Name: Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 1 ½ cups milk; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon green food coloring; 2 tablespoons unflavored oil (avocado, vegetable, or canola); 4 oz. cream cheese, softened; ½ cup powdered sugar; ¼ cup whole milk; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; Pinch of salt; Cream cheese glaze; Red heart sprinkles; Whipped cream; Fresh fruit

There’s something truly magical about vibrant holiday breakfasts, and these fluffy, festive pancakes really steal the show. The Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe adds that perfect pop of color and cozy flavor, making your morning feel special and fun without extra fuss.

A stack of six green pancakes sits on a white plate with ridged edges, each pancake thick and slightly browned on the edges. On top of the stack, a large dollop of white whipped cream flows down the sides, decorated with small red heart-shaped sprinkles scattered over the cream and a few falling onto the plate. The background is a soft focus with a white marbled surface underneath the plate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m really excited to share this Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe because it pairs the joyful spirit of the holidays with an easy, crowd-pleasing breakfast. Every bite feels festive thanks to the bright color and the luscious cream cheese glaze that tops it off perfectly.

Vibrant Festive Color: These pancakes have a gorgeous green hue that instantly brings Christmas cheer to the table.
Fluffy & Light Texture: Thanks to the carefully balanced leavening, these pancakes stay tender and airy, never dense or heavy.
Delicious Cream Cheese Glaze: My favorite part is the tangy, sweet glaze that adds richness without overpowering the pancakes.
Simple to Make: With basic pantry ingredients and straightforward steps, it’s easy to whip up a festive breakfast even on busy mornings.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a key role in crafting fluffy, flavorful pancakes with that classic cozy taste. Plus, I’ll let you in on little tips for choosing the best versions to get the most out of every bite.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a small pile of granulated sugar, two teaspoons of baking powder, a small heap of baking soda, a pinch of kosher salt, a small white bowl of whole milk, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white bowl of pure vanilla extract, a small white bowl with bright green food coloring, a small white bowl of light golden oil, a block of softened cream cheese on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl of powdered sugar, a small white bowl of extra whole milk, a small white bowl of red heart sprinkles, a swirl of whipped cream on a white dish, and an assortment of fresh mixed fruit including strawberries and blueberries, all placed symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The backbone of the batter, providing structure yet still light enough to keep pancakes tender.
Granulated sugar: Adds just a hint of sweetness to balance the tang of the cream cheese glaze later on.
Baking powder: The main leavening agent to help the pancakes rise and stay fluffy.
Baking soda: Works with the acid in the batter for extra lift and a perfect crumb texture.
Kosher salt: Enhances all the flavors subtly—don’t skip it!
Milk: For richness and moisture; whole milk works beautifully but you can use your preferred milk.
Eggs: Bind everything and add extra fluffiness.
Vanilla extract: Provides a warm aroma and mellow sweetness.
Green food coloring: The star of the Christmas theme — I recommend gel or liquid for best color without affecting batter consistency.
Unflavored oil: Keeps pancakes moist and tender; avocado or canola are my go-to choices.
Cream cheese: For the glaze, adding that creamy tang that complements the pancakes perfectly.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens the glaze smoothly without grit.
Whipping cream and garnishes: Whipped cream, red heart sprinkles, and fresh fruit bring the look and taste to another level.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the reasons I keep coming back to this Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe is its flexibility — you can make it truly your own with simple twists or tweaks to fit your mood or who you’re sharing breakfast with.

Variation: I sometimes swap the white sugar for a warm brown sugar for a slightly caramelized flavor that pairs beautifully with the glaze and really feels cozy for cold winter mornings.
Dietary tweak: Try using almond or oat milk instead of cow’s milk if you want a dairy-free option — just watch the batter thickness and adjust liquid if needed.
Seasonal touch: A dash of cinnamon or nutmeg stirred into the batter adds a subtle holiday spice note that’s personally my favorite twist.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe

A close-up image of a silver fork holding four stacked layers of bright green pancakes showing their soft, spongy texture and small air holes; the bottom pancake has a slightly darker browned edge, and there is a small white spot of cream or sauce on the top layers; in the blurred background, there is a white plate with more green pancakes topped with white cream and small red sprinkles, all set on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Whisk together your dry ingredients

Start by measuring out your flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a big bowl. I like to whisk them thoroughly so everything’s well mixed—this helps your pancakes rise evenly and prevents any bitter baking soda clumps from sneaking in.

