5 Fruity Toppings to Take Your Pancakes to The Next Level

We love pancakes. In fact, we love them so much, we like to enjoy our pancakes with a side of pancakes. 

We think the beauty of pancakes rests in their complete versatility. Pancakes can be made with all sorts of flour—from coconut flour and whole wheat flour to sorghum flour. Pancake toppings ideas can include everything from fresh berries to a sprinkle of cinnamon and pure maple syrup. 

The great news is that however you choose to create and decorate your stack of pancakes, it’s hard to go wrong! Though we love it all, we’re especially fans of fruit topping for pancakes. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favorite pancake toppings and their components. 

Though there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of butter and maple syrup on a stack of simple buttermilk pancakes, these ideas will take your flapjacks to new heights!

Apples & Cinnamon

Apples and cinnamon are a classic pairing and when it comes to fruit topping for pancakes, they’re one of our favorites. Whether you’re keeping things simple or getting a bit creative with your cinnamon-filled apple flavors, one thing is for sure. This is a match made in pancake heaven. 

Try this recipe for Apple Cinnamon Pancakes with Cardamom Spiced Honey Apple Compote from Cooking Curries, which incorporates Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Pancake and Waffle Mix with applesauce and ground cinnamon. A compote of chopped apples, butter, brown sugar, honey and cinnamon brings these flapjacks to life and creates a breakfast-menu-must-have. Once your pancakes are cooked to perfection, stack them together and pour your compote. 

You can also go the route of these Blender Apple Oatmeal Pancakes which are gluten free, dairy free and vegan-friendly. They’re also super easy to throw together! They’re made with ground gluten free whole grain oats, which create a fluffy and delicious pancake. We love the addition of unsweetened applesauce and a hint of pure maple syrup in the batter to wake up the apple flavor without tasting too sweet. When your breakfast is ready, select your pancake toppings of choice, like powdered sugar and some sautéed cinnamon apples, and enjoy.

For pancakes with toppings that don’t overdo it in the sweets department, try these Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes from Eat Functional Foods. They’re chock full of nutritious ingredients, like old fashioned rolled oats, organic virgin coconut oil, flax, cinnamon and apple. As their flour base, these crazy good cakes call for Bob’s Red Mill coconut flour, which gives them a unique and delightful flavor. 

Bananas & Peanut Butter

Bananas and peanut butter are another classic for pancake toppings ideas. The creaminess of the banana goes hand-in-hand with the flavor of peanut butter for a treat that can be eaten breakfast, noon or night. 

These Banana Pancakes from Mile High Mitts are gluten free, vegan and free of refined sugar. They’re made with Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose 1-to-1 Gluten Free Flour and are fluffy and fun with a twist of banana. As the recipe mentions, the mashed banana is a good stand-in for eggs, which makes these pancakes fit for those going egg-free. When your pancakes are golden brown, top with additional banana slices and a drizzle of pure maple syrup. 

For another simple yet delicious and healthy pancake recipe, whip up a batch of these 5 Ingredient Banana Pancakes from Minimalist Baker. Her version of banana pancakes requires just five ingredients, one bowl and 15 minutes to prepare. Their quintessential fluffy texture comes from a little baking powder and coconut flour, to keep them grain free and cake-like in texture. Use bananas and peanut butter as your banana pancake toppings or go the extra mile with berries, coconut yogurt and a seed mix to top it all off.

Berries & Whipped Cream

Berries and whipped cream are a decadent and delightful fruit topping for pancakes. Whether you’re using blueberries, strawberries, or any other berry, this combo makes for the ultimate breakfast treat. 

For a light and fluffy batter, try this recipe for Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes from Chef Billy Parisi. He uses Bob’s Red Mill Whole Wheat Pastry Flour as his base and combines it with ingredients like Greek yogurt, milk, butter and vanilla. He tops his homemade pancakes with fresh whipped cream, fresh blueberries and a bit of maple syrup. We can’t decide whether we should have these for breakfast or dessert, and to us, that’s the sign of a good, wholesome pancake. 

