit, or whipped cream, or enjoy their simple, scrumptious glory as is. These pancakes play well with all your favorite toppings!
  • Weekend Breakfast or Brunch: These pancakes are out of this world divine and the perfect way to start your morning on the weekend!

Ingredients To Make French Toast Pancakes

Ingredients to make french toast pancakes on the table.
  • Flour: This creates a solid, fluffy foundation for our pancakes.
  • Suga’: A bit of sugar because every pancake needs a sweet little something.
  • Cinnamon: A sprinkle adds some warm, spicy love to your stack.
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Gives the rise needed to puff these babies right up and make them light as a feather.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings all the flavors to life.
  • Buttermilk: Adds a bit of tang and tenderness you can’t get from regular milk.
  • Eggs: Adds structure and richness to the pancakes and creates the custardy, golden goodness of French toast.
  • Oil: Use a neutral vegetable oil for a moist and tender crumb.
  • Vanilla Vibes: Rounds out the pancake flavor with a fragrant flair.
  • Milk: Beaten with the eggs for the perfect soak to our pancakes transforming them into French toast pancakes.

How to Make French Toast Pancakes

Step 1: Mix the Pancakes

  1. Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
  2. Whisk the ingredients to combine.
  3. Combine the buttermilk, egg, oil, and vanilla in a small bowl.
  4. Whisk them together until the egg is beaten.
  5. Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
  6. Mix just until combined but still slightly lumpy.
A collage of images showing the process of making the pancake batter.

Step 2: Cooking the Pancakes

  1. Pour a ¼ cup of batter onto a heated griddle or skillet.
  2. Cook for 3 minutes or until bubbles have formed on the surface and popped.
  3. Flip the pancake and continue cooking until cooked through.
  4. Repeat with the remaining batter until all your pancakes are cooked. Set them aside until cool enough to handle.
A collage of images showing cooking the pancakes.

Step 3: Making the French Toast Pancakes

  1. Combine the eggs, milk, and cinnamon in a shallow bowl or pie plate.
  2. Whisk the mixture together until combined.
  3. Dip each pancake in the egg mixture and let it sit in the egg mixture for 15 seconds per side.
  4. Transfer the dipped pancake to the griddle and cook for 2 more minutes per side.
A collage of mixing the french toast batter and dipping the pancake.

Step 4: Serving Them Up

  1. Serve up your pancakes with maple syrup, whipped cream, and fresh fruit!
French toast pancakes stacked on a plate and topped with whipped cream and strawberries.

Tips for Making the Best French Toast Pancakes

  • Preheat the Griddle. For even cooking it’s essential that your skillet or griddle is hot before you begin cooking your pancakes.
  • Cook in Batches. Don’t overcrowd your pan or griddle as this makes flipping more difficult.
  • Avoid Flipping Early. I know it’s hard to be patient and wait but it’s important if you want perfectly cooked pancakes. Watch for the popped bubbles and dry edges before flipping them over.
  • Don’t Over-Mix. You don’t need the batter to be completely smooth.  It should be slightly lumpy because you will stop as soon as the ingredients combine.
  • Don’t Over Soak. Just 15 seconds each side is all it needs. You don’t want it overly soggy.
  • Out of Buttermilk. No worries you can make your own. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Then pour in milk up to the one cup line measure.
  • Gluten-Free. Replace the flour with a one-to-one gluten-flour blend.
  • Different Spices. Experiment with adding a pinch of nutmeg or swapping the cinnamon for apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
  • Almond Flavor. Replace half the vanilla extract with almond extract or you can also experiment with other extracts such as coconut, rum, and whatever flavors you love.
A stack of french toast pancakes with some cut and a fork on the side.

What to serve with

  • Enjoy your stack with some crispy, golden Hash Browns. These are a must for a hearty breakfast. This Hash Brown Quiche is fun too!
  • Add some bacon or sausage on the side! If you’re feeling extra fancy try my Brown Sugar Bacon or Candied Bacon.
  • Enjoy all your favorite toppings from a generous scoop of homemade Whipped Cream, Strawberry Sauce, fresh fruit, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and so much more! Don’t forget a drizzle some pure maple syrup or honey for that classic, sticky-sweet finish. It’s the crowning glory on a stack of warm, cinnamon-laced pancakes.
  • Turn these pancakes into a decadent dessert or special treat with a scoop of your favorite ice cream. Coffee Ice Cream and homemade Raspberry Ice Cream are just a couple of ideas for some inspiration!

How to Store & Reheat French Toast Pancakes

To keep these French Toast Pancakes fresh, stack them with a piece of wax paper between each pancake and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

When you’re ready to reheat, just pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or warm them in a skillet over medium heat until they’re toasty and hot.

How long will these pancakes last in the fridge?

Keep them wrapped up tightly so they stay fresh for up to five days!