Step 2: Combine the wet ingredients with care

In a separate bowl, whisk together your milk, eggs, vanilla, green food coloring, and oil. I find using a fork for this step helps you fully incorporate the eggs and evenly distribute that vibrant green color. It’s exciting to watch the batter change!

Step 3: Gently mix wet and dry ingredients

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until combined. You’ll want to stop mixing as soon as there are no big pockets of dry flour—overmixing leads to tough pancakes, so keep it gentle and minimal.

Step 4: Let the batter rest

Resting the batter for 5 to 10 minutes lets the flour hydrate and the baking powder and soda start working their magic, resulting in perfectly fluffy pancakes.

Step 5: Cook to golden perfection

Heat your griddle or skillet over medium heat and grease lightly. I love using a cookie scoop to dollop silver-dollar sized pancakes—it helps me get uniform pancakes that cook evenly and look adorable stacked. When you see bubbles form on the surface, it’s time to flip and cook until golden on both sides.

Step 6: Whip up the cream cheese glaze

While the pancakes cook, blend softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until silky smooth. This glaze is my personal favorite topping because it’s tangy and sweet without being overly rich.

Step 7: Assemble and garnish with joy

Stack your green pancakes high, drizzle the cream cheese glaze generously, sprinkle red heart sprinkles and add a dollop of whipped cream along with fresh fruit for a joyful festive breakfast plate that’ll wow your family or guests.

Top Tip

Over time, I’ve learned a few things that really help this Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe come out just right every time. These little tips have saved me from tricky mix-ups and uneven pancakes more than once.

Use Gel or Liquid Food Coloring: Natural green food coloring can fade or change color during cooking, so I recommend gel-based for that vibrant, long-lasting green.
Don’t Overmix Batter: Mix until just combined—there should still be small lumps in the batter. Overmixing makes pancakes tough.
Rest Your Batter: Even a 5-minute rest helps the gluten relax and the leaveners activate fully, yielding fluffier pancakes.
Even Heat & Medium Temperature: Cooking pancakes on medium heat ensures they cook through without burning. Too hot, and you risk raw middles or black bottoms.

How to Serve Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe

Green Christmas Pancakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For me, the cream cheese glaze is the star garnish—lush and creamy, it perfectly complements the light tang of these pancakes. I also add red heart sprinkles to amp up the festive feel, along with some freshly whipped cream for a soft touch. Fresh fruit like strawberries or raspberries adds a refreshing contrast and extra color pop.

Side Dishes

I’ve found that crispy bacon or breakfast sausages balance the sweetness delightfully, and a simple green salad or fresh citrus salad gives a light counterpoint to the richness, keeping things fresh. Coffee or a fruity holiday punch pairs wonderfully too!

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve stacked these pancakes in festive towers drizzled with glaze in zigzag patterns and topped with edible gold dust or candy cane pieces. Another fun idea is to serve them as mini sliders with whipped cream “snow” and fresh mint leaves as “holly.”

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once your pancakes have cooled completely, I like to layer them between parchment paper in an airtight container to prevent sticking and store in the refrigerator. They last beautifully for 3-4 days this way, so you get to enjoy that festive flavor beyond just Christmas morning.

Freezing

Freezing is a lifesaver with this recipe—freeze the pancakes individually on a wax paper–lined baking sheet until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. They freeze well for up to 3 months and thaw quickly when you’re ready for a festive breakfast fix.

Reheating

I reheat leftover pancakes in the toaster oven or microwave, depending on how many I want. The toaster oven adds a nice crisp texture that microwaves can’t, but both work fine as long as you don’t overdo it to avoid drying out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use natural green food coloring for this recipe?

Natural green food coloring tends to fade or change color during cooking, which can result in less vibrant pancakes. For the best color, I recommend gel or liquid food coloring designed for baking.

What’s the best way to prevent pancakes from getting tough?

The key is to avoid overmixing the batter. Stir until just combined with some lumps left; overworking develops gluten and makes pancakes dense and tough. Also, letting the batter rest helps keep them tender.

Can I make these pancakes dairy-free?

Yes! Simply substitute the milk with your favorite plant-based milk, like almond or oat milk, and use dairy-free cream cheese or skip the glaze for a dairy-free breakfast. The texture remains just as delicious.

How do I store leftover pancakes?

Let the pancakes cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze them individually before placing in a freezer-safe bag.

Final Thoughts

This Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe has become a staple in my holiday mornings because of how effortless it is to add that festive cheer to the table. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do, and that it brings a bit of magic, warmth, and a splash of green to your holiday breakfast traditions. You’re going to love serving up this fun, tasty, and memorable start to your day!