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.”
These are SO CUTE & FUN! Love em : )
That one picture actually looks like a cake! These are so fun, you’re right!
Oh no you didn’t! These look to die for. ::picks jaw up off the floor:: Hehe.
How have I not done this? My girls would love! We do make cake batter oatmeal :)
Ooooh… this looks really really good. Damn, you’re awesome at new inventions! :-)
What beautiful recipe! I believe sprinkles should be considered their own food group.
Ditto! Why aren’t they?
I am so making these for my daughters bday on Sunday!! Thanks for the inspiration :)
I hope she loves them!
Shut UP! These are adorable and I bet they are super delicious! I still have yet to try your Chocolate Silk ones, and now I have to try these too? You’re killing me! (And… I love it :))
You must try the chocolate silk ones! Those are at least fairly healthy.
I don’t even have words for this geniusness. I want these immediately! So creative and fun!
They were just as fun to make as they were to eat!
OMG amazing!
These are the best looking pancakes, HANDS DOWN.
I’m cake batter obsessed too, how have I never made this before?
And your pictures are flawless, I’m drooling over here!
Thanks so much!
These just make me smile. :-)
these look crazy good – and your pictures are beautiful! you have any leftover? i’m on my way:)
These are the happiest pancakes EVER. And they give you an excuse, I mean, a reason to make cake batter bark too! … this is not going to end well with my birthday coming up. *buys bigger pants*
I am going to the store to buy cake mix now.
Those look incredible! I really need to stop reading your blog while I eat lunch. It makes my lunch choices pale in comparison…
So cute! Those pancakes are very photogenic :-)
Oh I LOVE these!!!
I don’t know if I love you or hate you for this…
This is so innovative! What a great idea for a special birthday breakfast.
This looks ridiculously yummy and so so adorbs! Impressed, yet again!
Could you use this same recipe in a waffle iron? Or would you have to change it up a bit?
I would think so!
Thanks a bunch! I am going to try that out!! I just bought a nice waffle iron I am super excited about!
Let me know how they come out!
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Holy moly, girl!! You’re awesome!
Thanks.
My AM green monster just couldn’t compare.
I’ve been daydreaming about cake batter pancakes all.day.long. :)
Cake batter ANYTHING literally brings me to my knees…especially a certain little number at Coldstone Creamery. And don’t even think that January brings a hiatus to my Friday night ice cream date–I stop at nothing to get my cake batter fix :)
Needless to say, I’m book-marking this one!
I loooooove Coldstone too.
FRICKIN WOAAAAA!!!!
LOVE this recipe. You’ve stolen my heart with all your amazing recipes. Can I make these pancakes with skim milk instead of almond milk?
Absolutely! Any kind of milk should work.
I can’t tell you how good this looks. Wait, I can tell you. THESE LOOK AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
These would taste great with a scoop of cake batter ice cream on top!
Wouldn’t they?! It would melt… yum.
I love how the sprinkle colour marbles through these! I just had an Alice in Wonderland party and these would have been perfect!
Alice in Wonderland party?! That sounds SO fun!!
Really? Now how am I supposed to avoid Making these? Pair it with bacon and you may possibly have the best breakfast ever.
Don’t have to tell me twice. :)
Such beautiful pictures. My husband is going to love you when I make this.
These are FABULOUS! What a great idea! And they are so darn cute you can hardly resist them! Well done lady. I’ll have to keep these in mind for the next -2 degree day around here.
You have to be the best wife ever! I think I might be slightly in love with you.
These look amazing! What a genius idea!
Awesome! A couple of batches of these and I’ll have used up all my sprinkles. Thank youuu!
These are so much fun. I’ve never bought cake mix but you are seriuosly making me consider it
this is ultimate gluttony. but amazing.
THANK YOU!!! My youngest is turning 6 next week and is going to LOVE this for breakfast on her birthday morning. Although, I could also see her really enjoying it for lunch…and dinner…and a snack…Can’t wait to try it!
My youngest is turning 6 next week and is going to LOVE this for breakfast on her birthday morning. Although, I could also see her really enjoying it for lunch…and dinner…and a snack…Can’t wait to try it!
this is the most amazing pancake creation I have ever seen, not to mention a great idea. Love the sprinkles and the excessive amount of sugar!
I keep hitting refresh on my page so I can re-look at these pancakes. They look killer, and I almost want to get out of my bed now at 11 pm to make them. Well done! :)
Jessica, these are adorable! I love it! And of course this just gives me another recipe to use my opened box of cake mix for! Feel free to keep the cake batter mojo coming!
I am so ordering a stack of these for my birthday…ok…I can’t wait that long…I might need to make them tomorrow…I can celebrate Wednesday right?!!
Very fun and interesting :) I don’t know if non-Americans would like this though, the food colouring makes it look awfully mouldy and unappetizing. A pile of (Asian) rice cakes looks exactly like that when it goes bad
What picture are you looking at?! LOL
These look gorgeous — trying them tomorrow.
This is a kids dream come true, right? Sprinkles… I have not had sprinkles on ….I can’t remember… haha wasn’t there another name for sprinkles?
My mouth is wateringggggggggg…literally. OMG, I can’t wait to make these!
@ k… you must kidding! I have to say as a non-American, I think these look AMAZING. But I do love my korean rice cakes and I ALWAYS finish them before they go bad…haha
Everything is better with sprinkles! Waffles and sprinkles! Pie and sprinkles! I forsee the world being a beautiful place…