Cake Batter Pancakes.
I’m fairly convinced that the world would be a better place if more sprinkles were involved.
I know. I just made pancakes. It seems I have an unnatural obsession with cake batter. Well I do.
But hear me out.
When I develop recipes, I try to make all of them for a purpose. We really hate to waste food in this house. Crab cakes for dinner, cake for a birthday party, quinoa as a side dish… it all works out. I get to share it with you and we get to eat it.
Then sometimes, I get ideas in my head. Ideas that get me so worked up that I must attempt the recipe and give it a shot as soon as possible, even if it isn’t something we will eat every day. Otherwise, I cannot stop thinking about it. These are the things that keep me up at night.
Case in point: it isn’t anyone’s birthday. It’s not even really close to anyone’s birthday.
But I don’t need an excuse to eat cake and sprinkles. I believe it should be a daily occurrence.
And because pancakes always need some sort of topping, I went with a sprinkled glaze.
Because nothing goes better with cake than more sugar!
These are just plain fun.
Sure, they would be best for a special occasion like a birthday, but they also work on a random Saturday in January when it’s -2 degrees outside and all you want to see is some sunshine.
And you don’t feel like getting on the treadmill, so you decided to eat cake instead.
That wasn’t me. I swear.
And yes, this means you will have an open box of cake mix, just like you did with the cake batter bark. This is okay. You will manage. Sure, you may find yourself mixing cake mix with odd ingredients, but so what? Mother Lovett always had an open box of cake mix in her pantry. Given hers were usually about 4 years old… but still.
Just do it.

Cake Batter Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup yellow cake mix
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 cups milk, I used vanilla almond milk
- assorted sprinkles
glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- assorted sprinkles
Instructions
- Combine flour, cake mix, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl and mix. Add 1 cup of milk, egg and vanilla extract and stir until smooth. You want the batter to look like regular pancake batter; not too thin, not too thick. This will vary greatly on the brand of cake mix you use. Start with 1 cup of milk and add more if needed. I suggest a small taste test as well to see if the pancakes are flavored enough.
- Preheat a skillet on medium heat (I use an electric grilled and turn it to 250 degrees). Fold desired amount of sprinkles into batter. Pour batter in 1/4 cup measurements onto skillet and let cook until bubbles form on top, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook for 1 minute more. Serve with vanilla glaze.
glaze
- Mix milk, extract and powdered sugar until glaze forms. You may need to add a little more sugar or water/milk to reach desired consistency. Mix into glaze and drizzle on pancakes.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Maybe the secret to choking down broccoli is throwing sprinkles on top?
Wishful thinking…
674 Comments on “Cake Batter Pancakes.”
I absolutely love your blog–honestly, I never know what your gonna come up with next, but at least I know it always looks/sounds delish!!!
Thank you so much!
No words.
…except that I love you. And I want to eat the computer screen. And I am beyond thrilled that I have yellow cake mix on hand.
Wow. That’s all I can say.
Extra special birthday treat!!
haha genius. It’s a party in the mouth!
I think it is a very cute idea.
You are an evil cooking genius. I like it.
oh yum, that looks awesome. So, does it taste more like cake than pancakes? I am a sucker for cake, and using cake batter pancakes as an excuse to eat cake for breakfast is right up my alley!!!
I could definitely taste the cake, but they weren’t too super sweet! I’m not sure what would happen if you used only cake batter? It may work!
Things that are awesome: Looking through an old post of one of my best blends that I linked to in a guest post today, and coming across a comment left by my cousin [first cousin, once removed, actually] while I’m here.
LOVE THE SHUGARMAN SIGHTING!
You. Are. My. Hero. I am excited that I can now have cake batter every morning for breakfast if I want to…because you said I could :)
These are absurd. And I want one right now!! I can hardly comprehend cake batter pancakes, but I think it is because they are genius and my mind is just not capable of understanding, lol. These look SERIOUSLY amazing :D
This is utterly beautiful. I’m salivating just looking! How wise: breakfast, sprinkles, and cake batter. All of my favorites mixed into one!
holy cow what a fun, cheery, and delicious-looking recipe!!!
You must have had me in mind….My birthday is Thursday! You were just getting ideas ready for me…now if I only had someone to bake them for me!! lol. Seriously, they look delicious!
These are so cute! What a good idea for a birthday breakfast…or an everyday breakfast…or a Valentines Day breakfast with red and pink sprinkles perhaps? Yum
I think Valentine’s day with red and pink would be so cute!
