Cracker Barrel Pancake Recipe

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Cracker barrel pancakes have made me an absolute pancake maniac. Growing up, these airy, fluffy, aromatic pancakes marked the arrival of weekends. Since I love to experiment with new breakfast ideas, this recipe is my passport to perfect weekend mornings.

I heard about them for the first time from my cousin, who lives in the US. She raved about Cracker Barrel pancakes all the time. She also told me that they serve the thinnest pancakes with maple syrup on the side, which beats every other restaurant in the competition.

This intrigued me, so I did a little bit of research and learned that Cracker Barrel pancakes are so popular that they sell millions of pancakes over a year. Now, I was determined to give this a try because how difficult can pancakes be?

After trying this, I totally understand the hype. Cracker Barrel pancakes are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, which makes them everyone’s favorite. Another secret ingredient that makes their pancakes quite unique is buttermilk, which is what I will be using.

While I could have made this journey even easier by buying a pancake mix, I went all in and decided to make it from scratch, so you know I have secret tips and tricks for you. Following the Cracker Barrel pancake recipe, I have made the best pancakes with a buttery crust to date.

Made up of only five ingredients this Cracker Barrel pancake recipe is my breakfast solution for overwhelming days to fit any schedule and family event.

What's In The Post

Equipments Required

Bowl: I use a fine bowl to mix all the ingredients for the pancakes.
Spatula: I prefer using a rubber spatula to mix all the ingredients for the pancakes.
Pan: Since this involves flipping I stick to a non-stick pan but you can also use a griddle.
Spoon: To drizzle over some of the syrup onto the cakes I keep a spoon ready.
Whisk:A whisk is a must to combine all the ingredients in the bowl together.
Sieve: I use a fine sieve to sift the all-purpose flour for the batter.

Cracker Barrel Pancakes Ingredients & Substitution

Note: The ingredients in this recipe can serve up to 4 people. You can make adjustments as necessary.

2 Cups All-purpose flour: You can also use with buckwheat, oats, or cornmeal flour. However, these substitutes will create a difference in the texture.
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Sugar
2 Cups Buttermilk: When I am running out of buttermilk I mix plain yogurt with milk sour cream or water.
Oil: Olive oil or canola oil can also be used as substitutes for this recipe.
Maple Syrup: I know maple syrup tastes the best with pancakes but when I am out of this, I use cinnamon butter, hazelnut spread, or even honey.

Preparation & Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking time	Total time
5 mins	15 mins	20 mins

How to Make Cracker Barrel Pancakes At Home

Start by taking two bowls, one containing flour and the other containing salt. Mix them all together.
Then, add sugar to the bowl.
Time to get that fluffiness by adding baking powder to the bowl.
Now, take two eggs in a separate bowl and whisk them well.
Then, pour the egg mix into the bowl.
Next, add milk to this mixture.
Whisk them all together to have a nice pancake mix.
While this is ready, add some oil to the pan and let it sit on the stovetop until it’s nicely warm. Otherwise, our pancakes will stick to the pan.
When it is warm and ready, add your pancakes to the pan.
Wait until you see tiny bubbles forming on the top, after which you can flip them to let the other side cook.
Keep repeating the same steps, and finally, your cracker barrel pancakes are ready.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

If you are doubtful about when to flip the pancakes, I have a hack for you. To do this, look for bubbles on the top of your pancake and brown edges on the side. They should appear after 2-3 minutes, after which you can flip them.
To ensure that the pan is hot enough, I cook one pancake at a time before going in with batches.
I always let the batter sit for 5-15 minutes before cooking it. This helps blend all the flavors and create fluffy pancakes.
While mixing is an essential part of this pancake, I have found that over-mixing can lead to dry pancakes. So be gentle while mixing them all up.
When I make my pancakes, I avoid over-flipping. Once the other side is golden and crispy, it is unnecessary to flip it again.
If I find my batter to be too thick, then I add a bit more buttermilk. however, if it is too thin, then I add a bit more flour.
I prefer using a ladle to pour the batter onto the pan for evenly sized pancakes
To ensure even distribution and avoid lumps in the batter I sift flour, baking powder and salt.

FAQs about Cracker Barrel Pancakes

Can you make cracker Barrel Pancakes ahead of time?

Yes, you can make cracker barrel pancakes beforehand, but the key is to store and reheat them properly.

Why are my Cracker Barrel pancakes not fluffy?

Your cracker barrel pancakes might not turn out fluffy if you overmix the batter or use the wrong type of flour. Also, avoid adding too much liquid and leaving agents that are expired or old. Other mistakes include flipping the pancakes too early or not giving the batter enough time to rest.

Why are my pancakes not bubbling?

There are multiple reasons why your pancakes may not be bubbling. This can be if the pan is not hot or the batter used is very thick. Also, if you are using old or expired baking soda or not adding ingredients in the right quantities, then your pancakes may not bubble. Most importantly, beware of not overmixing the batter as it will deflate all the air bubbles.

