Pancake Toppings

Your Ultimate Guide to Pancake Toppings and Pairings 

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Updated on January 12, 2024

Reviewed by cwadmin

You can have them in different shapes, sizes, and flavours. They can be thick or thin, small or large, piled or not, sweet or savoury—in any way, they are delicious! You guessed it right: pancakes. These fluffy stacks of deliciousness win our hearts repeatedly, and we’d love to eat them at any time or in any form. 

You can pair your pancakes with almost anything and everything, sweet or savoury. Your options are endless, and you can mix things up with every new batch. Pancakes are perfect for expressing yourself and experimenting with different flavours, textures, toppings, and presentations. 

Keep reading to find out what can be paired with pancakes, whether you like them sweet or savoury, and which pancake toppings are the best. 

Sweet Pancake Toppings: Make it Sweet

Let’s explore some common sweet toppings that can be paired with your fluffy pancakes and other unusual toppings that can take your simple round cake to another level.

1. Syrups 

Pancake Topping

The most traditional and well-known syrup is maple syrup. Maple syrup shares a timeless and irresistible bond with pancakes; they work well together and in harmony, giving the pancakes a sweet, delicious taste that keeps the syrup high on your topping list due to its sweet, amber nectar that adds a touch of magic to every bite.

Berry syrups are popular, whether strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry. The strawberry syrup has a sweet and heavenly taste. Made from fresh or frozen strawberries, both are equally delicious. Whether smooth or chunky, it gives a tangy flavour that you love.

The blueberry syrup is a classic choice that offers a rich, fruity flavour with sweetness and a hint of sourness. Their balance is just amazing. The raspberry syrup brings just the right balance between tanginess and sweetness, while the blackberry syrup has this rich and mild sourness, making it a perfect pair with pancakes.

2. Fresh Fruits

Pancake Topping

If you are looking for a fresh, cooling, or healthy pancake topping, you should go for fruits. They add a burst of flavour and natural sweetness to your plate. It doesn’t matter which fruit you pick, whether it’s bananas, strawberries, one of the berries, cherries, mangoes, or any kind, it is always a hit. It doesn’t have to come down to picking only one; you can make a fruit combo that tastes just as great. Fruits not only add a delicious flavour, but they also provide you with vitamins, fibre, and antioxidants. 

If you need inspiration on what fruit combos you can come up with, here are a few. The classic banana with strawberries can never go wrong. Blueberry and lemon: the sourness of the lemon blends perfectly with the sweetness of the blueberries. 

3. Whipped Cream 

Pancake Topping

If you are looking for creaminess and sweetness, whipped cream is the perfect addition to your pancakes. The fluffiness of the whipped cream with the golden-brown pancakes creates a beautiful visual appeal that makes them even more inviting. You can garnish the whipped cream with toppings such as cocoa sprinkles, chocolate shavings, nuts, a mix of the previous, or more. 

4. Sauces 

Pancake Topping

Who does not love drizzling sauces onto their pancakes? No one. Sauces elevate pancakes by adding extra flavour and richness. Luckily for us, there are numerous options.

Caramel sauce brings a buttery and sweet flavour to pancakes. The sweet and salty combo is outstanding. The sauce adds a delightful richness and pairs well with nuts, whipped cream, or bananas. 

Fruit compotes are an enjoyable option as well. Simmer fresh or frozen fruits with sugar and lemon juice, then enjoy the fruity goodness with your pancakes.

Berry sauces are always a go-to option, as is yoghurt sauce. To prepare the creamy yoghurt sauce, all you need to do is mix it with a drizzle of honey, a pinch of cinnamon, or a squeeze of lemon. The yoghurt sauce gives the pancakes a light contrast. 

5. Chocolate In Any Form 

Pancake Topping

Well, here comes everyone’s favourite. Chocolate pairs well with pancakes in all forms. Whether a sauce, chips, spread, shavings, syrup, or actual pieces.

Chocolate Sauce

A classic choice you can never go wrong with. Your taste buds will explode when you drizzle a generous amount of chocolate sauce, doesn’t matter warm or cold. The sauce gives it a rich and velvety sweetness, elevating your experience. 

Chocolate Chips

Chocolate chips bring you back to childhood as they melt in your mouth, adding a delightful, creamy surprise with each bite. Add to the batter before cooking, or sprinkle them on top of your pancakes; either way, they’ll give you a sweet, rich flavour. 

Chocolate Spread

Pancake Topping

A thick layer of your favourite chocolate spread, such as Nutella, can make your whole day. It provides a rich and intense chocolate flavour with its smoothness and creaminess, which makes it a perfect pairing with pancakes. Of course, adding fruits such as strawberries and bananas on top of the chocolate spread is the perfect way to have your daily intake of fruits! 

