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.
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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.
- 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.
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
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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!
Print
Green Christmas Pancakes Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 28 pancakes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate the holiday spirit with these festive Green Christmas Pancakes, fluffy silver-dollar sized treats infused with vibrant green food coloring and topped with a creamy sweet glaze, red heart sprinkles, whipped cream, and fresh fruit. Perfect for a joyful breakfast or brunch gathering.
Ingredients
Pancakes
- 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)
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Garnishes
- Cream cheese glaze
- Red heart sprinkles
- Whipped cream
- Fresh fruit
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: Measure out the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl and whisk together until well combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a smaller bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, green food coloring, and oil until the mixture is uniform in color and the eggs are fully incorporated.
- Combine and Rest Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing. Set the batter aside and let it rest for 10 minutes to develop texture.
- Heat the Cooking Surface: Preheat a griddle or nonstick skillet over medium heat and lightly grease it with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Pancakes: Using a cookie scoop or measuring spoon, dollop approximately 1.5 tablespoons of batter per pancake onto the heated skillet. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook until cooked through and golden brown.
- Make Cream Cheese Glaze: In a bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, mixing until the glaze is creamy and pourable.
- Serve: Stack the pancakes and generously drizzle with cream cheese glaze. Garnish with red heart sprinkles, whipped cream, and fresh fruit as desired for a festive presentation.
Notes
- Natural green food coloring may fade during cooking, leading to less vibrant pancakes; consider using artificial food coloring for brighter color.
- To store pancakes, let them cool completely then keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or toaster oven.
- To freeze, arrange cooled pancakes on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pancake
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg

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