It's spooky season! These fun Halloween Pancakes are a perfectly acceptable breakfast all throughout October. Make these easy ghost-shaped, spiderweb-shaped, and Jack-o-lantern pancakes for a fun Halloween breakfast idea. You kids will love it, and so will the kid inside you.
We've all seen those videos of people making elaborate pancake designs. They look so cool, but I am pretty sure I would never be able to master them. However, these Halloween pancakes are actually very easy to make and so fun for kids to eat for Halloween breakfast. I'll show you how with step-by-step pictures and instructions!
And if you're looking for more fun Halloween recipes for kids, check out these Halloween Donuts (no baking involved! Just decorate! These are a great project to make with kids) and this Halloween Popcorn (great for goodie bags and Halloween parties!).
But back to the pancakes... ready to get started?
Tips for making Halloween pancakes
Before we get into the ingredients, let me give you some important tips to make sure these pancakes turn out well!
- Make sure your skillet is non-stick, or well-seasoned if it's a cast iron.
- Make sure you have squeeze bottles to squeeze the pancake batter.
- Make sure to mix the batter pretty well since you don't want any lumps to get stuck in the squeeze bottle. It's OK to "overmix" a little for these pancakes.
- Cook the pancakes over medium low or low heat, so they cook slowly. This will give you enough time to "draw" all the Halloween shapes on the skillet as they cook.
- Experiment with how big the opening is on the squeeze bottle. The thinner the opening, the more precise your lines and drawings will be, but the slower the batter will come out. If the opening is too wide, the batter might drip or flow out too fast, also messing up the design. It's OK if your first pancake is a flop - that's the pancake for mom or dad, and not for the kids. 🙂
- Keep the pancakes small (or rather, "normal" pancake size) so they're easier to flip. It helps to have a flexible large spatula/turner so you can wiggle it underneath and get the whole pancake onto the spatula, making it easier to flip. This is especially so for the spiderweb pancake, which is a little fragile!
- I recommend using boxed pancake mix - the kind that says "just add water" (NOT the kind that needs egg and oil added because it will be tricky to figure out how many eggs and how much oil you need - adding water is easier!). Heck, you're making Halloween shaped pancakes, so give yourself a break because you're already putting in extra effort into this breakfast!
How cute is this little ghost pancake?? Perfect for Halloween breakfast.
Ingredients
- 4 cups "just add water" pancake mix, divided
- 3 ½ cups water, divided (or use milk for richer pancakes)
- 1 teaspoon ovanilla extract (optional)
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
You'll also need:
- 2 squeeze bottles for condiments (like these plastic ketchup and mustard bottles)
- A really good non-stick skillet, so the pancakes don't get stuck!
- Vegetable oil spray - I love this chemical-free avocado oil spray! (or a brush to brush the skillet with vegetable oil)
- 2 mixing bowls
Instructions
Step 1: Make the lighter color pancake batter: In a large bowl, mix 2 cups pancake mix, 1 ½ cups water, and vanilla - mix well, you don't want any clumps! Carefully pour the batter into a squeeze bottle.
Step 2: Make the darker color pancake batter: In another mixing bowl, mix 2 cups pancake mix, 2 cups water, and cocoa powder. Mix well, then carefully pour the batter into the other squeeze bottle.
Step 3: Place a large non-stick skillet on the stove on medium-low or low heat. You want these pancakes to cook slowly to give yourself time to "draw" all the pancake shapes! Spray or brush the skillet with vegetable oil (I love this avocado oil spray!).
Step 4: Place batters in a kitchen squeeze bottle. It’s much easier to draw the pancakes with the bottle. You’ll want to play with how big the opening is on the bottle nozzle. The thinner the opening, the more precise the line but flow is slower. The use of lighter and darker colored batters is what makes these pancakes have contrast.
Step 5: Cook each pancake shape according to the instructions below:
How to make a ghost shaped pancake
Use the cocoa batter to draw two dots for the ghost’s eyes. Then use the lighter batter to outline the ghost form. Now fill it in with light batter. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then flip and cook for 60-90 seconds, or until the pancake is fully cooked.