Why are my Cracker Barrel pancakes not rising?

Your Cracker Barrel pancakes may not rise if you overmix the batter. This leads to gluten formation, which limits the pancakes’ fluffiness. Therefore, once your batter is mixed, let it sit for some time to allow the gluten to relax. Another reason can be if you flip the pancakes too early, which can lead to flat pancakes. Also, be cautious of using fresh leaving agents and preheat the pan well.

Why do the centers of my pancakes remain uncooked?

If the batter is too thick, the pan temperature is incorrect, or you flip the pancakes too early, the center will remain uncooked.

Why are the pancakes sticking to the pan?

If your pan is too hot, the pancakes will stick to it. Also, if you didn’t grease your pan nicely beforehand or the pan was not cleaned properly, they will stick to the pan.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Cracker Barrel pancakes can be enjoyed once in a while as they are rich in calories and sodium content.

To give you a deeper insight here is a nutritional chart on Cracker Barrel Pancakes

Calories	324.4 Kcal
Total Fat	4.1 g
Saturated fat	1.6 g
Cholesterol	97.9 mg
Sodium	1376.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate	56.9 g
Dietary Fiber	1.7 g
Total sugars	9.3 g
Protein	13.7 g

However, one of the good things is that you can make some swaps in the ingredients to make it healthy as per your food choices. Ideally pancakes do sound like a good breakfast option but I would suggest having them once in a while and not regularly.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Keto Friendly: I know many people follow the keto diet, which is why I have also found the perfect keto-friendly recipe for these pancakes. To make these pancakes keto-friendly, I use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour. Another swap I make is using a sugar-free sweetener like maple syrup for this recipe.
Gluten-Friendly: To make this recipe gluten-free, I used gluten-free flour. Apart from that, all of the ingredients included in this recipe are naturally gluten-free.
Dairy-Free: I have also made dairy-free pancakes, and honestly, no one was able to tell the difference between the two. I make my dairy-free pancakes using coconut or almond milk, and they turn out to be delectable.
Vegan: If you have vegan friends like I do, here’s what you can do. To make vegan pancakes, I switch to soy or almond milk instead of regular milk. I also avoid adding eggs to this recipe and use canola oil instead of butter.
Vegetarian: This is such an enjoyable food for vegetarians, too. I have made eggless pancakes, and they turn out to be super soft and yummy. To make them eggless, I add all the usual ingredients, skip adding eggs, and use banana puree instead.

Storing And Reheating This Recipe

Storing

Countertop: When I make Cracker Barrel pancakes at home, I leave them on the countertop at room temperature for a maximum of two hours. After that, I refrigerate them to avoid spoilage.
Refrigerate: Pancakes are easy to refrigerate, but I always wrap them in aluminum foil to retain their texture. Once done, I keep them in the fridge for about a week and enjoy it whenever I want.
Freeze: You can also freeze your pancakes. I wrap them in a tight foil, freezer-friendly bag and freeze them for three months.

Reheating

Microwave: To reheat my pancakes in the microwave I place them in a microwave-friendly dish and heat it for about 20 seconds. However, note the period may vary depending on the number of pancakes you have left and the wattage of your microwave.
Oven: I have also tried and tested my oven to see if it can reheat my pancakes, and to my surprise, it did. To reheat my pancakes in the oven, I preheat to about 350 degrees F and then add them. I cover the pancakes with aluminum foil, place them in the tray, and let it heat for about 10 minutes.

What To Serve With This Recipe

The combination of pancakes with side dishes makes it a complete breakfast. Whenever I have pancakes, I always like to enjoy them with a butterscotch latte on the side. But apart from having this with coffee, I have had it with a chocolate milkshake and also with Lemon cinnamon water, and both of them are quite compatible with pancakes. Honestly, these are the kinds of breakfasts that motivate me to get up every morning.

Cracker Barrel pancakes with scrambled eggs or hash potatoes are another classic. I have eaten them with both, and I cannot pick which one is the best, so the choice is yours.

If you are craving something sweet, you can also have it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The sweetness of the pancake syrup and the ice cream is a heavenly match.

But if all this sounds unhealthy or doubles your cooking time, then simply pair it with frozen berries and nuts to enjoy a fulfilling breakfast that is budget—and time-friendly.

Printable Version

More Breakfast Recipes That You Can Try

Burger King Breakfast Burritos Recipe — Burger King Breakfast Burrito

How to Make Easy Gordon Ramsay Blueberry Pancakes at Home — Burger King Breakfast Burrito

Conclusion

It does not matter if these Cracker Barrel pancakes are made at our home or yours because they are delicious on any day of the week. Coming from someone who never liked making breakfast in the mornings, I now need these pancakes at least once a week.

This Cracker Barrel pancake recipe closely resembles the original one, and I guarantee you that if you try it, it won’t disappoint. I am pretty sure that all the ingredients you need are already in your pantry, so get started.