Beet pancakes

Sweet, earthy beets are used to add color, flavor, and sweetness in these moist pancakes made with a touch whole wheat flour. 

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Long-time readers and friends know I have a bit of a pancake obsession and I've shared quite a lot of pancake recipes over the years. My family and I enjoy them a lot (especially the kids) and I like to change them up with different add-ins, toppings, etc. 

Plus, some of our family members make maple syrup, so maple is something we love to enjoy all year round and pancakes are frequently on our weekend menu. 

These pancakes use beets turn them a really lovely shade of pinkish and they taste delicious. The beet puree adds a light pink color, but also sweetness and a touch of that earthy beet flavor that goes nicely with the whole wheat flour. 

The beet flavor is not very strong, so don't worry if you aren't a big beet fan. It's really more of a hint of flavor and then the pop of color that they add to make these pancakes fun.

You can make you beet puree by either baking, steaming, or boiling a large peeled beet. When it is tender, puree it in a food processor. Add just about a tablespoon of water, if needed, to puree the beet so it doesn't get very watery. 

You can frequently find packs of already peeled and cooked beets in the produce section of larger grocery stores as well if you want to skip that part. I buy those to add to salads, etc. and then will often make a batch of these pancakes when I have them on hand.

You need a cup of the beet puree to make the pancakes. This will take about one very large beet or two medium beets.

If you love beets, check out this round-up of 20+ Beet Recipes You Simply Can't Beat!

They are great for kids and for a Valentine's Day or Valentine's weekend breakfast for a touch of that pink color in your breakfast. But, of course, you can make them anytime of the year.

I add a bit of cinnamon to these pancakes, but that is optional. You can skip it if you don't want to use it. I like the extra bit of warmth cinnamon adds.

Serve these beet pancakes topped with butter, real maple syrup, or even a dollop of vanilla (or plain) yogurt. 

Sliced fresh strawberries or some fresh raspberries will add even more pink/red colors to your plate and are delicious pancake toppings, too.

Don't forget to check out this round-up of 25 Pancake Recipes to Celebrate Maple Season!

Yield: about 4 servings

Author: Amy (Savory Moments)

Beet Pancakes

Sweet, earthy beets are used to add color, flavor, and sweetness in these moist pancakes made with a touch whole wheat flour.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
  
• 1 cup buttermilk*
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 packed tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 cup cooked beet puree (from about 2 medium/1 large beet) **
• butter or olive oil, for cooking

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour through cinnamon.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk through beet puree until well-combined. Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
3. Heat a large griddle pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Grease with butter or olive oil and cook the pancakes about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake.
4. When they turn golden and begin to bubble, flip and cook until the other side is golden. Repeat until all batter is used.
5. Serve hot topped with real maple syrup, butter, or yogurt. Add some red berries like strawberries or raspberries to the top as well, if desired.
   

Notes

*If you don't have buttermilk, simply put one tablespoon of lemon juice into a one cup measuring cup and fill the rest with milk. Let sit for 5 minutes.

**Peel and steam or boil your beets and then puree in a food processor with as much cooking water as needed to make a smooth puree. If you have extra beet puree, make these chocolate chip beet mini muffins.

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I hope you give these beet pancakes a try! Let me know in the comments below. 

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This post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated in 2024 with a recipe card, new text, and more to improve reader experience. 

Check out these other pancake recipes: 

Spinach Pancakes

Hot Chocolate Pancakes

German Egg Pancakes 

Whole Wheat Cranberry Pancakes

Old-fashioned Cornmeal Griddle Cakes