Red Velvet Pancakes
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
My red velvet pancakes were inspired by a local diner famous for its light and fluffy pancakes. They are easy to make with pantry staples and perfect for a special brunch or weekend breakfast.
Elegant and easy red velvet pancakes
I love making these red velvet pancakes to switch up my family’s usual pancake routine. They have the perfect balance of cocoa and sweetness without tipping into full-on chocolate pancakes.
I tested this recipe multiple times to replicate our favorite diner-style version- light, fluffy, and almost like eating a cloud. I like to layer each pancake with cream cheese frosting, but vanilla Greek yogurt makes a great lighter option. They’re elegant yet surprisingly easy to make, with no complicated ingredients.
My secret? Buttermilk! It not only gives the pancakes extra height, but also adds the subtle tang that red velvet cakes are known for.
Key Ingredients
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
- Flour. White all-purpose flour is preferred, but I also tested it using whole wheat flour, and it worked just as well. It’s also a sneaky way to pack in some nutrition because no one will be able to tell.
- Sugar. Use either white sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar.
- Baking soda and baking powder. Baking powder provides structure, and baking soda contributes to some rise.
- Buttermilk. Reacts with the baking soda to make thick and airy pancakes. If you don’t have buttermilk, make your own using one cup of milk with one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice.
- Eggs. Room temperature eggs are best.
- Vanilla extract. A must for pancakes!
- Red food coloring. I initially tested these pancakes using blended beetroot, and it was just too much effort. If you’re concerned about food dyes, I used all-natural red food coloring (the Watkins brand).
- Salt. To balance all flavors.
- Cocoa powder. Sifted, to prevent any clumps.
How to make red velvet pancakes
Step 1- Mix dry. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Step 2- Make the batter. Make a well and add the buttermilk and eggs. Whisk until a thick batter remains. Stir in the vanilla and red food coloring. Rest for 5 minutes.
Step 3- Cook. Add oil to a skillet or griddle. Pour 1/4 cup portions of batter and cover. Cook for 2-3 minutes, flip, and repeat the process until all the pancakes are cooked.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“I tweaked the ingredients to moisten the batter, but they came out great! They also freeze so well!” – Sandy
Arman’s recipe tips
- Don’t overmix the batter. Mix the pancake batter just until no lumps remain- overmixing results in chewy and rubbery pancakes.
- Don’t skip the rest. Resting the batter lets the gluten in the flour release into the wet ingredients (known as hydrating), which results in a smoother pancake batter.
- Cover the pan. If you’ve made any of my other pancake recipes, you’ll know I always state this as a top tip. Covering the pancakes traps the heat in, which forces the pancakes to rise even more.
- Know when to flip. Once the edges of the pancakes start to bubble, they are ready to be flipped. Through testing, I found 2 1/2-3 minutes to be the sweet spot to flip.
- Add mix-ins. Add chocolate chips or red berries to intensify the red color, or sprinkle them on top. I find white chocolate chips to be such a fun addition.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover pancakes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To freeze: Wrap leftover pancakes in parchment paper and freeze in a shallow container for up to three months.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or in a large skillet over medium heat, flipping often until warm.
More pancake recipes
- Eggless pancakes
- Cottage cheese pancakes
- Banana protein pancakes
- Keto pancakes
- Chocolate chip pancakes
- Healthy pumpkin pancakes
If you tried this Red Velvet Pancakes recipe, please leave a star rating and comment. It helps others thinking of making this.
Red Velvet Pancakes
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour sifted
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
Instructions
- Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Make a well and add the buttermilk and eggs. Whisk until a thick batter remains. Stir in the vanilla and red food coloring.
- Let the batter sit for 2-3 minutes to thicken.
- Add oil to a non-stick pan and place over medium heat. Once hot, drop ¼ cup portions of the pancake batter and cover the pan. Cook pancakes for 2-3 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Repeat the process until all the pancakes are cooked up.
Notes
- Layering: I decorated my pancakes with a simple cream cheese frosting (store-bought). These pancakes are just as delicious on their own. You can also use Greek yogurt for a high-protein option.
- DIY buttermilk: One cup of milk with one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.