This is the cutest recipe I’ve ever seen.
Seriously??? I may have mentioned this before, but you, my friend, are evil! This makes me wanna just sit and eat cake batter all morning long!
cathy b.
Oh no!!! Cake batter is one of my husband’s favorite things, and pancakes is a close second. This is going to be better than diving into the Birthday Cake ice cream we hunt down in the grocery store. Making them this Saturday – thanks Jessica!!
I have no words for this. You are brilliant.
my husband would love these as he is addicted to funfetti cupcakes:) i’ve made miniature ones and even healthified (yes, i made up a word!) a few times as well.
You are pure evil or pure genius….not sure which. :)
Your most gorgeous photos yet!! Lovin’ those pancakes.
Oh my gosh, these look so fun!
These are so fun! You are a genius. :)
These look amazing! You are a genius.
I’m going to make these right now. I just had breakfast, but I dont care!
Um…these blew my mind. Of all the treats you’ve thought up, these are some of the most incredible!!! Had to share the love and spread the word about your awesome site!!
http://leandrasnacks.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/it-really-is-sweet/
Thank you so much! :)
adorable!
Oh dear…this isn’t good news for my skinny jeans…or my bathing suit.
Oh my goodness. I need to make these immediately. Breakfast tomorrow morning, because heck… it’ll be Wednesday.
This really is visually awesome. Party on your plate! Just what you need in the middle of winter.
I don’t think think I’ve EVER seen anything on food blogs that has impressed me more than what I see right here and now. Funfetti has been my food (it’s food, trust me) of choice for every birthday since I was 10. This takes it to a new level. I thank you Mrs. Sweet.
Thank YOU!
omg those look amazing!!!! I love cake, cake batter, and frosting….and anything else that comes with cake :-)
I was watching Groundhog Day last night and my boyfriend and I were talking about what we would do if there were no consequences and I said, “Eat. A lot.” On my Groundhog Day, you will cook for me.
I’m in.
Love that movie too.
This reminds me of those funfetti cakes! yum! Guilty pleasure…Sometimes i eat sprinkles plain for dessert… =]
NO WAY! How fun is this. Any kid would die for these! Or adult for that matter. I love it. ;)
You are such an incredible cook!!
Aw thanks!
Sprinkles make everything better in my life. Those pancakes look sooooooooo good!!
Okay, I was already hating/loving (but mostly loving) you because last night I tasted TJ’s lentil chips, which I never would have bought without having seem them in your haul because I purposefully am forbidden (by myself) from even looking at the chip section, at TJs or any other store. But they are SO good and, I’ve decided, healthy. Not sure I could say the same for these happy happy pancakes, but I will surely make and eat them anyway. Especially if it continues to be freezing forever. THANK YOU for all the fun deliciousness!
Oh my gosh those chips are SO SO SO good. We love them. I wish they made bigger bags.
ooookay MUST go buy cake mix to make these, the bark, and top it off with some cake batter ice cream!! Yum…these are definitely perfect for the dead of winter. I need more sprinkles in my life!
You have reinvigorated my love for all things cake batter. And funfetti. :-)
Can’t go wrong with fun fetti!! I want to make these for my boyfriend’s birthday in Feb. – he’d love them :)
Adorable!!! I’m actually baking homemade funfetti cupcakes for a birthday party today, so these totally reminded me of that. How fun! They would make a perfect start to someone’s bday…or just a fun start to a random day :)
There should be a support group for people who follow your blog. I think I need one ;)
I kinda both love and hate you at the same time. Love you for sharing the recipe, and hate you because after I make them, I’ll probably want to eat them all the time. But mostly love.
It’s a blessing and a curse.
the best flavor besides chocolate peanut butter, of course!
So true!
You are so incredibly creative and i’m currently drooling over these.
These remind me of funfetti cupcakes in pancake form! What a sweet way to start off the day :)
Wow- this is kinda ridiculous, but I love you for it!
I think my brain just exploded…those pancakes just blew my mind…I got a sugar rush and my mouth started watering just from looking at your pictures! AWESOME.
You are so funny with all the sweet things you eat!
Thanks for your virtual hugs yesterday! :D
My husband would be in pancake heaven if he woke up to these… I could see a request uttering out each and every morning. You come up with the most decadent breakfasts!
Yum! Yum! Yum! I have to try these. Everything on your site looks wonderful and your photography is incredible.
Thank you!!