These Christmas Sprinkle Pancakes are the perfect festive breakfast to make during the holiday season! Made with ripe bananas, Greek yogurt, and colorful Christmas sprinkles, these pancakes are soft, fluffy, and naturally sweetened with a little honey. They come together with simple ingredients and are an easy way to make Christmas morning extra special. Whether you're making breakfast for the family, hosting a holiday brunch, or just looking for a fun seasonal breakfast, these banana sprinkle pancakes are guaranteed to be a hit!
Why You'll Love These Christmas Sprinkle Pancakes
Festive and fun: Red and green sprinkles make these pancakes perfect for Christmas morning or holiday brunch.
Naturally sweetened: Ripe bananas and a little honey add plenty of sweetness without needing much added sugar.
Soft and fluffy: Greek yogurt and ripe bananas create a tender, fluffy pancake texture.
Easy to make: Everything comes together in one bowl with simple pantry ingredients.
Family-friendly: These pancakes are a fun breakfast that kids and adults will both love!
Ripe bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your pancakes will be. Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots.
Greek yogurt: Adds moisture, tenderness, and a little protein. Both plain nonfat and full-fat Greek yogurt work.
Honey: Naturally sweetens the batter. You can also use maple syrup or another liquid sweetener.
Butter: Melted butter adds richness and helps create soft, tender pancakes.
Milk: Helps thin the batter to the perfect pancake consistency. Dairy or nondairy milk both work.
Vanilla extract: Adds classic vanilla flavor that pairs perfectly with the sprinkles.
Baking powder and baking soda: These help the pancakes rise and become fluffy.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor.
All-purpose flour: Creates the structure of the pancakes. Measure using the spoon-and-level method for the best results.
Christmas sprinkles: Use red, green, and white jimmies for the best festive appearance. Avoid nonpareils if you don't want the colors bleeding into the batter.
How to Make Christmas Sprinkle Pancakes
Step 1: Mash the bananas.
In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until mostly smooth. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.
Step 2: Add the wet ingredients.
Add the Greek yogurt, honey, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk until everything is combined.
Step 3: Add the dry ingredients.
Add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all-purpose flour. Gently fold the ingredients together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make your pancakes dense.
Step 4: Fold in the sprinkles.
Gently fold in the Christmas sprinkles until evenly distributed throughout the batter. I recommend adding them right before cooking to prevent the colors from bleeding.
Step 5: Cook the pancakes.
Heat a lightly buttered nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Scoop approximately ¼ cup of batter onto the skillet for each pancake. Cook for 2–3 minutes, or until bubbles begin to form on the surface and the edges look set.
Flip carefully and cook for another 1–2 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy!
Stack your pancakes and top with butter, maple syrup, and extra Christmas sprinkles. Serve warm and enjoy!
Tips for Making the Best Sprinkle Pancakes
Use very ripe bananas. Bananas with brown spots are sweeter and easier to mash. They also add moisture and flavor to the pancakes.
Don't overmix the batter. Mix until the flour is just incorporated. A few small lumps are completely fine and will help keep the pancakes tender.
Add sprinkles right before cooking. This helps prevent the colors from bleeding into the batter. I recommend using traditional jimmies (the longer sprinkles) rather than tiny round nonpareils.
Cook over medium-low heat. Because these pancakes contain bananas and honey, they can brown quickly. Medium-low heat allows the centers to cook through without burning the outsides.
Don't press down on the pancakes. Let them rise naturally while cooking to maintain their fluffy texture.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Make them dairy-free: Use dairy-free Greek-style yogurt, nondairy milk, and plant-based butter.
Use a different sweetener: Maple syrup or agave can replace the honey.
Change the sprinkles: Use Valentine's Day, Easter, birthday, or rainbow sprinkles to make these pancakes year-round.
Add chocolate chips: Fold in ¼ cup mini chocolate chips for an extra sweet breakfast.
Add cinnamon: A little cinnamon pairs beautifully with the banana flavor.
How to Store Leftover Pancakes
If you have leftover Christmas Sprinkle Pancakes, allow them to cool completely before storing.
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days.
Freezer: Place cooled pancakes in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between each pancake. Freeze for up to 2 months for best quality.
Reheating: Microwave for 30–60 seconds or reheat in a toaster or toaster oven until warmed through.
I love making a double batch and freezing the extras for easy breakfasts throughout the holiday season!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Christmas Sprinkle Pancakes ahead of time?
Yes! You can make the pancakes ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator or freezer. Reheat them when you're ready to serve. For the freshest appearance, add extra sprinkles on top right before serving.
Can I use frozen bananas?
Yes! Thaw the bananas completely and drain off any excess liquid before mashing. This helps keep the pancake batter from becoming too thin.
What kind of sprinkles should I use?
I recommend using traditional jimmies in red, green, and white. They hold their shape and color better in pancake batter than tiny round sprinkles. You can also use holiday-themed sprinkle mixes.
Can I make these pancakes without Greek yogurt?
Greek yogurt helps give these pancakes their soft, fluffy texture. You can substitute regular plain yogurt, although it may make the batter slightly thinner. I recommend starting with a little less milk if using a thinner yogurt.
Why are my pancakes not fluffy?
Over mixing the batter, using expired baking powder or baking soda, or cooking over heat that's too high can affect the texture. Gently fold the ingredients together and cook over medium-low heat for the best results.
Can I make these pancakes into mini pancakes?
Absolutely! Use about 1–2 tablespoons of batter per pancake and cook for a slightly shorter amount of time. Mini Christmas pancakes would be adorable for a holiday breakfast board!
RECIPE CARD
PREP TIME- 10 minutes
COOK TIME- 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME- 25 minutes
Yield: Approximately 8–10 pancakes
Ingredients
2 large ripe bananas (about 210 g)
½ cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons honey (or another liquid sweetener)
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
⅓ cup Christmas sprinkles (or as many as you want)
Instructions
In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas until mostly smooth.
Add Greek yogurt, honey, melted butter, milk, and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour. Gently fold until just combined.
Fold in the Christmas sprinkles.
Heat a lightly greased nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
Scoop approximately ¼ cup of batter onto the skillet for each pancake.
Cook for 2–3 minutes, until bubbles form and the edges begin to set. Flip and cook for another 1–2 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
Serve warm with butter, maple syrup, and extra sprinkles!
Storage: Refrigerate for 3–4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
