Whether after a sleepover, Sunday brunch, before school, or on another occasion, pancakes for breakfast make a regular day special. When you have the opportunity to treat your kids, their friends, grandkids, or other treasured people with pancakes, it’s a great way to establish new traditions while making fun memories. This is especially true if you can make a sweet treat even sweeter with sugar in the pancake mix!
Sweet Isn’t Always a Bad Thing!
Sugar gets a bad rap. While too much of it isn’t good for any diet, occasionally, there’s nothing wrong with an added reasonable amount.
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate. When you eat sugar, your body turns it into a source of energy. This transformed energy source, glucose, is an essential part of your brain and central nervous system function and how your red blood cells work.
Your body naturally recognizes and uses sugar to its advantage. Problems occur with sugar consumption when a person consumes far more than the daily recommendation of equal to or less than 10% from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services daily over long periods.
The bottom line is that sugar isn’t the enemy and can be enjoyed in moderation. As long as your diet isn’t loaded with tons of added sugar every day, sugar can be something you look forward to as a treat, especially when making special pancakes!
Can I Add Sugar to My Pancake Mix?
You can add sugar to your pancake mix for a sweeter, fluffy cake! The best to a sweeter flapjack is to buy a high-quality prepared pancake mix like the ones from The Great American Pancake Company. This brand makes some of the lightest, most delicious cakes, providing a great base to make them even sweeter.
Some of the most delicious mixes that you can make sweeter include:
- Brown Sugar and Oatmeal Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Angel Cakes Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Cinnamon Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Chocolate Chip Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Celebration Cakes Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Peanut Butter Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Gingerbread Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Gluten-Free Slightly Cinnamon Pancake and Waffle Mix
One of the best things about these pancake mixes is that you can buy a bunch and put them in your pantry until you need them. They have a shelf-life of one year, so there’s no reason not to stock up!
When you’re ready to add sugar to your pre-made mix, it’s best to add extra sugar slowly. Here’s how:
Measure out the desired amount of pancake mix into a bowl.
Add up to ¼ cup of additional sugar, one tablespoon at a time.
Stir the mix after each tablespoon and cook a small test cake on a hot pan or skillet (using oil or butter to prevent sticking) to assess its sweetness level. You may want to add an extra ¼ of baking mix to ensure you still have plenty of batter once you perfect your pancakes!
Once you’ve reached your desired sweetness, oil or butter your cooking surface and add ¼ cup of batter at a time. Turn the fluffy, sweet cakes over when the edges look dry and bubbles form on the surface. Flip it over before cooking for an additional minute or so. Lifting the cake on the side is okay to check and see if they’re cooked perfectly!
Sweet Pancake Recipe from Scratch
If you forgot to stock up on your pancake mixes and want to whip up some sweet cakes, you can make it yourself with common ingredients at home! Not only that, but you get to decide how sweet you want them to be and what sweetener to use.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour (if gluten-free, follow your alternative flour’s instructions for replacement)
- ¼ cup of sugar plus more to make it sweeter (may substitute with brown sugar, coconut sugar, raw sugar, monk fruit, or other alternative sweeteners – follow directions on the package for substitution guidelines)
- 4 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 and ¾ cups of milk or milk alternative
- ¼ cup of melted butter
- 2 tsp of vanilla
- 1 large egg or 2 small eggs
Directions:
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, setting aside any desired extra sweetener.
Make a decent-sized well in the middle of the dry ingredients. Add the milk, butter, egg, and vanilla (make sure the butter isn’t hot – it will cook your egg!).
Whisk all of the ingredients to combine. If your batter is too thick for your liking, add milk, 1 tbsp at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
Test out the sweetness of your batter by putting a small amount on a hot pan or skillet. Add 1 tbsp of sugar or sweetener until you reach the level of sweetness you like.
Measure ¼ cup of batter at a time and pour onto a greased or oiled medium-high pan. Flip when the edges become dry and the surface is covered in bubbles. Cook for an additional minute or until you lift the edge and its golden brown on the other side.
Other Ways to Take Your Pancakes to the Next Level
Sweeter pancakes are always a hit, but you can make those treats tastier with a few simple cooking hacks! They include:
- Replace your milk with buttermilk.
- Sift all of your dry ingredients.
- Try different flavorings like almond extract or cinnamon.
- Add toppings for more sweetness.
Don’t forget that you can also switch up your syrups each time you make them. Try syrup on your test pancakes to ensure they aren’t too sweet before serving them!
If the cakes are sweet enough, you can serve them as-is or add nut butter or yogurt. These spreads and toppings can complement the sweetness without taking it over the top!
Make the Best Pancakes Every Time!
Whether using a mix from The Great American Pancake Company or starting your recipe from scratch, you can always improve your special cakes! Extra sugar is guaranteed to make your pancakes a family favorite for years to come.
Don’t let yourself run out of your favorite mixes or ingredients to have your own special version of this breakfast favorite! Stock up at The Great American Pancake Company now, and make sure you’re always ready to whip up a batch any time. You’re sure to become your loved one’s favorite home to visit for breakfast or any other time you make your special, extra-sweet pancakes!
