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We Tasted 5 Pancake Mixes—This Is the Best

Not all boxed pancake mixes are created equal.

When you don't have the time to prepare a homemade pancake mix, using one from the store can get pancakes or waffles on the table in a jiffy.

Luckily, there are a variety of options available on grocery store shelves today that will make it easier than ever to get breakfast, lunch, or dinner on the table without too much effort, save for a few necessary ingredients to pull it all together. However, not all mixes are created equal! While optimal pancake taste and texture could be chalked up to a matter of opinion, we put five leading mixes to the test to see how they truly performed in the kitchen.

Here's how five different pancake mixes stacked up against each other, ranked from worst to best.

And for more, don't miss these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback.

Arrowhead Mills Organic Buckwheat Mix

Jacqueline Weiss / Eat This, Not That!
Per 1/3 cup (4 5" pancakes): 150 calories, 1 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 290 mg sodium, 31 g carbs (3 g fiber, less than 1 g sugar), 5 g protein

Made with buckwheat, this mix by Arrowhead Mills has a distinctive color that isn't in line with your usual pancake but is a good way to switch things up! Unfortunately, the texture is a bit on the gritty side, despite the cakes being relatively dense compared to other options, though the overall flavor is a nice variation to try.

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King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free All-Purpose Baking Mix

box of king arthur flour pancake mix with plate of pancakes
Jacqueline Weiss / Eat This, Not That!
Per 1/3 cup: 130 calories, 0.5 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 340 mg sodium, 30 g carbs (4 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 2 g protein

Whether you're looking to whip up pancakes and waffles for breakfast, or biscuits with dinner, this multi-use mix from King Arthur Baking might just save the day if you're in a pinch. While these did get a nice texture on the outside, the flavor itself is on the bland side and would benefit from some cinnamon and/or vanilla bean paste added into the mix for a touch of something special. These pancakes also had a slightly doughy mouthfeel.

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Annie's Organic Mix

box of annies pancake mix with plate of pancakes
Jacqueline Weiss / Eat This, Not That!
Per 1/3 cup (3 pancakes): 150 calories, 2 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 370 mg sodium, 29 g carbs (less than 1 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 3 g protein

Want to recreate the taste of a classic diner pancake at home? Look no further than this mix from Annie's—it will give you the taste and texture of your standard breakfast that's just as comforting as it is delicious. However, there isn't much going on here when it comes to flavor, so try adding a fruity jam or compote on top to elevate your brunch spread.

Birch Benders Classic Recipe Mix

birch benders pancake mix and plate of pancakes
Jacqueline Weiss / Eat This, Not That!
Per 2 pancakes: 120 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 440 mg sodium, 26 g carbs (1 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 3 g protein

These are by far the easiest to make on the list because all you need to make near-perfect pancakes is water! Birch Benders makes it easy to whip up pancakes or waffles, whether you're looking for something paleo, keto, or vegan friendly. The outside gets firm without being too crisp, and the inside stays the perfect amount of fluffy every time.

Simple Mills Almond Flour Baking Mix

simple mills pancakes box mix
Jacqueline Weiss / Eat This, Not That!
Per 1/3 cup (3 4" pancakes): 180 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 240 mg sodium, 31 g carbs (3 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 4 g protein

This mix from Simple Mills is made with almond flour and is a clear best-seller for a reason! It has just the right amount of sweetness thanks to coconut sugar, but it isn't overbearing. Your cakes will be just the right amount of crisp on the outside (if that's your jam), and light on the inside.

And if you're vegetarian or vegan, good news! More often than not, many pancake mixes are vegan-friendly and just need some minor substitutions, such as using dairy-free milk or a flax egg instead of a real one to make the preparation vegan. For this taste test, we used oat milk, flax eggs, and vegan butter. Yum!

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Jacqueline Weiss
Jacqueline is a blogger and writer, passionate about making healthy eating and cooking accessible to all. Read more about Jacqueline
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