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Santa Pancakes are a simple way to add a little holiday magic to breakfast with minimal effort required. Using pancakes, fresh fruit, and whipped cream, you can turn a regular breakfast into something festive that doubles as a memory.
Looking for more festive kid-friendly Christmas recipes? From these Santa Claus pancakes and reindeer pretzels to candy cane pizzas and candy cane cookies, these are the kind of recipes that make kids light up and parents stay sane during the busy holiday season.
Kristen's Keys for Santa Pancakes
Whether served for Christmas breakfast or as a weekday breakfast to get the kids out bed, these Santa pancakes are beyond easy to make. But I have a few tips from one busy parent to another to keep in mind.
- Start with ANY pancake batter you like. Whole wheat pancakes, boxed pancake mix, gluten-free banana oat pancakes, or egg-free pancakes--use what works best for you!
- Let fruit do the heavy lifting. Create Santa's beard using bananas and his hat using strawberries. This not only keeps breakfast easy, but adds in some nutrients and fiber as well.
- Aerosol whipped topping works best. For Santa's mustache and trim on his beard, a quick spray of whipped cream keeps the process simple AND holds its shape better than homemade whipped cream.
How to Make Santa Pancakes
The process is simple, but I am here to walk you through the details.
Step One: Prepare Pancakes
I have provided a basic pancake recipe batter in the recipe card, but again, you can use ANY pancake recipe you like. Once the batter of choice is prepared, ladle about ¼ cup of the pancake batter onto a greased skillet or griddle. Cook over medium heat until tiny bubbles form on the surface, flip and cook for 2-3 minutes to set.
Step Two: Assemble Santa
While it is fun to surprise your child with these festive pancakes, they also enjoy assembling Santa themselves.
- Place a pancake in the center of the plate for Santa's face.
- Add strawberry halves in a triangle shape above the pancake to form his hat.
- A strawberry slice in the center becomes his nose, and two chocolate chips make quick, easy eyes.
- Arrange banana slices in an upside-down triangle below the pancake for Santa's beard.
- Finish with whipped cream along the hat brim, the pom-pom, and a little mustache.
More Favorite Christmas Recipes
Santa Pancakes
Video
Ingredients
For Homemade Pancakes
- 1 cup all purpose flour, whole wheat or all-purpose
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon table salt
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon melted butter, or canola oil
- butter for greasing the pan
To Create Santa
- 1 pint strawberries
- 3-4 large bananas
- 16 chocolate chips
- whipped cream
Instructions
For the Pancakes
- In a large bowl, sift together the 1 cup all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and ⅛ teaspoon table salt. Lightly whisk together until everything is evenly incorporated.
- In a separate small bowl, mix together 1 large egg, ¾ cup buttermilk, and 1 tablespoon melted butter until well combined.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold together until just incorporated.
- Preheat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and grease well. Once heated, ladle ¼ cup of the pancake batter onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry. Flip pancakes and cook for 1-2 minutes before removing them from the skillet.
For Santa Pancakes
- Place one pancake in the center of a plate to form Santa's head.
- Reserve 2-3 whole strawberries for Santa's nose, and then slice the remaining strawberries in half vertically. Arrange them in a triangle shape at the top of the pancakes for Santa's hat.
- Slice the remaining strawberries into horizontal slices and add one strawberry slice in the center of the pancake for Santa's nose. Add 2 chocolate chips above the nose to give Santa eyes.
- Slice up the bananas and arrange the slices at the bottom of the pancake in an upside-down triangle to represent Santa's beard.
- Outline the strawberry hat with whipped cream to replicate the white tassel and white trim on Santa's hat.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My family just loved these, thanks for a great recipe!
You are very welcome Melissa! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
My kids loved this, especially adding the whipped cream to the hat and mustache! On some of the plates he definitely looked like he needed a trim. haha 🙂
LOL! Love it! So happy to hear you all enjoyed Kara!
Love this! Definitely a perfect Christmas morning breakfast! My kids LOVE this! So awesome!