Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe – Because Regular Pancakes are Boring in October

Okay, so I messed up my first three attempts at making Halloween pumpkin pancakes recipe before finally getting it right. And honestly? I’m kinda proud of that because now I know exactly what NOT to do, which makes me basically an expert, right?

Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. I started making these because my kids were driving me absolutely crazy asking for “Halloween food” every single morning in October. Like, what even IS Halloween food for breakfast? But then I remembered I had this can of pumpkin puree sitting in my pantry from last year’s ambitious pie-making plans (spoiler alert: never made the pie), and I thought… why not just throw it in some pancakes?

The Story Behind My Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe

Now, here’s the thing about pumpkin pancakes – everyone acts like they’re super complicated, but they’re really not. I think… no, I know this works better when you don’t overthink it. My first attempt was a disaster because I tried to get all fancy with spices and ended up with something that tasted like a candle. Literally. My 8-year-old took one bite and said, “Mom, this tastes like the Bath & Body Works store.” Ouch.

The second attempt was better, but I forgot the most important part – making them actually LOOK like Halloween. They were just… orange pancakes. Boring orange pancakes. My kids were not impressed.

But version 3.0? Chef’s kiss These bad boys are orange, fluffy, and have the cutest little jack-o’-lantern faces made from chocolate chips. And the best part? You can make the batter the night before because morning Halloween prep is absolute chaos. Trust me on this one.

What Makes This Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe Special

The key is—oh wait, I forgot to mention—you need to use real pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Learned this the hard way when I grabbed the wrong can and ended up with pancakes that were sweeter than candy. Not terrible, but definitely not what we were going for.

These pancakes are perfectly orange (thanks to the pumpkin), fluffy as clouds, and have just enough pumpkin flavor without being overwhelming. Plus, the chocolate chip faces make kids actually excited about eating breakfast, which in my house is basically a miracle.

Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for this Halloween pumpkin pancakes recipe. And please, PLEASE don’t substitute the pumpkin puree with actual pumpkin. I tried that once thinking I’d be all health-conscious and… just don’t.

For the Pancakes:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar (brown sugar works too if that’s what you have)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional, but it makes them smell amazing)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (the real stuff, not pie filling!)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Faces:

• Mini chocolate chips (regular sized ones work too, but mini ones are easier to work with)
• A few drops of orange food coloring (if you want them REALLY orange)

Okay, about that food coloring – some people think pumpkin puree makes pancakes orange enough. It doesn’t. Well, it makes them slightly orange-ish, but if you want that bright Halloween orange that makes kids go “WOW,” you need a couple drops of food coloring. Don’t go crazy with it though. I once added too much and my family looked like they had orange tongues for hours.

How to Make Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Dry Stuff In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set timer for… actually, don’t set a timer. This step takes like 30 seconds.

Step 2: Combine the Wet Ingredients In another bowl, whisk together milk, pumpkin puree, egg, melted butter, and vanilla. Add a couple drops of orange food coloring if you’re using it. The mixture will look kinda weird at first – lumpy and gross – but that’s totally normal.

Step 3: Bring It All Together Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until JUST combined. Don’t overmix! This is where I went wrong the first time. I mixed the heck out of that batter thinking I was being thorough, and ended up with tough, chewy pancakes. Nobody wants chewy pancakes.

Step 4: Let It Rest (If You Remember) Let the batter sit for like 5 minutes while you heat up your pan. This helps the flour hydrate and makes fluffier pancakes. But honestly? If you forget this step, they’ll still turn out fine. I forget half the time.

Step 5: Cook Those Beauties Heat a non-stick pan or griddle over medium heat. I always test it by flicking a drop of water on it – if it sizzles and evaporates quickly, you’re ready. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake.

Here’s where the magic happens: while the pancake is still wet on top, press mini chocolate chips into the batter to make jack-o’-lantern faces. Two chips for eyes, and then arrange a few chips in a jagged line for the mouth. Get creative! Some can be happy, some grumpy, some surprised.

Step 6: Flip Like a Pro Cook until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set (about 2-3 minutes), then flip. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown. If you burn the bottom (been there), just scrape it off and keep going.

My Best Tips for Perfect Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe

Make the batter the night before. Seriously, this is a game-changer for busy Halloween mornings. The flavors meld together overnight and you’ll thank yourself when you’re not trying to measure flour while your kids are running around in costumes.

Don’t use a whisk for mixing the final batter. Trust me. A wooden spoon or spatula works way better and won’t overmix.

Keep them warm in the oven. Set your oven to 200°F and keep finished pancakes on a baking sheet while you cook the rest. Nobody likes cold pancakes.

Double the recipe. These freeze really well, and you’ll want extras. Just pop them in the toaster on busy school mornings.

Serving Your Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe

Kids eat these with syrup, obviously. But they’re also amazing with a little butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. My husband (who claims he doesn’t like pumpkin) devours these with whipped cream and a drizzle of honey.

Want to get really fancy? Make some cinnamon butter by mixing softened butter with cinnamon and a pinch of brown sugar. It’s ridiculously good.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips for Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe

These pancakes keep in the fridge for about 3 days, but honestly, they never last that long in my house. You can freeze them for up to 2 months – just layer them between parchment paper and stick them in a freezer bag.

The batter keeps overnight in the fridge, which is perfect for Halloween morning when you’ve got approximately 47 other things to do before school.

Why This Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe Works Every Time

Look, I’ve tried a lot of pumpkin pancake recipes over the years, and most of them are either too dense, too spiced, or just plain weird. This one hits that perfect balance – you can taste the pumpkin, but it’s not overwhelming. They’re fluffy but not too fluffy, sweet but not dessert-level sweet.

Plus, the chocolate chip faces make them Instagram-worthy without requiring any actual artistic skill. Which is good because I can barely draw stick figures.

Final Thoughts on This Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe

Anyway, I hope your family loves these as much as mine does. My kids ask for them year-round now, not just in October. Sometimes I make them with regular chocolate chip smiley faces instead of jack-o’-lantern faces, and they’re just as good.

If you try this Halloween pumpkin pancakes recipe, let me know how it goes! And if you come up with any creative face designs, I want to see them. My artistic abilities are pretty limited to basic jack-o’-lantern expressions, but I bet you could get way more creative.

Happy Halloween cooking! (And may your kitchen survive the morning chaos) 🎃