How to make a spider web pancake
Use just one color batter (I recommend you use the chocolate one, since it's only used for eyes for the other pancakes) and create 6-8 lines across the pan intersecting in the middle. Then create webbing from each line to the next with a dip in between. Let cook for 60 seconds on each side. Keep the web pancakes small, as these are fragile when you flip them. It helps to have a flexible large spatula/turner so you can get the whole spiderweb pancake onto the turner before trying to flip.
How to make a Jack-o-lantern pancake:
Use the cocoa batter to create the eyes and nose with triangles and an open mouth with teeth. Then use the lighter batter to draw a circle with a pumpkin stem at the top. Fill the pumpkin with the lighter batter. Cook for 2 minutes (or until the pancake is set and easy to flip, but don't let it brown), then flip carefully and cook for 90 seconds, or until the pancake is fully cooked but not browned.
Enjoy your spooky Halloween breakfast!!
Pancakes for picky eaters
I started this website to help parents of picky eater babies, toddlers, and kids have an easier time feeding their kids, so of course I can't post a recipe without mentioning why it's good for picky eaters. As I write in many of my blog posts (including this one, with tips to get toddlers to eat when they refuse), serving kids fun shapes is a great way to get them excited about the food! Toddlers are more willing to try a food if it's in a fun shape they recognize. So making fun spooky pancakes is perfect! You don't have to make these pancakes only for Halloween.
If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!
More toddler-friendly recipes
- Ham Egg and Cheese Breakfast Pockets
- Free Printable Breakfast Activity
- Pumpkin Protein Pancakes (perfect Fall breakfast!)
Spooky Halloween Pancakes
This Halloween breakfast treat is fun to make and even more fun to eat. Your family will be asking for spooky pancakes every year!
Ingredients
- 4 cups "just add water" pancake mix, divided
- 3 ½ cups water, divided (or use milk for richer pancakes)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- You'll also need 2 squeeze bottles (such as a ketchup mustard bottle)
Instructions
- Make the lighter color pancake batter: In a large bowl, mix 2 cups of pancake mix with vanilla and 1 ½ cup of water - mix well, you don't want any clumps! Carefully pour the batter into a squeeze bottle.
- Make the darker color pancake batter: In another mixing bowl, mix 2 cups pancake mix, 2 cups water, and cocoa powder. Mix well, then carefully pour the batter into the other squeeze bottle.
- Place a large non-stick skillet on the stove on medium-low or low heat. You want these pancakes to cook slowly to give yourself time to "draw" all the pancake shapes! Spray or brush the skillet with vegetable oil.
- Place batters in a kitchen squeeze bottle. It’s much easier to draw the pancakes with the bottle. You’ll want to play with how big the opening is on the bottle nozzle. The thinner the opening, the more precise the line but flow is slower. The use of lighter and darker colored batters helps with contrast.
- Cook each pancake shape according to the instructions below:
Ghost pancake
Use the cocoa batter to draw two dots for the ghost’s eyes. Then use the lighter batter to outline the ghost form. Now fill it in with light batter. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then flip and cook for 60-90 seconds, or until the pancake is fully cooked.
Spiderweb pancake
Use just one color batter (either one!) and create 6-8 lines across the pan intersecting in the middle. Then create webbing from each line to the next with a dip in between. Let cook for 60 seconds on each side. Keep the web pancakes small, as these are fragile when you flip them.
Jack-o-lantern pancake
Use the cocoa batter to create the eyes and nose with triangles and an open mouth with teeth. Then use the lighter batter to draw a circle with a pumpkin stem at the top. Fill the pumpkin with the lighter batter. Cook for 2 minutes (or until the pancake is set and easy to flip, but don't let it brown), then flip carefully and cook for 90 seconds, or until the pancake is fully cooked but not browned.
Notes
- You need a good non-stick skillet or a well=seasoned cast iron so the pancakes don't stick. Work with 2 skillets at a time to make this go faster!
- It's OK if the first few pancakes are a flop, it takes some practice. Don't give up!
- Nutrition facts are an estimate per pancake and will vary depending on the size of your pancake and the pancake mix you use. For example, the spiderweb pancakes will be much lower in calories!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 132Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 3g
The nutritional information provided is just an estimate and will vary based on the actual ingredients you use. If you are tracking nutrition for yourself or your child, check with a nutritionist, dietitian, or pediatrician about whether this recipe is right for you or your child.