- Leftovers: Pancakes keep in the fridge, covered, for up ot 3 days. You can freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Gluten-free: I tested these using gluten-free all-purpose flour (with added xanthan gum), and it worked well. I used Bob’s Red Mill brand. I can’t vouch for other brands or other non-gluten flours.
Im in love with the cottage cheese pancakes, my daughter is requesting that I make them again
I tweaked the ingredients to moisten the batter but they came out great!
How amazing these pancakes look! It is also romantic haha. I will try!
I have been craving some pancakes lately. I’m going to give these bad boys a try! They’ll probably end up looking like a Frankenstein version of yours though, lol.
Do you skin the beetroot before steaming? Also, could almond flour be used in the place of the ‘gluten free flour blend’?
I would LOVE love LOVE to try this recipe. But I can’t find beet in anywhere here in Italy. Is there any alternative vegetable? Maybe with sweet potato?
Oh, I just made “Copycat [Healthy] Bounty Bar”. Actually I’ve never had before but… anyway I loved it! my kids loved it too. Thank you!
This might be the ONLY way I can stomach (pun intended) beets! Well done.
Was wondering can I use beet powder instead of mashing the beets?
Hi there Heb! You most certainly can- Several other readers have! Just be sure to adjust the liquids 🙂
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays Party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share next time!
-Cindy
Thank you for hosting, Cindy!
I’m Polish and beets are big in Poland. The cooked kind, not the tinned. I love it that in UK I can buy ready-cooked beets. Saves so much work and hand scrubbing!
The recipe sounds delicious and pictures look great too xx
#recipeoftheweek
Joanna- Thank you SO much for your kind words! Don’t even get me STARTED on cleaning beets- mum made me do it once and they still were gritty!
an inspired idea and i love beetroot #Recipeoftheweek
Thank you so much 🙂
We can’t buy unprocessed beetroots here unfortunately 🙁 Would vacuum-packed ones be okay?
P.S. Your cream cheese icing recipe is amaze, my lactose intolerance is crying right now.
I have a lactose free alternative if you like 🙂 The vacuum packed ones would be EVEN better! (I remember seeing them at Costa and being jealous!)
Er, yes please to lactose-free cream cheese frosting??!!
Amazed that the vacuum-packed beetroot would work so well, this is exciting news!
I only started using beetroot last year. It still shocks me sometimes how it makes everything blood red. I am a bit sensitive but that’s a totally different story… I love the idea to make red velvet pancakes with beet root instead of using artificial food coloring. I should give it a try. Until now I mainly juice them. It gives such an earthy and rich flavor to any juice. I quite enjoy that. But I see that earthy pancaces might not be a win. But I see nothing bad in using a big big batch of cream cheese frosting. YUM 🙂
You are NOT a twat! Ever. At all. No. You mentioned white and Labor Day. The old fashioned saying is: “Never wear white between Labor Day and Easter Sunday.” I live in steamy Charleston, South Carolina. We disregard the white rule. We say: “No white after the first freeze.” We had a freeze this past weekend. So no white til Easter! Street food…I’m not a big street food fan (we have some food trucks but not many street carts), but when I traveled in France, Paris had crépe carts on every corner. It was seriously like hotdog stands in New York. Everywhere you turned, there was a crépe cart. During my 2 weeks in Paris, I frequented a special crépe cart….daily….and ordered a plain crépe, slathered in Nutella, with an Orangina on the side. It was amazing. I loved watching the vendor make my crépe in front of me. It’s a small personal touch. But I loved it!
Haha thanks Mary! Oh wow. I LOVED the crepe van in Paris- I think I OD’d on the sugar and lemon ones!
Thanks to Irish friends I actually know beetroot and beets are the same. Otherwise, I would be confused. I LOVE beets!! And I would never think to have put them in pancakes. The only thing I do with beets is roast them. We don’t travel much so weird street foods aren’t something we encounter. Would you consider the hot dog truck in NYC weird or questionable? Possibly!
I will get a hot dog from those trucks next week and let you know…they do smell good though!
