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These vibrant pancakes are a fun twist for spooky season brunches or Halloween breakfast parties. Fluffy and eye-catching, they’re made with easy pantry staples and bright food coloring. Each bite is soft and subtly spiced with warm pumpkin pie flavor. You can stack them, drizzle syrup over the top or go all in with themed toppings. These colorful Halloween pancakes are a great way to surprise kids or guests with something festive and tasty.
These colorful Halloween pancakes are fun, fluffy and easy to make with just a few ingredients. They’re great for a festive fall morning or your Halloween brunch.
More Halloween treats include lunar elixir cocktails, panna cotta eyeballs or spooky spider pizza. And don’t forget glow in the dark shooters!
Why You’ll Love It
Bright and fun: These festive pancakes bring Halloween colors to your breakfast table.
Kid friendly: Little ones love the colors and spooky toppings.
Customizable: Use different food coloring or syrups to change the vibe.
Easy to prep: Made with simple ingredients and minimal effort.
Colorful Halloween Pancake Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
All purpose flour: Forms the base of the pancake batter.
Whole milk: Adds richness and moisture to the pancakes.
Apple cider vinegar: Helps activate the baking soda to keep pancakes fluffy. Mixing milk and vinegar creates a quick buttermilk substitute for extra fluff.
Brown sugar: Adds a hint of sweetness and depth of flavor.
Eggs: Bind the batter and give the pancakes structure.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor and adds warmth.
Pumpkin pie spice: Adds seasonal spice with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
Baking powder: Helps the pancakes rise and stay fluffy.
Baking soda: Works with the vinegar to boost lift.
Orange food coloring: Gives your pancakes a vibrant Halloween hue.
Green food coloring: Adds bold color for spooky themes.
Purple food coloring: Another Halloween classic for fun pancake layers.
How to Make Colorful Halloween Pancakes
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Make the buttermilk: Combine milk and apple cider vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Combine the dry ingredients: Mix flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Make the batter: Add eggs, vanilla and the milk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
Separate and color the batter: Divide into four bowls and mix each with one of the food colorings.
Cook the pancakes: Cook on a skillet until bubbles pop, then flip and finish.
Repeat: Continue with all colors and serve hot.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten free option: Use a gluten free all-purpose flour blend.
Different colors: Use black, red or neon colors for new themes.
Spice swap: Try chai spice or cinnamon instead of pumpkin pie spice.
Dairy free: Swap milk for almond milk and use vegan butter or oil.
Serving Suggestions
With savory snacks: Also whip up Halloween breakfast rolls and skull potatoes.
With sweet treats: Pair them with leftover candy brownies, Halloween bark, Halloween Rice Krispie treats and candy apples.
How to Store Colorful Pancakes for Halloween
Store: Either keep them for a few hours in the oven on the “keep warm” setting or let them cool down and keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days maximum. Another option is to store the uncooked batter in an airtight container. Keep in mind you have to use it within 24 hours though.
Freeze: If you decide to freeze your colorful Halloween pancakes, wait until they’re completely cool then freeze them with parchment paper between each one. They will keep for 8 weeks or so in an airtight Ziploc bag.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: Warm them back up one by one (or however many fit) in a skillet or wrap in foil and warm them back up in the oven.
Top Tips
Don’t overmix: Stir just until combined so your pancakes stay fluffy and tender.
Use gel coloring: Gel gives bolder color without thinning the batter.
Keep warm: Place cooked pancakes on a tray in a low oven while you finish the rest.
Make extra: These freeze well and can be reheated in the toaster.
Add edible blood: For spooky toppings, mix red food coloring into syrup or warm jam with juice.
Try flavored syrup: Strawberry, raspberry or maple syrup with food coloring all work for the “blood” effect.
Serve straight from the oven: Keeping pancakes warm while you cook makes serving easier for a crowd.
Halloween Pancake FAQs
No, the recipe still works without coloring but won’t have the festive look.
Yes, any dairy or non-dairy milk works well in this recipe.
Yes, just use less batter for each pancake and reduce cooking time slightly.
Colorful Halloween Pancakes Recipe
Colorful Halloween Pancakes
Equipment
- Skillet Large
Ingredients
- 2 Cups all purpose flour
- 2 Cups milk, whole
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 Teaspoons baking powder
- 1 Teaspoon baking soda
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- orange food coloring
- green food coloring
- purple food coloring
Instructions
- In a bowl or measuring cup add the milk and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl place all of the dry ingredients and mix together.
- After your milk mixture has rested for 5 minutes add it to the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients.
- Add in the vanilla extract and the eggs, mix everything together until just combined but do not over mix.
- Split your batter in fourths, pour each of the fourths of batter into separate bowls.
- Set one of the bowls aside. In one of the bowls of batter add green food coloring and mix until combined. In the third bowl of batter add orange food coloring and mix until combined. In the fourth bowl of batter add purple food coloring and mix until combined.
- Heat a skillet to medium low heat and spritz with oil or a little butter. Pour in about a quarter cup of pancake batter. Let the pancake cook for a couple of minutes until the bubbles that begin to appear start to pop.
- When the bubbles start to pop, use a spatula to flip the pancake over and cook for another 30 seconds to a minute until cooked through. Then remove from the pan and set aside. Continue this process with remaining batter for all the colours until all the pancakes have been made.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Use gel coloring: Gel gives bolder color without thinning the batter.
Keep warm: Place cooked pancakes on a tray in a low oven while you finish the rest.
Make extra: These freeze well and can be reheated in the toaster.
Add edible blood: For spooky toppings, mix red food coloring into syrup or warm jam with juice.
Try flavored syrup: Strawberry, raspberry or maple syrup with food coloring all work for the “blood” effect.
Serve straight from the oven: Keeping pancakes warm while you cook makes serving easier for a crowd.
Nutrition
There’s something so fun about starting the day with colorful Halloween pancakes. They’re soft, fluffy and perfectly festive for spooky season. Customize the colors and toppings to match your Halloween plans and enjoy the cozy pumpkin spice flavor in every bite. You’ll want to whip these up all October long for a cheerful, themed breakfast that’s just the right mix of fun and tasty.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I love this recipe, it’s so easy and it was so fantastic! My kids loved it too!
U might think u know finicky eaters but believe me u haven’t met my kids. I made these for them earlier today and they ate every last crumb and really loved them! I just know they will ask for them every breakfast time now! Cute and yummy in my tummy (according to my 4 year old!)
I never thought about having colorful pancakes. This is such a great idea for Halloween.
These are just the cutest I love the green and orange together they look like pumpkins.
This is such a great idea. How cute this would be for the family to have Halloween morning !!
These turned out awesome. Love the spiders on them too.
My sons birthday is Halloween, this is the perfect way to celebrate!! He will love them
My kids would love these! so cute