While we’re on the topic of desserts, strawberry shortcake doesn’t have to be just a dessert; it can be a pancake, too! These Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes from The Roasted Root combine some of our favorite flavors in the most brilliant way and prove that strawberry shortcake in pancake form is just delicious. They’re made with our Gluten Free All Purpose Flour and lemon yogurt with fresh strawberries and whipped cream as the pancake toppings.

For a boost of extra decadence, whip up a creamy batch of homemade coconut cream. This Coconut Whipped Cream from Minimalist Baker is the perfect dairy free alternative to classic whipped cream. Whether you’re serving it with berries or chocolate sauce, add it to your list of incredible pancake toppings!

Pears & Honey

We’re particularly fond of pears and honey as our pancake toppings in the autumn months. When the weather gets cool, light a morning fire, pour a cup of hot coffee topped with pumpkin spice and settle into the season. The flavors of pear work beautifully with a drizzle of honey, which makes this combo a superstar in our book of pancake recipes.

These Cinnamon Pear Pancakes from Running to the Kitchen are filled with flavors of cinnamon and pear and perfect for lazy fall mornings. Not only are they tasty, but they’re healthy and wholesome also! They have chopped pears inside and caramelized pears on top, a fruit topping for pancakes that’s fit for the pear-lover in the family. 

For a unique pancake with toppings and all the right flavors, go for this Sorghum Oven Pancake with Pear from Naturally Ella. The pancake is made with a mix of sorghum flour, white rice flour, eggs, honey, vanilla and whole milk, then topped with a buttery mixture of red pears and honey. Drizzle the whole thing with more pancake toppings of choice, like honey, cinnamon, and yogurt, and you’ll be set for the morning!

Pineapples & Coconut 

For an escape to the tropics, in breakfast form, go for one of our favorite pancake toppings ideas. The mix of pineapple and coconut will whisk you away to visions of swaying palm trees and sounds of steel drums. 

These Pineapple Pancakes with Caramel Maple Syrup use our Bob’s Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour along with ingredients like coconut milk and oil, fresh pineapple and coconut palm sugar. With a caramel maple syrup sauce filled with additional flavors of coconut, there’s no shortage of tropical vibes to be felt with these fluffy flapjacks. Use a little extra coconut milk for your coffee, play your favorite tropical tunes and unwind, island style. 

Fork in the Kitchen cooks her Pineapple Coconut Pancakes with a juicy slice of fresh pineapple smack dab in the center of the pancake. The pineapple slice caramelizes as it cooks for a rich and sweet flavor. Serve your pancake with toppings like coconut whip, coconut syrup, shredded coconut and chopped pineapples. Trust us when we say, you’ll be instantly transported to a tropical vacation by the second bite. 

If it’s a simple stack you’re after, go for these Fluffy Coconut Flour Pancakes from Girl vs. Dough. A few simple ingredients, including our coconut flour, come together to make a fluffy and tender gluten free pancake, perfect for any day of the week. With only seven ingredients, they take just 10 minutes to throw together. Serve them warm with your favorite fruit topping for pancakes, like pineapple, berries or shredded coconut (or all of the above). 

From a fluffy pancake with toppings of pears and cinnamon to a dessert-inspired strawberry treat, we hope these ideas have inspired your future pancake creations!

The best news is when it comes to a stack of warm, soft pancakes, how can you go wrong? Get a little creative with whatever fruit you have on hand and be delighted with the end result. Sometimes, all you need is a visit to the farmers’ market or local grocery store, and you’ll be ready to whip up your next, best pancake recipe.  

Have any favorite fruit topping for pancakes or pancake toppings ideas? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below. At Bob’s Red Mill, it’s no surprise that we’re fans of all things pancakes and we love getting inspired by your creations.

From the whole team, happy pancake-making! We can’t wait to see what sort of golden goodness you whip up.