Pancakes: compare the 3 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Kid helper Gluten-FreeA child can do 3 of the 7 steps: no knife, no heat.
- Gluten-free Gluten-FreeThe only one that fits gluten-free, going by the ingredient lines.
Side by side
| Classic Buttermilk | Lemon Blueberry | Gluten-Free | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total time | 30 min | 32 min | 35 min |
| Prep | 10 min | 12 min | 10 min |
| Level | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Steps | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Serves | about 16 pancakes | about 16 pancakes | about 14 pancakes |
| Key ingredients | all-purpose flour, buttermilk and eggs | all-purpose flour, buttermilk and blueberries | gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, buttermilk and eggs |
| Only in this one | None | lemon zest, lemon juice and blueberries | gluten-free all-purpose flour blend |
| Dietary | |||
| Calories | 420 | 460 | 400 |
| Protein | 14 g | 14 g | 11 g |
| Carbs | 61 g | 72 g | 61 g |
| Fat | 13 g | 13 g | 13 g |
| Cleanup | 2/5 4 things to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash |
| Kid helper | Yes, 3 of 8 steps | No | Yes, 3 of 7 steps |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.