How to Host an Epic Pancake Bar Party

Break out the syrup, sprinkles, and whipped cream, because we’re throwing an epic Pancake Bar Party!

Two pancakes on a plate topped with sprinkles and banana and strawberry slices.

A Pancake Party Adults and Kids Will Love!

There’s no better party than a pancake party, where the toppings are plentiful and PJs are 100% acceptable attire. I’ve thrown together a couple pancake bars over the years, and it’s one of my favorite ways to celebrate pretty much anything. Birthdays, showers, girl’s brunch, Christmas…there’s always a good reason to throw a pancake party.

This is a party you can easily prep ahead and customize to your family’s needs. The toppings options are endless, but the best pancake bar starts with the best pancakes.

I’ve been making these Perfect Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes for years now, and they never disappoint. They’re always thick, always light and fluffy, and always get that perfect golden ring around the outside. I don’t claim to have the best recipe very often, but this is one of them. However, if you want to mix things up, these Ricotta Pancakes are also amazing!

Pancake bar spread with a platter of pancakes in the center and bowls of pancake toppings surrouding it, including strawberries, blueberies, nutella, butter, and pecans.

How to Put Together a Pancake Bar

To craft the ultimate pancake bar, start by making the pancakes. You can certainly make the pancakes the morning of the party, but I find it’s much easier to make a big batch the night before to save time.

Tips for Making Pancakes Ahead of Time

  • I use this electric skillet to make multiple pancakes at once.
  • Cook the pancakes as usual and let them cool completely in a single layer.
  • Once the pancakes are cooled, stack them between sheets of parchment paper and place in an airtight container.
  • Pancakes can be refrigerated for 48 hours or frozen for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat pancakes in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and cover with aluminum foil. Reheat for 6-10 minutes or until heated through.
  • To reheat pancakes in the microwave, place a stack of up to 3 pancakes on a plate and cover with a slightly damp paper towel. Reheat in 45 second increments until heated through.

And there you go! The easiest way to make a big batch of pancakes ahead of time! No more standing over a hot stove dishing out a few pancakes at a time while hangry souls clamor at your feet. Everyone gets hot and fresh pancakes at our pancake party!

Pancakes lined up on a platter with bowls of sprinkles, strawberry slices, and banana slices in the background.

Toppings for Pancakes

Once you’ve got your pancakes in order, pick out some fun toppings. I like to pick a few from each category of spreads, nuts, fruits, and sweet stuff for a nice variety.

Spreads for Pancakes

  • Room temperature butter, obviously
  • Peanut Butter
  • Nutella
  • Cookie Butter (Biscoff)

Fruity Toppings for Pancakes

Nuts and Seeds

Sweet Pancake Toppings

Large rectangular platter filled with fresh buttermilk pancakes with bowls of pancake toppings surrounding it.

Once you’ve picked out all your toppings and spreads, put them in some fun bowls (or just leave them in the jars. Let’s be honest, no one will care, because YOU’RE THROWING THEM AN EPIC PANCAKE PARTY).

The Best Pancake Bar Topping Combos

The topping combos for pancakes are endless, but here are my absolute favorites:

  • Cookie butter + sliced bananas + pecans + maple syrup = A Christmas morning dream come true.
  • Ricotta pancakes (add lemon zest to them for a real treat!) + blueberries + lavender syrup = A delicate treat that’s perfect for spring.
  • Butter + Strawberries + Banana Slices + Maple Syrup = My every day favorite.
  • Peanut Butter + Bananas + Sprinkles + Chocolate Chips + Whipped Cream = A Kid Favorite.
Two plates each with pancakes with different toppings surrounded by bowls of sprinkles, strawberry slices, and pecans.

What to Serve with Pancake Bar

Sides for pancakes can be really simple. I like to cook bacon in the oven and add some Greek yogurt for protein. It’s also fun to add toppings to the yogurt!

If you’d like more protein, try adding an Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Bacon or Sous Vide Poached Eggs.

Lay out your pancake buffet, and watch the kids’ eyes light up when they see they’re having sprinkles for breakfast. I’m convinced there is no greater joy.

Two buttermilk pancakes on a plate topped with strawberry and banana slices and sprinkles with syrup being poured on top.
This easy Pancake Bar Party is always a crowd pleaser and great for celebrating holidays, birthdays, or showers!

Pancake Bar Party

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Use this guide to create an epic pancake bar with the fluffiest make ahead pancakes and all your favorite pancake toppings!

Ingredients

For the pancakes

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 4 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 8 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Canola or coconut oil, for frying

For the toppings:

  • Whipped Cream
  • Shredded coconut
  • Cookie Butter
  • Softened butter
  • Peanut Butter
  • Fruits (Strawberries, bananas, blueberries, or sauteed apples and peaches)
  • Toasted nuts
  • Sprinkles
  • Warm maple syrup
  • Nutella

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, soda, and baking powder.
  2. In another medium bowl, lightly beat the egg yolks, then whisk in the butter, buttermilk, and milk.
  3. Add the buttermilk mixture to the dry mixture and stir gently until barely combined.
  4. Add lightly beaten egg whites to the mixture and gently stir until a thick, lumpy bumpy batter forms. Stop before the batter smooths out. Lumpy batter is good!
  5. Heat a griddle over medium heat and cover with a thin layer of neutral oil. Drop quarter cups of batter onto the preheated pan. Cook until bubbles start to appear on the exposed surface of the pancake. When bubbles appear, flip pancake and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until browned. Remove to a wire rack and allow to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. SEE NOTES FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON MAKING AHEAD AND FREEZING.
  6. To make the bar, place all of your toppings in bowls. Place them on your counter top or kitchen table and allow your guests to make their own creations!