I love beets, they’re one of my favorite root vegetables, but my mom bought WAYYY too many last week and she is notorious for not eating 90% of what she buys. This is ok because I just do the clean up with my tornado appetite, but that also means I’ve been peeing (and…the other one I’ll spare you) red all week. I find it quite amusing. I think I am still 12.
Pass the pancakes, please.
LOL. You are 12. Inside. Maybe out.
we ate beet root every day in NZ. and uhh, we turned red, if you get my drift. Do they have burger fuel over there? if so, try the beet root burger. And then send me some pancakes.
Ohhh I don’t think we do- We have Grill’d which is pretty delicious!
I kinda hate beets, they seriously make me gag. But I have to say that those pancakes looks pretty legit. You’ve almost convinced me to give them a try (I said almost…) 😉
Haha, key word- Almost. Promise you can’t taste them. They just make the ‘cakes look purrrty.
Damn straight you can never have too much cream cheese frosting! These look delicious! Iran street food also sounds delicious. I had no idea to aussie-fy something is to add beetroot. You guys are so healthy. To americanize something would be to double it in size in some hormonal chemically way, then add bacon, mac&cheese and then more cheese to whatever it is.
Can you imagine a mac and cheese burger? Dude, you’ve sparked some recipe inspiration (which probably no one would make lol!)
I can’t eat beetroot! That and processed meat give me migraines. I will just have to wait for the other pancake recipes. Don’t disappoint me again 😉
Haha, Cinnamon bun, double chocolate peanut butter, perfect paleo pancakes..how do they sound 😉
Um… double chocolate peanut butter, please!!!!
I drank snake’s blood in Taiwan. Boom.
You are epic. Boom.
What a great idea! 🙂 I had some extra liquid from the beets I steamed today.. what was I thinking dumping it out?! Hehe. Thanks for the recipe!
Hahaha my grandma and mum drink the juices…they are weird! 😉
Testicles. Yes. Testicles. Did I purchase any for noshing? No, I don’t typically have to purchase testicles for noshing, I typically get them thrown at me for free.
OMFG AHHH HA HA AHA HA I JUST made myself cry from laughing.
But seriously, I encountered this street food in Hong Kong… Raw and ready for roasting 😉
OMG. Malaysia- Monkey Testicles. NOT JOKING.
I used to -hate- beetroot as a child, much to my mom’s dismay. She would always make a beetroot soup for the holidays, and I’d refuse to eat it every.single.time. I actually didn’t have my first taste of beetroot until I was something like 26 or 27 and I actually thought it was pretty tasty. My stomach isn’t really the biggest fan, though. Neither is my kitchen.
OMG So did my mum and grandma- Borcht or something! I think I pretended to be sick whenever she made it lol!
I need to come visit for the rosewater ice cream alone. Obsessed with the natural coloring in these!! GORG.
Excuse me. You need to come visit for ME alone.
I never even had beets growing up! My dad hates them, so he refused to cook them lol. I was in my late teens or early 20s the first time I had them. And now I love them in any form. But especially in baked goods and pancakes. Yum!
First your dad tempted you with steak and then he refused to cook beets- dude, he’s like my Idol!
I LOVE beets haha. Especially the canned ones. And I’m from Texas. My mom would always buy the big cans of them and we’d pour them out on a plate (cold), sprinkle some salt on them, and just eat them straight like that.
Dude, respect. I need to be invited over for dinner…of canned beets.
Oh I love red velvet. I like beets as well. I will have to try these.
Thank you so much, Lacey- I hope you try them out!
I was very excited for you to posted this deliciousness. Totally going to try it, except I’m skipping the beet blood bath in favor of beet powder. No offense.
I won’t be offended my friend- just DON’T microwave it this time lol!
Lesson learned!
What a great post, Arman! I’ve always wanted to use beets to make red velvet something…anything! I’m not a huge fan of beets in general, although my wife loves ’em. I did have them roasted recently, though…and I guess I can admit that they were kinda tasty like that. But I’m still trying to picture you eating beets straight out of a can. Blargh! Haha!
Haha, I’ll have to do a vlog…it’s actually pretty good. But visually doesn’t paint the best picture…
Yeaaaa, me and beets don’t mix so well. I actually can’t stand them, and the one time I did try to blend them up into a batter I made a mess and stained my entire kitchen. You make a hard pitch though, and you just might have me buying some beets sometime soon.
