Whole Grain Pancake Mix

Make-ahead for easy weekend breakfast, a whole grain pancake mix you can make from scratch. Yes- just like you can buy in the store, but this is DIY and so much cheaper. Full of oats and healthy whole grains. Make this whole grain pancake mix ahead of time and you can throw together a healthy batch of pancakes in no time at all anytime your heart desires.

I don't know about you, but we love breakfast around here.

Did you know it’s really hard to find a decent whole grain pancake mix?  You probably knew this – but I have not given up the quest. Bob’s Red Mill makes a good mix – but it’s expensive.  I keep searching… and my husband keeps sneaking a box of the regular stuff in our grocery cart whenever he gets a chance.

My husband likes to make pancakes on the weekend and since he has an aversion to following recipes and measuring, he uses mixes. 

If I can beat him to the kitchen and throw together some dry ingredients before he gets started we are all happy – he doesn’t have to measure stuff on a Sunday morning and I’m happy the family is eating something besides white flour with white sugar. 

Well, almost all happy.  What is the point of my husband making breakfast on Sunday morning if I’m in the kitchen doing most of the work and getting flour on my hands????

Besides, I like to sit and drink my coffee on Sunday morning, preferably with a cookbook or magazine and a cat on my lap. In my mind, it is the best part of the weekend.  Wouldn’t you agree?  I’m thinking about it now. I love lazy Sundays.. even better when someone makes me breakfast.

Even if it means I have to do a little ahead of time prep.… I made this up last weekend and now I'm good for a few weeks.  He has enough to keep him busy and I can sit, drink my coffee, read, at least until  I’m needed to find a Lego piece the black one with six bumps "no the long one";  set up the WII; open a can of cat food …

How to make dry whole-grain pancake mix

Whole grains. To make this whole grain I use whole oats and whole wheat flour. Simple and nothing fancy.

Healthy fats. I like to add wheat germ and ground flax for extra healthy fibre and good fats.

Start with large flake oats and run through the blender for a bit to turn it to oat flour. I like to leave a little bit of the oats out of the blender so it keeps a bit of texture. I usually leave out ½ cup to 1 cup of whole oats so they do not get blended. Of course, you can blend all the oats. It depends on your pancake preferences.

Protein. Soy milk or skim milk powder adds protein and also softens the mix. To keep it dairy-free, I usually use soy-milk powder, the one cup here will add about 10 grams of protein to each batch of dry mix.

How to store whole-grain pancake mix

The below recipe for of whole-grain pancake mix will make about 6 cups of mix, which I divide into 4 batces.

Measure 1-12 cups of mix into 4 500ml mason jars and you have enough pancake mix to last about a month. (assuming pancakes are a weekly occurrence in your house too!! ☺️ )

This pancake mix will keep in an air-tight mason jar in a dark cupboard for about a few weeks. Since it usually takes us over a month to get through this amount, I will a couple mason jars in the freezer.

Dry whole-grain pancake mix will last up to 8 months in the freezer. Whole oats, whole wheat flour, wheat germ and ground flax have natural oils and can go rancid if stored too long at room temperature. If you don't think you will be able to use it all within in a couple of weeks, keep it in the freezer.

How to use whole-grain pancake mix

So the best part!

Just add eggs, liquid and a bit of oil and whatever flavours you like and you can serve healthy whole-grain pancakes any time!!

To make pancakes:

Whisk together,

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup milk, I use plant-based milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla if desired

add,

• 1-½ cups of mix

Stir until just combined and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. And add any of your favourite add-ins.

Some of our favourite pancake add-ins:

• chocolate chips
• banana and walnuts
• blueberries
• cinnamon and pecans

A batch mixed as above will make about 12 large pancakes.