For pancake lovers, these Cinnamon Streusel Pumpkin Pancakes are the perfect way to scratch an itch for pumpkin flavor. The batter takes less than 15 minutes to make. The streusel topping is optional (it can be a bit sweet) but it’s delicious as well!
Fall is a very strange season for those of us who live in California. This weekend, while were away on vacation, it rained. Today, it was almost 90 degrees! It’s hard for me to accept that summer has officially ended– especially, when I’m dressed in shorts, a tank top and flip-flops. You see, October is that strange in-between time of seasons for most Californians. Fresh peaches and strawberries are still for sale, and I still have a few tomatoes that are clinging on for dear life– with hues of pale orange. They’re trying to turn red!
This morning, I had an unquenchable craving for pumpkin. I set my timer for 15 minutes, and it took a little less than that to make the streusel and the batter. Streusel is pretty basic to make– flour, cinnamon and butter. With my hands, I combined everything and then used a fork to make even “crumbs”. Done.
The dry ingredients are flour (I only use unbleached), whole wheat flour, 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar, a pinch of salt and pumpkin pie spice. You can make your own spice blend, and I usually do. Somehow, while organizing my pantry, I discovered I had pumpkin pie spice. I decided to make good use of it. (Don’t worry. (A printable recipe card is at the end of this post.)
For the wet ingredients, I used milk, pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling), egg, vanilla, canola oil and pure vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and whisk just until combined.
On a griddle set to medium-low, a paper towel spread an even layer of vegetable oil. You can use non-stick spray, if you wish. Measure about 1/3 cup of the batter and then sprinkle about 1-2 Tablespoons of the streusel, evenly. Cook until bubbles begin to form; carefully flip over the pancake…
These smell wonderful. My son was very pleased that mom was making breakfast. That’s a treat for him, since I normally work days and he works nights. It’s always a treat for me, to have breakfast with just the two of us.
I have, finally, converted my husband and son to the virtues of Pure Maple Syrup. I find that I don’t need to use a lot of maple syrup– it’s plenty sweet. I decided not to add more butter to the pancakes. I figured since the streusel had plenty of butter in it, that would be enough. Let’s see how these taste…
TASTING NOTES: The whole wheat to white flour ratio is just right. The pancakes are surprisingly tender, while the whole wheat lends a little bit of density to the pancake. The pumpkin-spice is perfect. Personally, I’m glad that I didn’t add more butter, nor did I pour on a lot of syrup. These pancakes are very rich and filling. I could only eat one, and it wasn’t for lack of loving them. I simply felt full, after eating one pancake. Amen. My son could only eat two– and he’s a hearty eater. The sweetness of the streusel was just slightly on the edge of being a little too much– so I suggest adding the streusel only once the pancake has been cooked on one side, and flipped.
I won’t do a long post about our road trip, but… Craig and I drove to Bodega (Bay), one afternoon and I spotted this house. I quickly pulled over and grabbed my camera. I got so excited that I found this house!
Pumpkin-Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes
Ingredients
CINNAMON STREUSEL:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into chunks (grating ice cold butter makes combining it a snap!)
PANCAKES:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice**
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
you can always make your own pumpkin pie spice blend with:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
Cinnamon streusel:
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Mix together with your hands (or a fork), until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
Dry ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together flours, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
- Wet ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, egg, pumpkin, canola oil, and vanilla extract.
- Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture and whisk until combined. Don’t over mix!
- Heat a griddle or pan to medium low. Coat with cooking spray.
- Drop 1/3 cup of batter onto the heated griddle (or skillet). Add 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon streusel. Cook on the first side until bubbles begin to form, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Carefully flip the pancake over and cover very generously with cinnamon streusel.
- Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Continue this process to make the rest of the pancakes.
- Serve pancakes warm with a drizzle of pure maple syrup, and if desired, butter.
Notes
Nutrition
Every once in awhile I crave a plate of pancakes and I've bookmarked this recipe for that occasion. They sound like a perfect choice for the cold November mornings that are a few weeks off. I love the streusel topping and may add a pecan or two to top it off. Yummy recipe, Debby.
As a Hitchcock fan and The Birds being one of my fave movies, it was super to see your photos.
i love the look of your pumpkin pancakes, so airy.
These sound like my ideal weekend breakfast treat! I'm in SF right now and the weather is gorgeous! Still very summer-y though.
That's it!! I am coming to breakfast. I loved seeing the Hitchcock scenes. That is one movie that is still very vivid in my memories. I really do forget most…just remember it well.
These look amazing! I just bought 3 huge cans of pumpkin at BJ's Wholesale club yesterday. Only $7! I better go back and get another huh? LOL.
This right here would be my dream breakfast to eat! They look so delicious and sweet! I have to start buying more pumpkin, everytime I go to the store there are barely any cans left. Hahaha…maybe it is you! Thanks for sharing a wonderful recipe, I just have to make it! 🙂
Hi, Debby. Your pancakes look delicious, as ALL of your recipes do!! And I loved "The Birds" too! It must have been so fun to see the school in person! Glad you had a good trip. Stay cool! 😉
Best,
Gloria
Yes, Indian Summer has hit LA too but it's in the 100's (at least in the valley I'm in). Like you, I had a whole list of baking, stews and soups planned out, which will obviously have to wait. This recipe looks so good and with streusel! Forgot to say this last time I commented, but love your new hair style BTW 🙂
I love The Birds! That building is in great shape, I would not have recognized it…the movie made it look so Gothic.
May I please move to California and have breakfast with you? 😀 Those pancakes make me want to have breakfast for dinner.
Yes – I did recognize that house immediately! You even caught the right angle in your picture! I was planning on making pancakes in the morning and now I know what pancakes I'll be making. 🙂 I'll let you know how they turn out, but I know they'll be deeeelicious!
Your picture of the grave marker is freaking me out…I hope that was a picture from the movie and you didn't catch the ghost in your shot?? I will now be too freaked out ever eat pumpkin struesel pancakes! Just kidding. But seriously that picture is freaky.
These looks soo good, but I would probably be like you and eat one and be completely full (which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I would probably slice up an apple and have that on the side. They do look seriously good though with the streusel..and I like that there is some WW flour mixed in here.
I lover everything about this post Debby from the streusel pancakes to the haunted house to the signs of wine country.
I second the comment about the ghost and the grave marker. Did you photo-shop her in? Freaky!!!
I am a huge fan of the movie the birds, and those pumpkin pancakes look so good!
oh… my.. gosh… I love pumpkin, and these look INCREDIBLE! I actually wish I hadn't even seen this post because I'm trying to be on a diet, and now I won't rest happy until I get to taste these 🙂
Such wonderfully yummy looking pancakes!!!! I can seriously never have enough pumpkin recipes….and goodness a good pancake recipe always makes me happy too! Thank you Debbie for sharing this recipe!
Oh my gosh you have completely mesmerized me with these pancakes. Your photos are really wonderful.
Mmmmm…fall flavors in pancakes! It's Sunday morning and I've hungry. Wish I had a big plate of these pancakes!! They look delicious!