Chocolate Shavings

These little shavings you sprinkle on top of your pancakes are enough to provide a concentrated burst of chocolate flavour. They add a pleasant crunch to every delectable bite. You can easily do it at home by grating or using a vegetable peeler on a chocolate bar. 

6. Honey 

Pancake Topping

Honey is a natural and sweet condiment that pairs well with pancakes. It offers a natural sweetness and a lot of benefits. Its smooth and velvety texture makes it easy to spread, and when poured on warm pancakes, it becomes more liquidy, merging into every bite. Honey offers nutritional benefits as it has vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a good choice for kids. 

7. Nuts 

Nuts are a fantastic addition to your pancakes, especially if you want some crunch. Every nut type adds a different flavour. Whether it’s almonds, walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts, adding nuts to your fluffy rounded cakes will take the dish to a whole other level. They are packed with nutrients such as healthy fats, protein, fibre, and vitamins, making them the perfect pair to add nutritional value to your meal. 

8. Ice cream 

Pairing ice cream with pancakes creates a lovely combination of warm and fluffy mixed with cold and creamy. Ice cream comes in a wide range of flavours so you can choose the perfect one to enjoy with your little dessert. Whether it’s a scoop or two, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, or even mango, you will enjoy this sweet, comforting treat a little extra.  

9. Kinds of Butter

Pairing different kinds of butter with pancakes has its own pleasures because they add richness and flavour. Every kind has its unique flavour and texture.

Regular Butter

Pancake Topping

Whether you love it unsalted or lightly salted, you can never go wrong with butter. It is one of the classic options that we all love. The smooth, buttery flavour takes the pancakes up a few notches. 

Nut Butter

Are you a peanut, almond, or cashew butter kind of person? Nut butter is just the perfect creamy twist you are looking for. These spreads add richness and depth to the flavour, along with the health benefits that come with the nuts. 

Honey Butter

Mix the sweetness of honey with the creaminess of the butter, and you get honey butter. It’s a simple yet delightful option to drizzle over your stack of pancakes. 

10. Marshmallows

Add those white, fun, fluffy creatures to the classic treat to give it a delightful twist. Their fluffy and soft texture adds a nice mouthfeel to your plate, especially when they melt slightly, creating a gooey layer. You may think that these little things are only loved by kids, but let us tell you that adults appreciate them just as much. Just a tip: marshmallows can be a bit sweet, so balance them with other flavours or toppings such as fruits.

11. Jams

Pancake Topping

Add a fruity sweetness to your pancakes when pairing them with jam. They are the best thing after the actual fruit. You spread a thin layer and get a ton of flavour and natural sweetness, so what’s not to like here?

12. Sweet treats 

To make your pancakes extra fun, you can add sweet treats. Here are some delightful suggestions that go well with pancakes:

Crushed Candy Canes

Get some candy canes, crush them, and sprinkle them on your pancakes. Besides the festive flavour, they will add crunchiness to each bite.

Gummy Bears

These are a playful addition, adding fruity flavours and a chewy texture to your pancakes. They are especially enjoyable for kids.

Chopped Cookies

Much like candy canes, chopped cookies bring crunch to every bite. You have endless options for cookies to choose from, such as Oreos. 

Sprinkles

Pancake Topping

Rainbow sprinkles are playful and add a festive feel to your pancakes. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colours, allowing you to customise your plate with the look and feel you desire. 

Due to the extra sweetness of these sweet treats, it is best if you balance them out with another topping, such as whipped cream or fruit. 

Savoury Toppings 

Who said pancakes had to always be sweet? There’s no rule against savoury pancakes; on the contrary, they can be as delicious as sweet pancakes and can be eaten for breakfast, dinner, or, well, any time during the day, and the toppings are endless. Let’s explore some savoury toppings. 

1. Meat 

First, we have some meat options that you can indulge in that complement pancakes perfectly. 

Bacon

Pancake Topping

The bacon’s crispiness and savoury flavour, along with the sweetness and tenderness of the pancakes, create a delightful contrast. We all know it: everything tastes great with bacon. 

Sausage

Give an extra kick to your pancakes by adding some sausages. The meaty, smoky taste makes it protein-rich for a hearty breakfast that will keep you fueled for the day, creating a delightful contrast. 

Fried Chicken

Pancake Topping

Fried chicken tastes amazing with anything and goes well with waffles, so why not pancakes? Make the chicken the way you love it the most; try it with pancakes, and we promise you won’t regret it. You can complement your meal with add-ons such as hot sauce, honey butter, or maple syrup. 

