Start your morning off right with these delicious Spiced Pear Pancakes. You’ll add grated fresh pear, cardamom, and ginger to a whole wheat batter for the tastiest fall-inspired pancakes.
Are you a breakfast eater? Do you enjoy a hearty breakfast in the morning, or do you just want a bite or two with a cup of coffee? For me, it depends. It depends a lot on the weather, how much time I have, and just plain whether or not I feel like cooking.
See, I don’t “wake up well.” It takes me a little bit of time to get going. I need to ease into my day, whereas BeeBop jumps right out of bed, raring to go. He’s learned over the years to give me a bit of time and space in the morning and then everything works out fine.
When I do feel like cooking, have plenty of time, and the weather isn’t blistering hot, I enjoy making a nice breakfast. More often than not, it’s something with eggs, bacon, and grits, but occasionally it’s a treat like these Spiced Pear Pancakes.
The pear grated right into the batter gives a nice flavor with some extra moisture, and the cardamom and ginger add just the right amount of spice for me. Topped with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey, they are a perfect start to the day.
❤️ Why We Love This Recipe
- Autumnal Flavors – Welcome the fall season with a combination of sweet pears, cardamom, and ginger.
- Customizable — Be creative. Use apple instead of pear, or change up the spices.
- Quick and Easy — Whip up a satisfying breakfast in about 15 minutes with this easy-to-make recipe.
🛒Ingredient Notes
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- Ripe Pear: Any variety of pears work for this recipe — Bartlett, Anjou, and Bosc work equally well. Do make sure that the pear is nicely ripe and sweet.
- Flours: You’ll use both all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour for a balanced texture and heartiness. All whole wheat flour can be heavy.
- Spices: Cardamom and ginger are warm fall spices that complement the pear’s sweetness.
- Sugar: The sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the batter. The amount may need to be adjusted according to the sweetness of the pear.
- Cooking Fat: You can use either butter or oil to grease your griddle or pan. This step prevents sticking and adds a bit of richness to the pancakes.
- Toppings: Greek yogurt and honey provide a creamy, tangy contrast to the pancakes’ sweetness. Alternatives like maple syrup, whipped cream, or fresh fruit are also good options.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🔪 How to Make Spiced Pear Pancakes
- Using the coarse side of a box grater, grate the pear onto a paper towel. You don’t even need to peel it, just grate everything except the core.
- Let the grated pear sit and drain on the paper towel for a few minutes while you measure the rest of the ingredients for the recipe.
👉 PRO TIP: You could also use a grated apple in these pancakes and change out the cardamom and ginger for cinnamon and nutmeg.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder, salt, cardamom, and ginger.
👉 PRO TIP: If the pear is very sweet you may not need to add any sugar. I think two tablespoons is a good place to start, but it’s totally up to you.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, and egg. Add the grated pear and stir it in.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just mixed. Be careful not to over mix.
- Let the batter rest while you heat the griddle or pan. If using an electric skillet, preheat to 325-350 degrees. If using a nonstick skillet, place it over medium high heat.
- When the griddle is hot, add a pat of butter. When the butter melts, measure out 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake onto the hot griddle or pan. Cook until the surface shows a few bubbles, about 2 minutes.
- Flip carefully with a spatula and cook until the underside has browned, about 1-2 minutes more. Repeat until all the batter is used adding more butter to the griddle as needed. As the pancakes cook, transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in a low (180-200 degrees) oven.
- Top stacks of pancakes with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey. Makes about 12 pancakes.
🍽️ How to Serve
- Crispy bacon or savory sausage links are a classic breakfast choice.
- Scrambled, fried, or poached eggs make a hearty addition.
- Indulge your sweet tooth with a dollop of whipped cream topped with a sprinkle of chocolate chips or cocoa powder.
- The classic pancake companion, pure maple syrup, is always an option in place of the honey.
- Spread almond butter, peanut butter, or any nut butter of your choice on top for a creamy, nutty twist.
🍚 How to Store
To store leftover pancakes, allow them to cool to room temperature. Place in an airtight container with parchment or waxed paper between the pancakes to prevent sticking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze, arrange the pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the freezer until frozen. Transfer frozen pancakes to a freezer-safe container with waxed or parchment paper between each. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat: If frozen, allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave for 20-23 seconds or in a very low oven until warmed through.
❓ Questions About Spiced Pear Pancakes
Pancakes are ready to flip when you see bubbles forming on the surface and the edges appear slightly set. Use a spatula to lift a corner gently and check if it has begun to brown. Once these signs appear, carefully flip the pancake and cook the other side until it’s also lightly browned.