That is if I can get over the whole staining my entire kitchen thing.
You should try it out- (I saw someone on instagram make protein ice cream with it hahahaha!)
Looks delicious I love using beets.
Thanks Andrea! They were delicious!
I made Red Velvet Cupcakes for my mom’s birthday! 🙂 They were by no means healthy but they sure were delicious! 🙂
I saw that- I’ll send a batch of these to your mum! 😉
Canada needs better street food – I’ve never come across anything too weird. Or maybe i just need to go gallivanting across the ocean somewhere. And too much cream cheese frosting? Impossible.
Excuse me, but pretty sure you sell some epic stuff. Mainly gravy. Lot’s of gravy.
I get so nervous around beets haha. I’m just worried that EVERYTHING will get stained. Some of my favorite street food is hot churros in Mexico. So good!
Dude, you just sparked a churros craving!!!!!!! (Moreso for the chocolate sauce).
Welcome to the beet side – but I am shocked – you don’t like steamed or roasted beets!? Yikes!!!
I know people who are allergic to that red food dye – so beets have been a wonderful coloring alternative – till I found out there were people allergic to beets! Yikes!
These pancakes are my kinda yum!
Thanks! I was surprised at how well the colour came out!
I’ve never had steamed beets….. I think I’m in the minority with that one. I have drank beet juice though (that has to count for something??!!!). Keep the pillowy pancake recipes coming!
Beet juice?! You have me intrigued!
Haha, this was a flat pillow.
I prefer to drink my beets. It’s a thing. Sometimes I even add champagne and have the most unusual of mimosas.
No such thing as going overboard on the cream cheese frosting.
…You are one strange, strange egg. And that’s why you’re awesome.
I want eggs now.
I love steamed beets! Yum yum! We can buy them already steamed from the supermarket and eat them hot or cold. We don’t get tinned beets but do have them in a jar, swimming in vinegar – now that’s nasty!
I think the worst street food I have seen is in this country – the amount of ‘burger vans’ that we have where the common ingredient in everything is mass amounts of grease… And the smell coming from them – urgh!
Ohh I remember seeing them at Costa! I must confess…I love that burger van smell- so good at 3am!! 😉
while im not much of a beetroot person, i like them with my juice every now and then..this pancake though – drooling!!
Thanks Dixya- hope you try it out!
Very clever to use beetroot to color them!
Thank you! I was surprised at the hue it provided!
Too good not to pin! The world needs to see these 🙂
Thank you so much buddy!
Steamed beetroot on the streets- I could get on board with that. I still, however, can’t wrap my head around deep-fried Oreos- who buys that stuff!
…..Is it bad that I hope to try one in America- I’m intrigued!!!
OMG Arman, I LOVE this beetrott story. I am sitting in my stupid office, trying to force down my even more stupid laughter.
I love that you used beetroot in your pancakes. I am such a fan of strange pancakes. And yes on the cream cheese frosting – whoever thinks you can go overboard didn’t get the meaning of life.
They sell roasted chestnuts here in Switzerland this season. It really is very, very delicious. It’s like getting your kabocha fix on but more savory and starchy and warm.
Haha, thanks my dear- I LOVE ROASTED CHESTNUTS and for the longest time, was trying to put a resemblance to it and YES- Kabocha!
Omg, the first part of your post made me laugh. Sometimes I feel like I am bleeding purple blood too when I’m working with beets! I normally stay away from red velvet anything because of the artificial colouring, but I know I’ll love these because you used beets! I love beets roasted, or hidden in sweet things like your pancakes 🙂
Thanks Gen! You should see my (rented) kitchen…It is ridiculously stained and I am not happy!
I love getting beetroot into meals but it isn’t half scary when you go to the loo the next day haha… Anyway – these look great. I do love beetroots roasted though!
LOL. I just peed a little bit. (normal. not purple).
Yum! Although, I love hot roasted beets, or even boiled beets, more than pancakes.
I love the beetroot available throughout Aus! One of the things that makes your sandwich bars so amazing.
