Who doesn’t love a good seasonal pancake breakfast? Unfortunately, with their oodles of calories and countless carbs, the seasonal dessert-style pancakes you find at most restaurants are no way to start any one’s day.
Take for example the popular Cinnamon Roll Pancake Breakfast at Denny’s. The two pancakes layered with “cinnamon crumb topping” alone have 1,350 calories along with a days’ worth of saturated fat (and carbs for most folks) including 184 grams, or essentially an entire CUP, of sugar! Counting points? They pancakes clock in with 67. Yes, 67 points for the pancakes alone. Add the two eggs, hash browns, and bacon that come with the meal, and you are looking at over 1,800 calories and now a full days’worth of fat and sodium as well – for breakfast!!
It’s all the more reason to create delicious restaurant-inspired fare at home. These delectable pumpkin pancakes originally inspired by Denny’s are brimming with good-for-you pumpkin and the flavorful spices of pumpkin pie. If that were not enough, you get a seasonal pancake fix with 85% fewer carbs and calories. Hungry for a BIG breakfast? Go ahead, add the two eggs, 2 slices of center-cut bacon, AND hash browns (like my crispy Quick & Easy Waffled Hash Browns on page 76 of Eat What You Love Quick & Easy). With less than 500 calories this bodacious breakfast saves you 1,300 calories and I guarantee you will be as full, and satisfied, as can be!
I personally find the pancakes so flavorful that I am quite happy eating them unadorned, but feel free to add your favorite syrup (maple-flavored is a natural fit), or for a true dessert-for-breakfast experience, top them with a squirt of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. If whipped cream seems too decadent, I have good news for you. One-quarter of a cup of light whipped cream from an aerosol can has just 30 calories and 2 Points. In contrast, 1/4 cup of regular maple syrup has 240 calories with 5 X the added sugar.
Last, for all my WW friends, a serving of two pancakes with 2 tablespoons of sugar-free maple syrup is just 5 Points. Two eggs adds 0 points. Two slices of center-cut bacon = 2 points, and my oh-so-crispy Quick & Easy Waffled Hash Browns (page 76 in Eat What You Love) are 4 points. Dare to Compare: Denny’s Pancake Breakfast = 81 points. This meal = 11!!
Serves 4
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white whole wheat (or simply 1 cup all-purpose)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 to 1 teaspoon ground ginger (I prefer 1 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup no-calorie granulated sweetener**
1 large egg
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
2 teaspoons molasses (or 1 Tbsp. brown sugar)
3/4 cup buttermilk
**If using a twice as sweet blend like stevia-based Truvia for Baking, use 2 tablespoons
1. In a medium bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and sweetener.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and add the pumpkin, molasses and buttermilk. Mix until thoroughly combined. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until batter forms. (Batter will be slightly thick). Let batter set up for 5 minutes (this helps them to cook up lighter).
3. Very lightly spray a nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto the skillet and spread into a 4-inch circle. Cook the pancake for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, or top gets a few bubbles and bottom is browned. Flip the pancake and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
Good Health Bonus: A serving of these tasty cakes serves up 180% of the daily requirement of Vitamin A!
Nutrition Information Per Serving (2 pancakes): Calories 170 | Carbohydrate 29g (Sugars 6g) | Total Fat 2g (Sat Fat.5g) | Protein 7g | Fiber 3g| Cholesterol 55mg |Sodium 330mg
Food Exchanges: 2 Starch: Carbohydrate Choices: 2 Weight Watcher FreeStyle Smart Point Comparison: 5