A nonstick skillet or griddle is ideal because it allows for easy flipping and minimal sticking. An electric griddle with temperature control is great for cooking a large batch all at once.
Yes, you can substitute any milk alternative such as almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk in this recipe. Make sure it’s unsweetened and unflavored.
To make these pancakes gluten-free, replace the all-purpose and whole wheat flours with your favorite gluten-free flour blend.
Yes. Use your favored egg substitute. Common egg substitutes in pancake recipes include mashed bananas, applesauce, or flaxseed meal mixed with water.
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
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📖 Recipe
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Spiced Pear Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 ripe pear
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons butter or oil for greasing griddle or pan
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ cup honey
Instructions
- Using the coarse side of a box grater, grate the pear onto a paper towel. Let the grated pear sit while you measure the rest of the ingredients for the recipe.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder, salt, cardamom, and ginger.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, and egg. Add the grated pear. Stir to combine.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just mixed. Do not overmix.
- Let the batter rest while you heat the griddle or pan. If using an electric skillet, preheat to 325-350 degrees. If using a nonstick skillet, heat over medium-high heat. When hot, add a pat of butter. When the butter has melted, measure out 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake onto the hot griddle or pan. Cook until the surface shows a few bubbles, about 2 minutes. Flip carefully with a spatula and cook until the underside has browned, about 1-2 minutes more.
- As the pancakes cook, transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in a low (180-200 degrees) oven. Continue until all batter is used.
- Top stacks of pancakes with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey.
- Makes about 12 pancakes.
Notes
- If your pear is very sweet you may not need to add any sugar. I think two tablespoons is a good place to start, but it’s totally up to you.
- You could also use a grated apple in these pancakes and change out the cardamom and ginger for cinnamon and nutmeg.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
— This post was originally published on August 5, 2014. It has been updated with additional information.
I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.
a 5 for flavor, but 4 for recipe instructions. I made these this morning. the flavor was perfect, but I found my batter was too wet. perhaps my pear was just much bigger than the one used in this recipe? I added about 1/4 c more whole wheat flour, but was afraid the batter would be overmixed if I mixed it in thoroughly and so I ended up with some pancakes that were the right texture and some that were a bit gummy from all the pear juices. perhaps it’d be better to include how much grated pear by grams as the size of fruit can vary so much which is particularly important when working with a quite juicy fruit like pear.
Made these this morning and they were beautiful. The flavours were so well balanced and the pear added a nice sweetness and moist texture! Thank you for this one!
You’re very welcome, Megan. So glad you enjoyed it.
Love that you grate the pear, I bet it just melts into these pancakes. Everything about these would definitely get me going in the morning.
These look delicious. I will definitely try this recipe for any meal.
I am a morning person. But when I make pancakes, its for dinner or brunch. Cardamom is a favorite flavor. Good spice choices to go with the pear.
Yes! We always make a fall theme breakfast to welcome the season. This year we will be making this pancakes. Yummm!
Hello breakfast!!! Yum yum! I bet these are fantastic!
Love that you grate the pear, I bet it just melts into these pancakes. Everything about these would definitely get me going in the morning.
You’re right, Susan, the pears just melt away but give a fantastic flavor to the batter.
Thanks Lana, I really agree that the spices go with the texture of the pancakes
Such unique flavors I don’t typically associate with pancakes which is why they sound SO good!
I get bored with the same old, same old pancakes so these were a welcome change! The spices worked really well with the pear.
What a great new idea for pancakes! Perfect for pear season!
Thanks, Renee.
I’m a morning person and usually have to jump right out to make my kiddos pancakes (at least in the summer). These are what I’ll make next!!
Hope the kiddos enjoy them, Lora! My grandkids think they’re delicious :-)
I have had apple pancakes as you mentioned but these pear pancakes will be delicious! Thanks for sharing this great idea…..it is pear season! :)
Either one – apple or pear – is great in these. Just switch the spices as you like.
I would love to make these pancakes! They sound delicious!
Thanks, Lauren. I hope you’ll try them.
I am in love! This looks wonderful and why not for dinner? My husband would appreciate that!
Of course these would be perfect for dinner, Ginny!
I’m not a morning person, yet I’m always awake before 6. Even on weekends. Sigh…
I love the moisture pears add! The spices in these pancakes must be stellar. Mmm…
Cardamom is one of my favorites, Angela, so I always try to use it when I can.