Haha, cheers Michelle- I forgot you got to experience the Aussie-ness!
yummmm these look way too good. and every time i eat beets i look like i’ve been attacked by a vampire. ps– T minus 10 days!! wooo!
I KNOW!!!!!! ARGH. So pumped.
I will come dressed as a beetroot on the 13th.
I remember the first time I got beets in my CSA this summer, I was in the kitchen peeling them and BF just walks in like “what the f**k happened” apparently he thought I stabbed myself. Lesson learned, always tell your loved ones before you color the kitchen with beets 😉
Genius life lesson- imagine how much you could save if you wanted to paint your walls purple!
I love using beets to make red velvety concoctions – never had them from a can, though…
You should try it- it’s actually pretty good!
I made a huge mess all over my white shirt last night while I was shredding beets. Remember that time I told you that you have an Aussie accent?
Hmm… streetfood… I can’t think of anything overly unusual, but one of the favorite things I’ve come across are malasadas. OMG I WANT
LOL. You funny bunny.
OMG MY FRIEND MAKES MALASADAS. His Portuguese grandma’s recipe.
Beetroot!? So cool!! I only started to like actual beets as an adult but I’m sure if I had these pancakes as a kid I wouldn’t mind the beloved beetroot.
Not really street food but in my house in Portugal, snails from the backyard end up on the menu… and I like it! 🙂
Really? Wow, you have me intrigued- I’m so tempted to try them!
This makes my little southern heart happy. And I LOVE beets. And cream cheese frosting. Yes to alll.
Ohhh is beetroot a southern thing? I need to learn my American lingo! Please teach me! When I think of southern food, I associate it with comfort!
My friends ALWAYS give me crap for loving beets on my salads. They say they taste like dirt, but I still love them anyway. I should make these pancakes for them so they’ll eat them, love them, and then be amazed that there are beets in them. BOOM.
How dare they. You so should- and hide a whole beet in it!
I love using beets as a natural food dye! I have never used it in pancakes, though. This would make an cute Valentine’s Day breakfast!
Haha, cheers Kelly- I’ll try and make them heart shaped next time!
Ah, like my pretty pink pancakes on my blog! Mine are more pin not red! 😉 Colored pancakes though make the morning so fun 😉
That is very wise words!
Love the idea of using beet root to get that natural red color in your red velvet pancakes!
Thanks Jeanette!
Whoah— this is blowing my mind, so is adding beets to a burger! I’m slowly learning to like beets…
Really? Wow, it’s standard here (beetroot in sandwiches, burgers, kebabs!)
Wait…is beetroot different from beets?
This recipe leaves me skeptical.
LOL. Haha, they are the same thing my friend- we call it beetroot here!
Awesome! I cannot get enough of beets right now, and who wouldn’t love the flavor of red velvet?! Be careful with that T word….your american readers may not like it. I have found Americans gasp when I have used that word in the past! Haha
Thanks for the recipe, thanks for the monday laughs 😀
LOL! Tina! For the longest time I thought you meant ‘Tina’ was a bad word then I realised it was twat. Maybe it could be our code word?
hahahaha! I HOPE NOT!!! Wait, which word is our code word?! Am I still the bad word? 😉
You can be my twattle tail.
Amazing!! Love that you made these look so decadent and they are actually so healthy! YUM 🙂
Thanks buddy- don’t think I haven’t forgotten to hide your slow cooker.
We can buy already steamed beetroot in supermarkets which is very convenient. I like to eat them with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, but I don’t do that often. The packages are too big for only me and I can only eat a certain amount of beet until I wanna throw up… when I feel super fancy I will give these pancakes a go!
Funny story. I once made a healthified red velvet cake , recipe by Blogilates Cassey Ho. This stupid thing ruined my cake tin!! The worst part was that it was a pretty, heat shaped cake tin 🙁 I still haze her a bit for that.
YES- I remember seeing them in Lidl- they came in nice clear packs haha!
….I’m so sorry but I’m laughing like an idiot right now. How dare that recipe do that to you!
Honestly, it was the recipes fault! But I can’t blame you for laughing at me ;-D