Can I freeze these pancakes?

Yes, of course! Lay them out on a parchment-lined baking tray and pop into the freezer for about an hour. Once frozen you can transfer them to a storage container or bag and store them for up to three months. This makes it so easy to remove a pancake or two at a time to reheat. For best results, thaw them out before reheating as indicated above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get pancakes with crisp edges?

Using butter to cook them is my secret to crisp edges. The butter fries them golden brown and creates crisp edges while also adding rich flavor.  It adds a different texture to the outside while the inside is super light and fluffy. You can get a similar texture using a neutral cooking oil but you miss out on the extra flavor of the butter.

Why are pancakes ending up too brown on the outside?

If your pancakes are browning too quickly this can lead to undercooked pancakes or overly brown outsides. The most common culprit is that the pan is too hot. Turn the heat down a bit before cooking the next one.

Can I mix up the pancake batter the night before?

No, that’s not such a great idea. Since this recipe uses buttermilk along with baking powder and baking soda the start working when mixed. If you let the batter sit overnight your pancakes will not cook up nice and fluffy. If you wanted you could cook the pancakes the night before and then finish them off the next morning by soaking them in the French toast custard and cooking them the second time. Though really, I highly recommend enjoying them freshly made!

A stack of french toast pancakes recipe topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberry slices.

If you’re bored with your regular Fluffy Pancakes, these French Toast Pancakes are an excellent way to spice up your breakfast or brunch. It transforms the classic homemade pancake into custardy goodness with a quick soak in a milk and egg mixture. Add all your favorite pancake toppings for a breakfast that’s sure to be a hit!

Favorite Pancake and French Toast Recipes to Try

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!

A stack of French toast pancakes on a plate with whipped cream and strawberries on top.

French Toast Pancakes

In this French Toast Pancakes recipe, fluffy buttermilk pancakes are dipped in a deliciously cinnamon spiced french toast custard and fried until golden brown! It's the best of both worlds.
4.81 from 46 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Servings: 8 pancakes

Ingredients

For the Pancakes:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For making the French Toast:

  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the buttermilk, egg, oil, and vanilla.
  • Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined but still slightly lumpy.
  • Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto a heated griddle or skillet. Cook for 3 minutes or until bubbles have formed on the surface and popped. Flip the pancake and continue cooking until cooked through. Repeat with remaining batter.
  • Set pancakes aside until cool enough to handle. Meanwhile, in a shallow dish, such as a pie plate, whisk together the eggs, milk, and cinnamon.
  • Dip each pancake in the egg mixture and let sit for 15 seconds per side. Transfer to the griddle and cook for 2 more minutes per side.
  • Serve with maple syrup, whipped cream, and fresh fruit, as desired.

Notes

  • Preheat the Griddle. For even cooking it’s essential that your skillet or griddle is hot before you begin cooking your pancakes.
  • Cook in Batches. Don’t overcrowd your pan or griddle as this makes flipping more difficult.
  • Avoid Flipping Early. I know it’s hard to be patient and wait but it’s important if you want perfectly cooked pancakes. Watch for the popped bubbles and dry edges before flipping them over.
  • Don’t Over-Mix. You don’t need the batter to be completely smooth.  It should be slightly lumpy because you will stop as soon as the ingredients combine.
  • Don’t Over Soak. Just 15 seconds each side is all it needs. You don’t want it overly soggy.
  • Storing. Stack them with wax paper between each pancake and store in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to reheat, just pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or warm them in a skillet over medium heat until they’re toasty and hot. 

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 153mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1.1mg
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Filed Under:  Breakfast, Mother's Day

Comments

  1. OMG SERIOUSLY!? This is the best idea ever and these look amazing, Jocelyn! Totally ordering Karly’s book like NOW!

  2. I have Karly’s book and it’s phenomenal! I have a stack ready to post very soon, too. 🙂 These look so fluffy and amazing!

  3. Talk about breakfast heaven!!! We certainly love french toast and pancakes in my house so I know they’d be excited to see this one morning!!!
    Karly’s book looks phenomenal! Congrats!

    1. Hooray! Yep those are my fave breakfast breads now if we could figure out how to combine french toast, waffles and pancakes, I would lose my mind forever.

    2. I bet you could make the pancakes, dip them in the French toast batter, and then cook in a waffle iron!

  4. French toast? Pancakes? I’m glad these two happening at the same time. Lovely, as always and I need a big stack, please….

  5. Oh my goodness, Jocelyn! Thank you so much for the sweet words and the GORGEOUS photos! You are just so sweet to take the time to do this and I appreciate it so much!! xoxo

    1. Thanks so much Karly for the incredible book! It is so gorgeous!

  6. This is out of control! What a fun twist to combine pancakes and French toast – two major breakfast icons. Love it!

4.81 from 46 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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