Vegan pumpkin pancakes are made with budget-friendly pantry ingredients for a healthy fall recipe that’s so delicious you’ll be making it all year long! Gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and vegan, they’re bursting with flavor and nutrients for a hearty breakfast you can feel good about eating. Serve them warm with maple syrup, nut butter, and more!
Introducing Your New Favorite Breakfast
Fall is officially here! And you know what that means…Yep! All things pumpkin. From pumpkin bread to pumpkin oats, pumpkin trail mix, and more, we’re putting this seasonal fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) to good use! However, one thing missing from our arsenal was a good brunch option. You know, the kind that has the whole family drooling on a Sunday morning and tastes even better when paired with a latte or warm hot chocolate?
Lucky for us, we just perfected our favorite coconut flour pancakes. If you haven’t tried them, you’re definitely going to want to make both. Anyway, using that recipe as a guide, we made a few tweaks, and BOOM. We created the perfect vegan pumpkin pancakes! Seriously, not only are they made with whole food ingredients, but they’re fluffy, and bursting with the warm flavors of pumpkin spice we all love. Honestly, we’re drooling just thinking about them. So, take our advice, and go ahead and make a double batch. You won’t regret it. 😉
Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Ingredients
Budget and allergy-friendly, these healthy pumpkin pancakes come together with just a handful of ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand!
- Non-Dairy Milk – We prefer to use coconut milk or almond milk, but any dairy free milk alternative will work just fine.
- Pure Pumpkin Puree – Full of nutrients, fiber, and vitamin A, pumpkin is a powerhouse ingredient that not only adds a sweet flavor to these pancakes but also eliminates the need for oil or butter thanks to its moisture.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – When combined with non-dairy milk, this helps create a buttermilk alternative that provides a hint of tang and yields a tender texture.
- Maple Syrup – A natural sweetener, maple syrup replaces refined sugar and helps enhance the pumpkin spice flavor.
- Gluten Free Oat Flour – A great gluten free flour alternative, oat flour is hearty and loaded with fiber to keep you full. To save time, we like to buy pre-made oat flour from the store, but you can easily make your own by blending up gluten free oats!
- Baking Powder – Used to create extra fluffy pumpkin pancakes.
- Baking Soda – When combined with acidic ingredients (like apple cider vinegar and baking powder), baking soda activates and creates bubbles or air pockets in the batter that creates the fluffy texture we’re looking to achieve.
- Spices – Adjust cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and nutmeg to suit your flavor preferences, and don’t forget the salt to enhance the rest of the ingredients!
Canned Vs Fresh Pumpkin
Either works for this pumpkin pancakes recipe! To save time, we opt for pre-made pure pumpkin puree. However, if you’ve got the time, you can easily make your own! Just note that the color and texture of your pumpkins may vary slightly as homemade pumpkin purée is sometimes lighter in color and a little thinner than the canned varieties. So, adjust the ingredient amounts as needed.
Note: If using canned pumpkin be sure to opt for the pure purée and not pumpkin pie filling that has added sugar and spice!
How to Make Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes
Whip these pancakes up for a breakfast, brunch, or brinner you’ll love!
- Combine the wet ingredients (pumpkin, milk, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup) in a large bowl or high-speed blender.
- In a second bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices).
- Working in batches, slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet, whisking until smooth.
- Let the batter sit for 10 minutes in order to allow the baking powder and baking soda to activate and thicken the batter. Due to the lack of eggs, this rest time is needed to help the batter bind together! But do note that after 15 minutes of resting the batter will get thicker, creating a super fluffy pancake but also a more gummy texture due to oat flour fiber absorbing the liquid.
Pro-Tip: If the batter is too thick to spoon out onto a frying pan, add another 1-3 tablespoons of milk to thin it out.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Don’t let it get too hot, though, or your pancakes will burn!
- Pour ¼ cup portions of the batter onto the center of the pan or a griddle. Cook until the edges begin to set and tiny bubbles form in the center of the pancake.
- Flip the pancakes over, and continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the pancakes are golden brown.
- Repeat until all of the batter has been used, greasing the pan with cooking spray, butter, or oil in between batches.
- Serve warm, and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
Just when you thought these pumpkin pancakes couldn’t get any simpler to make, we’re coming in hot with a few more tips and tricks to make them even easier!
Use Fine Oat Flour. If you’re blending your own oat flour like we did here, you’ll want to make sure to pulse your oats until a super fine texture is formed. This allows it to absorb the liquids similarly to how regular all-purpose flour would.
