On busy mornings, breakfasts are typically grab-and-go situations—you’re looking for fast, tasty, and nutrient-dense meals to help you power through your workday. On weekends, however, it’s a different story. Weekends are for decadence, lazy mornings, and breakfasts built for pleasure. And nothing says a slow Sunday morning like Japanese souffle pancakes, buttermilk waffles, or a savory cheesy pancake with scallions. Here are some of our favorite pancake and waffle recipes.
Under the Hard Hat’s 6 favorite pancake recipes
Good old-fashioned pancakes
These good old-fashioned pancakes require a handful of standard ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, milk, butter, and eggs, whipped together to make a perfectly fluffy stack of scrumptious pancakes. Perfectly browned and reassuringly simple, these pancakes will please every single time.
Why we love them: Look, sometimes you just need a good, solid, time-tested pancake recipe. These are the pancakes you used to have at your Grandma’s house: Nothing fancy, no obscure ingredients, and no healthy substitutions.
Pro tip: Craving a weekend brunch mid-week? Freeze your leftovers and pop them in the toaster before you head out the door!
Japanese souffle pancakes
Tiptoeing slightly away from the classic flapjack, these Japanese souffle pancakes use most of the same ingredients—but adding a few egg whites makes them deliciously different. Beating the egg whites into stiff peaks before adding to the batter makes these pancakes taller, more tender, and almost impossibly airy.
Why we love them: This souffle pancake recipe is just the ticket for kids or picky eaters who want something different without being too out there. The texture is light, and adding a few egg whites does give the protein content of these pancakes a little boost without ruining a fun weekend breakfast with too much nutritional information.
Oat flour pancakes
With just five simple ingredients, these oat flour pancakes are easy to make and even easier to devour. The recipe recommends covering the pancakes while cooking to get extra-thick, fluffy pancakes. They’ll even keep in the freezer for up to six months so that you can enjoy pancakes all week.
Why we love them: Substituting oat flour for all-purpose means everyone can enjoy these sweet stacks, even family or friends with gluten sensitivities. A secret ingredient (Greek yogurt—shhh!) helps these pancakes taste just as good as their gluten-filled counterparts.
Cheesy savory pancakes with scallions
If your tastes skew more towards salty than sweet, this is one pancake recipe you’ll love. Featuring sharp cheddar, green onions, and a zesty lime crema, these cheesy savory pancakes with scallions will have you happily asking for seconds.
Why we love them: Who says pancakes have to be served with maple syrup? We love a recipe that turns a sweet treat into a savory way to start the day. With less sugar and an unconventional approach to an old favorite, we think these cheesy scallion pancakes will quickly become your new obsession.
Dutch baby pancakes
To create these Dutch baby pancakes, pour a batter made from milk, eggs, flour, and butter into a hot cast iron skillet and then cook it in the oven. The result is one giant pancake that’s puffy, crispy, and perfectly browned.
Why we love them: This recipe might seem fancy, but after making the batter and tossing the skillet in the oven, you have 15 or 20 minutes of free time while it cooks—-no more hovering over a hot stove! We recommend skipping the maple syrup and serving your Dutch baby the classic way, sprinkled with powdered sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes
Brown sugar, cinnamon, buttermilk, and pumpkin puree make these pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes a perfectly-spiced addition to your pancake rotation. Stirring in some semi-sweet chocolate chips will satisfy your sweet tooth, and if you’re feeling extra indulgent, add some whipped cream on top.
Why we love them: Whether you’re smack-dab in the middle of pumpkin spice season or just want a taste of fall all year round, these pancakes are worth a try. Adding a cup of pumpkin puree is the perfect way to use up that can in your pantry while adding some plant-based nutrition, too.
Under the Hard Hat’s 6 favorite waffle recipes
Best buttermilk waffles
Beginning with the basics again, this classic buttermilk waffle recipe serves up crispy waffles on the outside and tender on the inside. Buttermilk isn’t always easy to find, but don’t let that stop you—it’s super easy to make. Add one tablespoon of white vinegar or fresh lemon juice to a measuring cup, then fill it with milk until it reaches the 1-cup mark. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 mins, then use as instructed.
Why we love them: Making waffles with buttermilk is the best way to get that classic diner flavor without leaving the house. With a richer, more complex taste than regular waffles, these will be a family favorite.
Liege waffles
If you’ve never heard of Liege waffles, you’re in for a treat. These waffles are made with pearl sugar—large sugar pieces about the size of a pearl that don’t dissolve in the waffle batter. The result is perfect waffles with perfectly caramelized sugar sprinkled throughout.
Why we love them: This recipe takes a little longer because the dough needs to rise, but the taste is absolutely worth the extra time. We adore Liege waffles for their luxuriousness. With a sprinkle of powdered sugar and fresh berries, they’re perfect for a special occasion.
Cheddar jalapeno waffles
Introducing waffles with a Mexican flair. Featuring buttermilk, cornmeal, cheese, diced jalapeno, and a handful of spices, these cheddar jalapeno waffles would be perfect with a side of salsa and sour cream.
Why we love them: There’s nothing like jalapeno and chili powder to break you out of a waffle rut. Trying savory flavors is a great way to spice up your waffle repertoire and continue reinventing this beloved breakfast dish. Try stirring some bacon into the batter for some extra crunch.
Easy healthy banana oat waffles
There isn’t anything wrong with the occasional bacon-filled waffle, but if you want a recipe you can count on to keep you healthy, try these banana oat waffles. The flour-free recipe uses oats, bananas, eggs, and vanilla to make good waffles that are also good for you.
Why we love them: We love a recipe that’s healthy and easy to make. Tossing all the ingredients into a blender makes this waffle recipe one of the easiest we’ve tried.
Mashed potato waffles
Waffles don’t have to be made with waffle batter. This recipe for mashed potato waffles adds diced onion, chopped garlic, flour, and eggs to last night’s leftover mashed potatoes to make a delicious waffle that’s perfect served with Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and sliced green onions.
Why we love them: Any recipe that can help reduce food waste while also tasting delicious is a winner in our books. Perfect for big holiday breakfasts, these mashed potato waffles are crispy, savory, and super simple to make.
Easy French toast waffles
What’s better than one breakfast food? Two! This recipe starts as though you’re making French toast by dipping bread into a mixture of eggs, milk, and vanilla before taking a left turn and tossing the bread into a waffle iron instead of a frying pan.
Why we love them: The distinctive taste of French toast, made extra crispy, with those delightful waffle divots to hold maple syrup, what’s not to love?
Are you a team waffle or more of a pancake person? With these recipes, you might find it hard to choose. We hope these recipes for sweet, savory, fancy, and deceptively simple breakfasts will make your mornings great.
Do you have a favorite waffle or pancake we didn’t include? We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and let us know your favorites.
