Keep your pancakes hot, whether you’re serving a family of five or a large group of hungry coworkers.
There’s nothing quite like a stack of fluffy pancakes in the morning. A WARM stack, that is!
The tricky part is serving the whole family a warm stack of pancakes at the same time. The first ones to finish are usually a bit cold by the time everything’s done. So a few lucky family members get hot, fluffy pancakes while the rest are cold and flimsy.
Don’t worry, there’s a fix for that. If you want to know the best ways to keep your pancakes warm so they stay perfectly soft and seriously yummy, keep reading!
How to Keep Pancakes Warm in the Oven
Making pancakes for more than two people? That’s going to be quite a stack!
And it’s definitely going to take a bit of time so you want to make sure that the first pancake you make is just as warm as the last one. To do this, you’ll need to use the oven!
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees F.
- Place a wire cooling rack inside a baking sheet. This combo offers plenty of air flow and circulation so the pancakes stay warm, while preventing them from becoming soggy.
- Place each pancake you make on the cooling rack.
At this temperature, your pancakes are safe and won’t lose any moisture. However, make sure you keep them in there no longer than 30 minutes so they stay soft and fluffy.
How to Keep Pancakes Warm Using the Microwave
For a small batch of pancakes, you can keep them warm in the microwave. The oven is always my first recommendation. But this will certainly work in a pinch, especially if you have a small group.
- Take a medium-sized (microwave safe) bowl and fill it ⅔ of the way with water.
- Place it in your microwave and heat the water until boiling.
- Next, place a large plate over the bowl and close the microwave door.
- As you make your pancakes, place them on top of the plate inside the microwave. The steam from the bowl will keep your pancakes warm and moist until you’re ready to serve.
This is a quick and easy way to make sure your pancakes stay moist, soft, and warm. The only downside is that there’s not a lot of space in most microwaves so you can only do this for small batches.
How to Keep Pancakes Warm in a Toaster Oven
Another way to keep a small batch of pancakes warm is to use a toaster oven. Plus, there’s also a little hack you can try with your syrup!
- Preheat your over to 150 degrees F.
- Place an empty baking sheet on the center rack.
- Transfer your finished pancakes from the griddle to the toaster oven. Place each pancake you make on the baking sheet.
- The toaster oven will keep your pancakes warm until they’re ready to serve.
You can keep your pancakes warm in the toaster oven for up to 40 minutes. After that, they can start to dry out.
If your toaster oven is also a convection oven, turn off the convection setting if you can. The fan can cause your pancakes to dry out.
If you’re unable to turn off the convection setting, then simply lower the temperature by an addition 25 degrees F. Heating at 125 degrees F instead of 150.
Tips & Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind if your pancakes warm and soft like they’re straight off the griddle!
- With any of these methods, be sure to keep your pancakes in one layer, never stacked. While it’s true that stacking them can keep the heat in, it can also make the pancakes soggy after several minutes.
- Everyone wants warm pancakes, but there’s one little thing that’s often overlooked: the syrup! Warm your syrup up in the microwave for the ultimate weekend breakfast. You want both the pancake and the syrup to be warm!
- How a pancake is cooked can also have an effect on the taste and texture. When pouring your batter onto the griddle, don’t put more than 1/3 cup at a time. You’ll know it’s ready to flip when it starts to bubble in the middle and its edges solidify. An overcooked pancake will become much stiffer!
When keeping your pancakes warm, there are also some things you should avoid doing so you don’t ruin the taste and texture.
It’s quite common to wrap food in aluminum foil to keep them warm, but never do this for pancakes! Foil will trap the steam inside and this can cause your pancakes to become soggy and wet.
Don’t use a pancake warmer! I was intrigued when I first heard about them. My pancakes did stay fluffy when stored in a warmer but unfortunately, they didn’t stay warm!
They make for a pretty serving bowl, but not for keeping your pancakes warm. For that, your best bet is the oven.
How to Properly Freeze Pancakes
Another thing you might want to know about pancakes is how to freeze them! This is perfect for those busy weeks when you know you won’t have time to whip up a full breakfast.
Make your pancakes ahead of time, freeze them, and heat them up on those busy mornings. Here’s how!
To freeze your pancakes, you’re going to need some parchment paper, a baking sheet, and a freezer-safe container.
- Allow the pancakes to cool down to room temperature.
- Stack the pancakes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put a layer of parchment paper in between each pancake.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the pancakes are fully frozen. This usually takes about 1-2 hours.
- Take out the frozen pancakes and place them in a freezer-safe and sealed container. You can also use Ziploc bags if you prefer.
Frozen pancakes will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Whenever you’re ready to enjoy some warm pancakes, simply leave them in the fridge overnight to thaw and then reheat in the oven, microwave, or toaster.
How to Keep Pancakes Warm (3 Simple Ways)
4
servings5
minutesIngredients
Pancakes
Baking Sheet
Cooling Rack
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees F.
- Place a wire cooling rack on top of a baking sheet. This combo offers plenty of air flow and circulation so the pancakes stay warm, while preventing them from becoming soggy.
- Place each pancake you make on the cooling rack.
- Enjoy your pancakes when you are ready!
