12 Things You Can Do With Leftover Pancake Batter
You're not alone if you ever make an abundance of pancake mix, only to discover that your eyes are bigger than your stomach. If you have extra and don't need all of it for breakfast, consider how you can use it in several other ways before you toss it in the trash. First things first, you don't need to put it to use immediately. Fortunately, raw pancake batter holds up in the refrigerator for a few days. However, it will taste fresher and produce the best results the sooner you use it. It's quite impressive what you can craft with such a simple batter; the possibilities range from full-on suppers to delicate sweet treats to other breakfast items.
Of course, homemade and store-bought batters often contain slightly different ingredients, but they all have flour, sugar, and leavening agents, which are the foundation for many foods. The liquid ingredients vary — some only have milk, water, or buttermilk, and sometimes eggs. In any case, you can adapt the mixture to incorporate it into your next meal and reduce food waste in your household, so it's a win-win situation.
1. Use it as meat breading
Pancake mix also doubles as meat breading. If you give it a chance, you can use it for fried chicken, pork chops, corn dogs, and more. The most straightforward option is corn dogs because they're on a stick, which makes them effortless to dip in the batter before you cook them. However, with some modification, you can coat any meat. For instance, with fried chicken, it's best to season the pancake mix with cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley.
Toss chopped meat pieces in the mixture so a layer of pancake mix covers them and fry the chicken until it's thoroughly cooked and has a crispy casing. Alternatively, it is equally as delicious if you keep the batter sweet rather than savory and dip the chicken in maple syrup to create a flavor profile reminiscent of chicken and waffles. No matter which kind of meat you choose, ensure your oil is hot enough before you coat the meat in the mixture, so you can directly transfer them over.
2. Make pancake cereal
If you're a fan of both cereal and pancakes, try out the TikTok trend and make pancake cereal. This invention is exactly what it sounds like — pancake pieces so tiny that you eat them as cereal. Surprisingly, this isn't as difficult to execute as one might think. There are numerous videos regarding this topic, but a post by the user @sagethrifthauls stands out because of how delicious the final result looks. The video shows how to make the food properly. To begin, place the pancake mix into a culinary squeeze bottle and squeeze the dots of batter onto a hot griddle.
Fair warning: If your batter contains lumps, it gets stuck in the bottle cap and doesn't flow out as it should, so break the lumps beforehand. Next, just like regular pancakes, let one side cook and flip them over to complete the cooking process. Then, relocate the teeny, tiny pancakes to a cereal bowl (you likely have to work in batches to get a hefty serving of it). Lastly, finish the dish by including mix-ins. Naturally, the most common accompaniment is milk, but many people get creative and put other components such as yogurt, fruit, granola, or honey.
3. Pipe it
Let your artsy side take over; put the pancake mix into a piping bag (or a makeshift one using a Ziploc) and create funnel cake or pancake spaghetti. Although these two treats are similar, you cook them in distinct ways, which leads to differing textures. In particular, if you want to use the pancake batter to make funnel cake, prepare a pan with oil to fry the mixture. You don't need to alter the batter at all, but if you want it sweeter, add vanilla extract and more sugar to it. Transfer it to a piping bag with a tip and squeeze the mixture onto the hot oil's surface. Move the bag spirally to create one large, connected circle with gaps.
Once the underside has browned, flip it over to cook the other side. Drain the funnel cake and dust it with powdered sugar as a final touch. The process of pancake spaghetti is similar because you also use a piping bag, but instead of cooking it in oil, you pipe it directly onto the pan. Draw lines to create a zigzag with the batter and cook both sides. The thin strings of pancakes become satisfyingly crispy, so chefs approve of TikTok's pancake spaghetti frenzy. You can also get creative when you serve it if you add fresh fruit, powdered sugar, maple syrup, or jam.
4. Use it as a baked topping
There are numerous ways to use the pancake mix as a topping in savory dinners and decadent desserts. Many folks use Bisquick as a casserole or cobbler topping, so it isn't as unconventional as you might think. Whether you made your mixture from scratch or used a dry mix for easy pancakes, you can add more flour to thicken it; it is your choice whether you want the topping to be soft or similar to the texture of biscuits. So, use your best judgment when you add flour to the batter. If your batter is sugary, offset it with some salt.