Notes

To make ahead: Once the pancakes are cooled, stack them between sheets of parchment paper and place them in a ziplock bag. Refrigerate or freeze for up to 2 months. 

When you're ready to party, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Wrap the pancake stacks in foil or lay them on a sheet pan and wrap the sheet pan in foil. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until hot. There is no need to defrost the pancakes. Alternatively, place stacks of 2-5 pancakes in the microwave and microwave for 1 minute. 

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 497Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 728mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 11g

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47 Comments

  1. Such a fun and yummy idea!! I am excited to try this party idea. And Shipt…..what a bonus that would be. Time spent NOT buying all the unnecessary snacks that I find while I am grumpily searching the store for what I actually came for. And not lugging the grocery items up my apartment stairs sounds blissful ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. I will have more time to bake cookies to share with the people on my block. . . So staying home is a priority, especially at this time of year when traffic is crazy!

  3. Shipt has saved us so many grocery trips. We get to actually spend time together and not have to worry about the 5 million trips to the store during the week. So having more time with family is definitely a plus! Awesome giveaway!

  4. Who doesnโ€™t love pancakes?! These are some of our favorite things, especially when breakfast is for dinner!

  5. Mmmm pancakes! Iโ€™ve never thought to try cookie butter on top. Weโ€™ve been thinking about using Shipt- lots of friends in the area use it and/or work for them actually. I havenโ€™t tried it yet, my 3 year old helps me shop. But baby #2 is due soon, and I know weโ€™re going to need help shopping, especially in the winter.

  6. Totally going to through together a pancake bar at our big Christmas breakfast after staring at this post for so long. ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. I hate grocery shopping more than anything! Plus it takes me forever…so many choices. A free Shipt membership would be amazing! I would spend the extra time hanging out with my husband and kiddo even more on the weekends.

  8. Shipt! I have really wanted to try it- it would really save me the hassle of dragging through the grocery store after a long day! Cheers!

  9. That looks like so much fun, and delicious too! This service sound amazing and like a true time saver. With my extra time I would make more time for my art, and actually get the chance to work on some crafts and gifts and decorations for the holidays. Ah, the simple pleasures ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. I have tried other grocery ordering services, but not Meijerโ€™s. This is an awesome time saver for sport moms taxiing kids to and from events.

  11. I would use my saved time dancing in the living room with my two kids while they wear short sleeved shirts and have no socks on! My kids hate getting ready to go outside in the cold. They would be so much happier with me if I kept them warm and cozy inside ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. Oh goodness! With it being the winter season, I would spend that saved time snuggling with my toddler and playing. And planning great meals for the family! I need to get better at meal planning so being able to order online and have it delivered to me will help me stay on track!!

  13. First of all, those Pancakes look delicious! And secondly, using shipt would save me so much time and stress with dealing with three kids in a grocery store!

  14. This looks amazing! I would love to try Shipt and we love Meijer!! I would spend the time i would save enjoying Winter Break with my family – probably doing a lot of crafts ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. Iโ€™ve been wanting to try something like this! If I had Shipt, it would give me more time at home, take some stress out of the everyday. And the pancake bar looks pretty amazing too!

    1. It’s so awesome! We don’t use it every week, but on the week’s that are especially crazy (kiddo is sick, it’s freezing, we don’t have time!) it helps so much!

  16. I so wish I was your neighbor and got an invitation to your pancake bar party! I’d even offer to do ALL of the clean-up for you! ๐Ÿ™‚ Love how easy & effortless P&G products make it! With how much of a mess I make in my own kitchen on a daily basis, I could use a big stockpile of their cleaning supplies! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  17. Iโ€™m due at the end of March with our second daughter so, hands down, that extra time would be spent with them! ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. Having a pancake bar for breakfast would be great for a big family gathering over the holidays!! And what a great giveaway. I’m going to Meijer a lot more now that there’s one not so far away! I’d spend the extra time organizing my closets—they’re in desperate need!

  19. I would spend time playing with my 1 year old, instead of having to drag her to the store! She’s a trooper, but we would much rather go to the park or play cafe ๐Ÿ™‚

  20. Shipt would help me save time and money by not having to take my daughter out in the cold weather every time I need to grocery shop! Also being able to see your total as you check out helps stay on budget! And make sure you don’t forget anything when you see a list of what’s in your cart!

  21. Holy amazing! This is my kind of bar. Definitely making this for brunch soon! I would be using shipt to save so much time and make even yummier recipes at home and to spend more time with my daughter โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ

  22. Oh man I’m so swamped these days with planning a wedding, let alone the holidays, that the time I’d save would be for some relaxation at home!

  23. So crazy- I was just thinking yesterday that I want to host a fun brunch for friends, and who doesnโ€™t love pancakes?! If I had Shipt, it would cut down my time on grocery shopping to give me more time to decorate and party plan! Love your post ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. Shipt would really save me and the hubs from driving all over to different stores in our RV and save gas. We could just order all our supplies and pick it up with one easy stop, Cool! Saving time and money is most excellent in my book! Awesomeness!

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