Creamsicle Flavored Pancake Muffins
These Creamsicle Flavored Pancake Muffins topped with an orange glaze are sweet, fruity, and unbelievably easy to make!
Pancakes are always a hit in our home. My family loves recipes like our coconut cake pancakes and dairy-free protein pancakes. However, if I’m being honest, I don’t always have the time or patience to stand over a stove waiting for each individual pancake to cook.
That’s where this easy pancake muffins recipe come in to save the day! Made with a simple muffin batter, they’re sweet, fluffy, and soft. However, you can cook them all at once!
Even better, they store well. So, you can make a big batch, and keep them on hand for quick breakfasts and easy snacks throughout the week. Plus, everything is better when it’s bite-sized, right?
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
For the Pancake Muffins
- Flour – All-purpose flour forms the base of the batter. If needed, you can use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour to keep these bites gluten-free.
- Baking Powder – This is key to creating a fluffy consistency!
- Salt – Just a pinch helps enhance the flavor of the rest of the ingredients.
- Milk – We use dairy milk, but any milk or non-dairy milk you have on hand will work.
- Maple Syrup – This infuses the pancake muffins with sweet flavor!
- Applesauce – We use this to replace the need for melted butter. It keeps the fat content low without sacrificing the tender texture!
- Eggs – Large eggs act as a binder holding the muffins together. We haven’t tested this recipe with an egg substitute and can’t guarantee your results if you do!
- Vanilla Extract – This enhances the sweetness of the muffins.
- Orange – Orange zest is folded into the muffin batter, adding a vibrant, citrusy taste.
For the Glaze
- Powdered Sugar – This forms the base of the glaze.
- Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract, not imitation varieties.
- Orange Juice – Freshly squeezed is best!
How to Make Easy Baked Pancake Muffins
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray or use muffin liners to line a mini muffin tin.
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- Whisk the wet ingredients. In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk the milk, maple syrup, applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and orange juice until smooth.
- Combine. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Mix just until no streaks remain.
- Portion. Using a spoon or batter scoop, pour a scant tablespoon of the pancake batter into each muffin cavity.
- Bake. Transfer the muffin pan to the oven, and bake for 11 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Keep a close eye on the muffins, and be careful not to overbake!
- Prepare the glaze. While your pancake muffins bake, whisk all the ingredients for the glaze in a bowl.
- Glaze the pancakes. Dip each baked pancake bite into the gaze, and enjoy warm!
Flavor Variations and Optional Mix-Ins
Feel free to experiment with different flavor combinations to make these pancake muffins your own. For example, you can skip the muffin ingredients, and use a homemade pancake mix instead. Or, omit the orange zest and juice or add to it with:
- Cocoa Powder
- Chocolate Chips
- Chopped Nuts
- Blueberries
- Diced Bananas
- Apple Pieces
- Coconut Flakes
Common Questions
You can store leftover bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store leftover glaze in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Yes! For the best results, omit the glaze before freezing. Transfer the cooked and cooled muffin bites to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Creamsicle Flavored Pancake Muffins Recipe
Equipment
- 1 whisk
Ingredients
Muffins
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 orange, zested
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice from the large orange just zested
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a mini muffin pan or silicone mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the milk, maple syrup, applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and the zest of one orange.1 1/2 cups milk, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup applesauce, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 orange, zested
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Using a spoon or batter scoop, pour a scant Tablespoon of the batter into each muffin well.
- Bake for 11 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from the pan and eat warm with the glaze.
- While the bites are baking, prepare the glaze. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and fresh squeezed orange juice to a bowl and whisk together. Dip each pancake bite into the glaze or pour the glaze over the warm bites on a plate.2 cups powdered sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/4 cup fresh orange juice from the large orange just zested
- Store the bites in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. The glaze stays fresh for 2 days at room temperature. Serve the bites with small individual bowls of glaze for each person to dip their pancake muffins in.
Definitely a kid favorite in our house! They love both the muffins and the glaze. Oh, that glaze. It’s so darn good. The pancake muffins store well in the fridge too to help with morning meal prep during the week. 🙂
Oooo! I LOVE these. I wonder if they would freeze well?? Hubby always wants pancakes on the weekends, but I’m of the I-need-coffee-and-calories-before-i-can-talk-to-you mindset. It would be awesome if I could make these ahead and then defrost them while the coffee brews. I’ll make some and let you know! Thanks for sharing with the Homestead Blog Hop! Hope to see you again next Wednesday.
These freeze well, Lauren! I would definitely give it a whirl and see what your husband thinks 🙂 I hope he loves them as much as we do. Thanks for stopping by and hanging, Lauren!
Oh my goodness it’s hard being without a proper kitchen! Love how creative you are being despite this though! Your Baked Creamsicle Pancake Muffins look so delicious and I love that yummy syrup. Featuring this post at Hearth and Soul this week, Sammi. Thank you for sharing it!
It really is, April, but I am trying to make the best of it 🙂 Thank you for featuring these little bites of sunshine this week at your party!
This would make me want to go to bed so I could get up and make them. Yum!!
Bev
That couldn’t be any closer to the truth! Ha! I have actually been tempted to make them for dinner along with an egg bake…because morning is simply too far away. 😉 Blessings to you, Beverly! I hope you enjoy this recipe.
What a brilliant idea! Pancakes take forever even if you have more than just one burner. I’ll be making these for our grandkids when they come over for “breakfast for dinner” Sunday.
Can I come over too? 😉 You won’t even know I’m there! lol I LOVE brinner! I hope you all enjoy these. Let me know the verdict, will ya? 🙂
You’re welcome any time 🙂 Will do!
Two of my favourite combos…yum! Thanks for linking up to the Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesday, I can’t wait to see what you come up with next week!
I tell you what, these are like little pieces of heaven if I ever tasted it! Thanks for popping over, Amanda! Enjoy these flavors 🙂
These do sound wonderfully good! I think my grandkids would love them and I will definitely be giving them a try. Thanks for the recipe. Pinned, tweeted and printed!
How fun, Teresa! Enjoy these with your sweet grandkids. 🙂
This is such a great breakfast idea. Amazing how a little muffin tin can make something so simple into something so special! Thanks for putting it on the Turn It Up Tuesday Link Party this week for me to find.
If you’re looking for more places to post your links, I run the #FanDayFriday Link Party. Despite the name it opens up on Thursday night at 10pm and your posts would fit right in with the mix that we already have going.
I totally agree, a woman with a mini muffin tin can create some pretty awesome food! Thanks for swinging by, Patty! I’ll be sure to check out #FanDayFriday!
These sound like a wonderful treat (I love creamsicles) – Would love to have you share it at the What’s for Dinner link up! http://www.lazygastronome.com/whats-dinner-sunday-link-80/
Thanks Helen! I’ll have to check it out 🙂 Blessings to you!
Sammi – Thanks for sharing these at the party!