Use the mixture with chicken pot pie by making your filling and loading it into a casserole dish. Then, top the chicken and veggies with the thickened pancake mixture and bake until the filling is bubbly and the topping is brown. Similarly, use the pancake mix on taco pie when you add cornmeal, which gives it a gritty texture. This also works for cobblers, such as apple or peach cobbler; you can even add cinnamon and oats (in addition to the flour) to make it have a warmer flavor and streusel-like texture. Place your dessert filling in ramekins or a baking dish before you top it with the thickened pancake dough.
5. Make fritters
Many fritters use flour, eggs, and milk as a base, so it's the perfect way to take advantage of any leftover dough from when you made flapjacks. The most significant thing is that it works for both hearty veggie fritters and sweet treat ones. For instance, you can thicken the batter and make corn fritters. Add flour and one extra egg to give it some structure, and fold drained corn into it before you fry them off in a skillet. The same goes for zucchini fritters — just prepare the zucchini correctly and drain it first so it doesn't water down the batter. With both kinds of veggie cakes, the mixture should be thick enough so it doesn't drastically spread out when you put it in a hot pan (they should hold shape).
Another type that you can make is traditional apple fritter rings. These types of apple fritters are not the donut kind, but rather, you slice apple pieces and dip them in batter before you fry them. When you use your pancake mix for this, add one or two extra eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Deep fry the dipped apple slices until brown and flip them halfway through the cooking process. From here, sprinkle cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar atop them to complete them.
6. Transform it into custard
With some adjustment, you can turn uncooked pancakes into a new sweet treat, such as clafoutis. Since the eggy dessert often begins with flour, milk, and eggs, the pancake mixture serves as a foundation. You'll need to add more eggs and milk to the mix for it to become the right consistency. The best way to ensure your ratio is sufficient is to pull out your favorite clafoutis recipe and compare the amounts. The final result for clafoutis batter should resemble flan and be loose enough to pour easily. Fill a casserole dish or cast-iron pan with the raw clafoutis, then scatter fruit or berries on top, such as cherries or blueberries. Bake it until it solidifies, and the edges are puffy and have color.
Another unique way to turn your pancake mix into a custard is to cook the remaining mixture, then break up the pancakes and use them in bread pudding. If you have any stale bread, toss it in with the pancake pieces (this is also your chance to further reduce food waste and prevent the bread pudding from becoming too soggy). Make the bread pudding as usual and add mix-ins such as raisins or nuts. The pancakes are the ultimate opportunity to make maple bread pudding.
7. Make dumplings or biscuits
One of the best ways to use extra Bisquick (or homemade mix, for that matter) is to transform it into biscuit dough. For a pre-made blend, this is especially easy because all you need to do is add more flour until the mixture turns into dough. However, if you want the biscuits to be rich, add 2 tablespoons of melted butter, which helps them to be pleasantly soft. Furthermore, it isn't mandatory, but if your dough contains eggs, it makes the biscuits tender. Don't overwork the gluten in the flour; only mix it until it reaches a thick consistency. Then, allow it to rest for a few minutes.
From here, roll it out to make traditional biscuits with a biscuit cutter. Or take the easy route and use a cookie scoop to create drop biscuits. Bake until golden brown, until the interior feels hollow when you tap the bottom with your finger. Another way to use the thickened dough is to make dumplings and cook them in soup or stew. Drop the dumpling portions into the liquid and allow them to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until they're no longer doughy in the center. With both dumplings and biscuits, you can add savory elements to the dough, such as shredded cheese, fresh herbs, or even jalapeño pieces.
8. Turn it into quick bread
Another innovative practice to transform your pancake batter is to make it into a different type of quick bread. Of course, turning it into a quick bread you are already familiar with is best. Thus, you can use your judgment to see if the consistency is comparable to when you made it in the past. For example, when you transform it into cornbread, add cornmeal, two or three eggs, and melted butter. The mixture should be thick but easily spreadable; if it needs more liquid or flour, slowly add it until its consistency is less watery than the initial pancake batter. Then, scrape it from the bowl into the pan and bake it.
For coffee cake, make cinnamon filling and streusel as preparation. Add flour to the pancake mixture to make it denser, then place half the dough into the pan and cover it with the coffee cake filling. Top it with the remaining pancake mix, sprinkle on the streusel, and bake it as you would a usual coffee cake. You can also use the batter as a banana, pumpkin, or zucchini bread base. Just as with the cornbread, use it as the foundation and add more eggs and flour if needed. You can also add baking powder or soda to ensure it rises appropriately while it bakes. Fold in the pumpkin purée, mashed bananas, or grated zucchini until fully incorporated, then bake it in loaf pans.