Smoked Salmon

To add a luxurious touch to your pancakes, choose smoked salmon. Its smoky and rich flavour goes well with these fluffy, delicate pancakes. If there’s smoked salmon, there’s cream cheese; whip them up together for a delicious savoury experience. 

Pepperoni

Adding pepperoni to pancakes gives them a slightly spicy feel, creating a fusion of flavours. Along with the pepperoni, you can add olives, diced tomatoes, or basil leaves, and your pancakes will burst with flavour. 

2. Eggs 

Pancake Topping

Mix the two favourite breakfast items; they will make an epic pairing for their deliciousness, and because they are a perfect source of protein, they are considered a healthy option for a hearty meal. However you prefer your eggs, fried or scrambled, they will go perfectly with pancakes. 

3. Cheese

Upgrade your pancakes by adding cheese. Not only do they bring protein to the table, but they also add tang and saltiness to the sweetness of the dish. Cheese can transform the flavour, taking pancakes to a whole other level of deliciousness. You can add cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, cream, blue, or any kind of cheese

Beverages That Can Be Paired With Pancakes

When choosing a beverage that can be paired with pancakes, you have several options to consider. Choosing the best option depends on the toppings and flavours you add to your pancakes. 

1. Orange Juice 

Pancake Topping

As pancakes are hearty, you’ll need something sweet and refreshing to pair them with, and a cup of orange juice fits the criteria. The tangy flavour adds to the pancakes’ sweetness, and having vitamin C in the morning from the orange juice is a plus.

2. Coffee

Pancake Topping

Of course, coffee is the iconic go-to drink that goes well with pancakes. Its rich flavour complements the sweetness. Whatever way you take your coffee—black, with cream, with milk, or espresso—this warm cup can elevate your already delicious breakfast. 

3. Tea

Pancake Topping

If you are not a coffee person, then tea is your ultimate alternative. It serves as a great companion to pancakes, and you can have it with the fluffy dish whichever way you like: black, herbal, or flavoured. 

4. Milk

If you are serving cookies or chocolate chips with pancakes, then milk is the perfect pairing for them. Milk, even the nondairy types, will help balance the flavours and provide a creamy and refreshing sip. 

Topping Combinations and Ideas

Pancake Topping

You don’t have to enjoy your pancakes with only one topping; you can add different toppings together, create new mixes, and experiment with different items to see if they go together. Below are some classic and unusual mixes for you to try. 

1. Bananas and Chocolate Chips

The classic mix and everyone’s favourite, the sweetness of bananas pairs perfectly with the rich taste of chocolate. You can either mash the bananas or slice them, then top them with chocolate chips. 

2. Butter, Maple Syrup, and Powdered Sugar

W have another classic here. The traditional way to have your pancakes is by adding butter and maple syrup with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. 

3. S’Mores

If you love the classic campfire S’mores, you’ll love the S’mores pancakes. Add mini marshmallows, some crushed crackers, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce or melted chocolate. 

4. Berry Mix

You can make a vibrant explosion of flavours by combining a variety of berries that will add a delightful mix of sweet and tangy. Add whipped cream and finish it with a drizzle of honey for a perfect morning. 

5. Nuts, Bananas, and Your Favourite Sauce

Mix some chopped nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, or pecans, along with sliced bananas, and top them off with a drizzle of your favourite sauce. Reach a mix of crunchiness, creaminess, and sweetness with this mix. 

6. Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Chives

Try this savoury mix by adding scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and a sprinkle of chives to your pancakes to get a delicious savoury twist. 

7. Cottage Cheese and Fruit

If you are looking for a light, healthy option, this is a great choice. Cut some cubes of cottage cheese, slice some fresh fruit, and top your pancakes with them both. Some fruit options that go well with the cheese are peaches, strawberries, or blueberries. 

8. Mexican Fiesta

For a Mexican breakfast, add salsa, sliced avocado, diced jalapeños, and sour cream. For an extra kick, sprinkle with shredded cheese and enjoy a Mexican fiesta breakfast

9. Smoked Salmon and Dill

First, you slice some smoked salmon, then pick your favourite, either cream cheese or sour cream, and then top your pancakes with them. Do not forget to sprinkle some dill for some added freshness. This elegant and savoury combination guarantee that you’ll enjoy it as a brunch or a not-so-usual breakfast meal. 

10. Pesto and Vegetables 

On top of your pancakes, spread a layer of pesto and top it with roasted vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms. This mix is perfect for a healthy brunch, and the combination of flavours is mouthwatering.

With this ultimate guide to toppings, you will never run out of ideas and will get creative with your mixes and combinations. Whichever topping or mix you select, there is no going wrong; almost anything goes with these delicious, fluffy creations. Your pancakes will never get boring!

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