Measure Carefully. Don’t overly pack the oat flour in your measuring cups. Just scoop it up loosely, and, if you can, measure with a food scale to prevent dense pancakes.
Don’t Overmix. You want to stir your batter until it is just combined and smooth. Continuing to mix will result in dense, tough pancakes.
Patience is Key! Oat flour takes longer to cook than other flours, but whatever you do, don’t increase the heat! This will cause the outside of the pancakes to burn while the inside remains doughy. Trust us, it’s worth the wait. For easy cooking, we recommend greasing your spatula or using a thin crepe spatula to flip your pancakes with ease.
Optional Mix-Ins and Toppings
Thanks to the use of pumpkin and warm spices, these pancakes are scrumptious all on their own. However, if you want to amp up the flavor even more, try including mix-ins and toppings like:
- Banana slices
- Dark chocolate chips
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Chopped pecans
- Maple syrup
- Coconut whip
Storage and Reheating
We’ve never had leftovers when we make this pumpkin pancakes recipe, but if you do, they can easily be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days!
Then, when you’re ready to eat, reheat them in the microwave, toaster, or skillet for a few minutes. Or, preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit, place the pancakes on a baking sheet, cover them with foil, and warm them for 10-15 minutes or until your desired temperature is reached.
Common Questions About This Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe
Yes! To freeze, wrap your pancakes in foil, and place them in a sealable bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. To prevent them from sticking to each other, separate each pancake with a layer of parchment paper.Â
Yes, if needed you can substitute equal parts gluten free all-purpose flour instead.Â
Unfortunately, the batter does not work for waffles, but our gluten free sweet potato waffles are a tasty alternative!Â
Even More Gluten Free Pancakes You’ll Love
There’s always room for more pancake recipes, right? Add these gluten free options to your meal prep roundup for easy breakfasts the whole family will look forward to eating!
- Made with just 4 ingredients, these Low Carb Pancakes are the fluffiest recipe you’ll ever make. They’re gluten free, grain free, and dairy free, too!
- High protein, high fiber, and full of nutrients, Blueberry Vegan Protein Pancakes are the perfect way to start your day.
- Full of chocolate flavor and customizable to fit your needs, Sheet Pan Chocolate Protein Pancakes are keto friendly, gluten free, flourless, and easy to make in bulk and enjoy throughout the week.
- Turn your favorite dessert into a wholesome breakfast with our Flourless Carrot Cake Yogurt Pancakes.
Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes (Gluten Free)
- Total Time: 20-25 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 medium pancakes 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Vegan pumpkin pancakes are made with budget-friendly pantry ingredients for a healthy fall recipe that’s so delicious you’ll be making it all year long! Gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and vegan, they’re bursting with flavor and nutrients for a hearty breakfast you can feel good about eating. Serve them warm with maple syrup, nut butter, and more!
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup pure pumpkin purée
- ¾ cup non-dairy milk (more as needed) * See step 3 in instructions
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup + more for serving
- 1 ¼ cup (120 grams) oat flour or gluten free all-purpose flour without added gums/binders
- 1 ½ teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt
- 1–2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the pumpkin purée, non-dairy milk, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, place the ingredients in a high-speed blender, and blend until smooth.
- In a second bowl, whisk together the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Working in batches, combine the dry ingredients with the wet in a large mixing bowl or blender. Mix until just combined and a thick, smooth batter is formed.
- Let the batter sit for 10 minutes to thicken (see notes for tips). *If the batter is too thick to spoon onto a pan, mix in 1-3 Tablespoons of non-dairy milk to thin it out.
- Heat a non-stick frying pan or griddle over medium to medium-low heat. Grease the pan with avocado oil or refined coconut oil.
- Using a ¼ measuring cup, spoon equal portions of batter onto the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side or until the edges are dry and set and bubbles begin to form in the center of the pancakes. Gently flip, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until golden brown.
- Repeat, greasing the pan between each batch, until all batter is used.
- Serve, and top with maple syrup or toppings of choice.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
Substitute Tips – If you’re blending your own oat flour like we did here, you’ll want to make sure to pulse your oats until a super fine texture is formed. If using gluten free all-purpose flour, be sure to one without additives or gums. Not 1:1 GF flour.
Resting Batter Tips – 10 minutes is the sweet spot for resting the batter for the perfect fluff without gumminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 108
- Sugar: 3.5 g
- Sodium: 246.8 mg
- Fat: 1.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21.1 g
- Fiber: 3.1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: pumpkin pancakes, vegan pumpkin pancakes, healthy pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pancakes recipe, vegan, breakfast
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