9. Create savory crêpes
Standard crêpes usually don't have leavening agents like pancakes do, which is the ingredient difference between crêpes and pancakes. However, the most apparent distinction between the two is their appearance because crêpes are much thinner and flatter. They also fold over easily without ripping in half as a pancake does. The good news is that you can make makeshift crêpes with the pancake mix by simply adjusting its consistency, and the added leavening agents aren't a deal breaker. Use either milk (plant-based or dairy) or water to make it runnier. You can also add one egg if you wish. Then, put a dash of onion powder, garlic, oregano, or other seasonings to upgrade the mixture's flavor.
Cook the crêpes in a frying pan and flip them once the top is bubbly and no longer has liquid. Once you go to plate them, fill them with any desired ingredients. Namely, sautéed vegetables such as potatoes, onions, carrots, bell peppers, and squash are lovely options. Ground meat such as chicken, turkey, beef, or pork makes it heartier. Finally, get creative and add shredded cheese, sauce, or sour cream. Furthermore, you can fold the crêpes into triangles or roll them, depending on the display you are looking for.
10. Build a pizza
When you think of ways to use pancake mix, pizza likely isn't the first thing that comes to mind, and that's understandable. However, the batter makes a delicious pizza crust because its sweet undertone is compatible with savory and spicy toppings. And, if you don't prefer it to have that hint of sugar, you can use more salt or fresh herbs to create balance. When you make pancake pizza, bake it in the oven or use the stovetop.
With the oven method, use parchment paper on a sheet tray and pour the batter into the desired size. Bake it in the oven until it's almost done, then top it with the sauce, cheese, and toppings before you return it to the oven and allow it to cook like a typical pizza. Meanwhile, the stovetop technique is quicker, but the pizza is more personal-sized. One TikTok user, @recipesbyzeeshi, posted a short video showcasing how they employ their batter to make pizza.
The video shows their exact formula for the dough, but luckily, you're one step ahead when you already have extra batter on hand. To try it out, pour the mixture carefully into a hot pan and cook it on one side. After you flip the pancake, turn off the burner while you assemble it with marinara sauce and cheese. Once you add your specific toppings, add more cheese, then seasonings. Cover it and cook it for a few minutes, which allows the cheese to become flawlessly gooey.
11. Use it for meal prep
One way to take advantage of extra pancake mix is to make meal prep with it. This is incredibly clever for folks who have busy weekday mornings and need something quick before they start their day. You can create various grab-and-go goodies with the batter, and since it's homemade, it tastes much better than when you buy pre-packaged breakfast sandwiches and other items. For example, make savory egg bites with the mixture; add a few eggs to the batter to make it more quiche-like, then add different ingredients to bulk it up. Some fantastic options include sausage crumbles, bacon bits, shredded cheese, and spices. You can also make veggie ones with diced onions, bell peppers, spinach, or garlic. Use a muffin tray to portion the mixture and bake it until the bites are set and no longer liquidy.
Another fun way to use the batter is to create McGriddle-style sandwiches. First, make the pancakes about the size of an English muffin and drizzle maple syrup onto them as they cook in the skillet. Next, prepare the other ingredients you wish to load the sandwich with, such as bacon (or sausage), egg patties, and cheese. Once you build the pancake sandwiches or any other meal prep you make, allow them to cool before you wrap them tightly and transfer them to the freezer.
12. Freeze the raw batter for later use
If you don't have the time to make new creations with the batter, fear not, you can always freeze it. For instance, an ice cube tray hack for pancake batter makes your next Sunday morning a walk in the park. Instead of placing the raw batter into a single container, use an ice cube tray to make individual pancake batter cubes. This way, when you pop the frozen blocks out of the ice tray and cook them, they turn into miniature pancakes. While you fill the trays with the mixture, you might as well pop in some mix-ins — think berries, sprinkles, chocolate chips, or nuts. Press the mix-ins slightly so they don't protrude and burn when they hit the griddle.
If you don't wish to make mini flapjacks in the future, you can store the mixture in other ways. We recommend you use a container that has a lid because the batter holds up best when it's tightly sealed. If you try to get away with just wrapping the top of a container, the food's quality will diminish and become susceptible to freezer burn. Use a Ziploc freezer bag if you don't have any lids to utilize, and you'll be fine. For maximum taste and texture, use the batter within a month or so of when you freeze it.