Whole Wheat Pancakes

This easy homemade whole wheat pancakes recipe will quickly become your favorite. Perfect for breakfast and freezer-friendly!

*Originally published 5/2023. Updated 5/2025*

Hi friends!

It’s been a while since I shared a pancake recipe and this is one I’m really excited to share. For a while now we’ve been using Kodiak Cakes pancake mix and it’s been great. My kids like it. I can get it at Costco for a reasonable price.

Recently, however, our Costco was out of the mix so I challenged myself to create a simple, homemade pancake recipe that all my kids would eat. Easier said than done of course, but I finally nailed it.

How do I keep whole wheat pancakes from being too dense?

Use white whole wheat flour

This recipe uses white whole wheat flour, as do most of my muffins and bars. I prefer it to whole wheat flour because it’s just a bit less dense and hearty. It bakes very similar to all-purpose flour but with the benefit of being whole grain. You can learn more about whole grains here, but they’re such an important part of our diet and are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber.

The fiber in white whole wheat flour will help these pancakes be more filling and can help avoid blood sugar spikes.

---

Healthy Whole Wheat Pancake Recipe

Pancakes are pretty simple by nature but it’s all about getting the right combination of the simple ingredients so you end up with something that tastes good and that you also feel good about serving. You probably have all the ingredients you need on hand already:

• White whole wheat flour – this is my preferred flour for most things. It’s whole grain but lighter than regular whole wheat flour.
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Cinnamon
• Sugar – just a tablespoon for a bit of sweetness
• Egg
• Butter – a few tablespoons of melted butter add richness and flavor
• Vanilla – a key ingredient. Don’t leave it out and don’t skimp!
• Buttermilk – make your own by just adding a splash of vinegar to regular milk

---

Can I make whole wheat pancakes without milk?

If you’re looking for a whole wheat pancakes recipe that’s dairy-free, you can easily substitute the cow’s milk for your favorite plant-based milk like almond, soy or oat milk. Here’s how to make vegan buttermilk.

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Applesauce

If you’d like to replace the 1 Tablespoon of sugar in this recipe, you can try using 2-3 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce.

Protein Whole Wheat Pancakes

You also have the option to add extra protein. I use Promix Unflavored Whey Isolate (referral link). It’s just powdered whey protein, no other ingredients or sweeteners and it mixes so well into pancakes, smoothies etc. I just add a couple of scoops to bump up the protein by a couple of grams, nothing major. You can leave it out or add some hemp seeds instead!

---

Want to see how easy this recipe is? Watch my 4 year old make these whole wheat pancakes!

https://youtu.be/YwFz-8AsfK0

PS. Did you know we have an entire separate website called Let The Kids Cook full of quick and easy recipes kids can make all by themselves?! Check it out! We show you how to make Oven Baked Bacon and Scrambled Eggs which would go great with these pancakes.

---

Just combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl, add the wet ingredients, then whisk until smooth and cook on a griddle!

---

Easy Whole Wheat Pancake Recipe

Here’s the recipe:

Print

Whole Wheat Pancake Recipe FAQs

Are these whole wheat buttermilk pancakes?

Yes because this recipe calls for buttermilk! Why do we use buttermilk in this recipe? The buttermilk activates the baking soda and helps make the pancakes nice and fluffy! If you don’t have buttermilk or the vinegar or lemon juice to make your own you can use plain kefir, or try sour cream or yogurt thinned slightly with a little water or milk.

Can you freeze whole wheat pancakes?

Yes! To freeze, let the pancakes cool completely, then freeze flat on a baking sheet or plate for a couple of hours. Then transfer to a freezer safe bag. To reheat, transfer to the fridge overnight or microwave straight from frozen.

Are these whole wheat pancakes healthier than regular pancakes?

This recipe is made with white whole wheat flour which adds some fiber and milk and egg which adds protein. You can also add additional protein to this recipe with protein powder or hemp seeds. It’s also low in added sugar.

How long do these pancakes last in the fridge?

Let the pancakes cool completely, then store them in a glass container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can I make this a whole wheat pancake mix?

You could easily portion the dry ingredients of this recipe into a large mason jar ahead of time. It would be perfect to give as a gift! Just attach a tag that says “When ready to make, pour into a bowl and add 1.75 cups buttermilk, 3 Tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla and an egg! Whisk and cook on a griddle.”

Can I add Greek yogurt to pancake batter?

If you’re looking for a pancake recipe that specifically uses Greek yogurt, try these Fluffy Greek Yogurt Pancakes.

Can I make these pancakes egg-free?

Yes, simply replace the egg with a flax egg. Learn how to make a flax egg here.

---

Whole Wheat Pancake Variations

There are tons of add-ins for whole wheat pancakes that you can use to personalize this recipe – try things like bananas, berries, pumpkin and chocolate chips!

Whole wheat pancakes banana

If you’re a banana-lover, this is a great recipe to add bananas to. You can mash up some ripe bananas and mix them right into the batter or add sliced bananas to the tops of the pancake once you pour them onto the griddle. My favorite is actually adding sliced bananas as well as a sprinkle of granola to make banana crunch pancakes!

Whole wheat blueberry pancakes

This recipe would be great for adding fresh blueberries! Stock up on fresh blueberries during the summer when they’re on sale and freeze them. Then just add a scoop to your pancake batter when making them!

Whole wheat pumpkin pancakes

To add a Fall spin to this recipe, add 1/2 cup pumpkin and some cinnamon.

What toppings go well with whole wheat pancakes?

Try adding:

• sliced fruit
• chia jam
• syrup
• yogurt
• peanut butte
• chopped nuts and seeds

---

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Looking for more healthy breakfast recipes? Try these:

• Healthy Chocolate Muffins
• GF Buckwheat Pancakes
• Cottage Cheese Egg Muffins
• Microwave Egg Oatmeal
• Freezer Prep Oatmeal Cups
• Banana Flax Waffles

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–