The BEST Buttermilk Mickey-shaped Pancake Recipe
There’s only one thing better than a fluffy buttermilk pancake: a Mickey-shaped buttermilk pancake!
It’s true. Mickey-shaped pancakes magically taste better than regular-shaped pancakes – but it helps if the base recipe is already amazing. And trust me, this one is!
My husband and I have been on a quest to find the BEST buttermilk pancake recipe out there. (Okay, you caught us – it was a really good excuse to eat lots of pancakes.) We finally found one, put our own twist on it, and then added some Disney magic for the best breakfast ever!!
Now, I’ll warn you, these Mickey-shaped pancakes can be a labor of love, but they are so worth it. Family and friends have raved about them when we’ve made them for breakfast, and sometimes, we’ll make a batch just for the two of us as a fun date night activity. (Protip: extras freeze well and can be reheated in the microwave!)
Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or just need something really good to eat while binge-watching your favorite show on Disney+ (I’ve been there), these Mickey-shaped pancakes are sure to please!
The Magic Behind Mickey-shaped Pancakes
There’s no special spell or incantation that makes these buttermilk pancakes so enchanting, but there are some tricks and tips you can implement during the cooking process!
Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m not very coordinated when it comes to flipping pancakes. That’s why I tend to make mine a little smaller – so they fit nicely onto the spatula! I generally use a 1/4 cup to measure out a pancake, and that tends to be pretty manageable. But feel free to dish out your batter however you wish and customize the size of your Mickey-shaped pancake!
When it comes to the Mickey shape, you don’t have to get super fancy. Plop two, smaller spoonfuls of batter right at the top of your main cake, and voila! Mickey has arrived. You can use your spoon to shape the batter if it gets out of control; just remember that messy Mickeys still taste amazing!
Generally, the batter likes to spread out in a roundish way all on its own; it’s just a matter of figuring out the best proportions. Once you’ve made a pancake or two, you’ll get a system down and be flipping flapjacks like a pro! But, if you do want to be super fancy, there are adorable Mickey molds out there, and even a mouse-shaped pan that has his face engraved into the bottom!
A cast-iron skillet is great for making these pancakes, but I usually use our electric griddle. It gives me more room to operate, is easier to clean, and if you’re skilled like my husband, you can have several buttermilk pancakes sizzling at once! But really, you can just use a regular pan, too. The batter won’t know the difference, I promise.
absolutely delicious! (Photo: MouseEars TV Creative Team)
#Protip: set the griddle to 350 degrees (or use a heat gun to see what temp your skillet is at). We’ve found this temp to be ideal for cooking pancakes without burning them!
You might notice with this recipe, in particular, there’s a lot of butter. (Yes, it makes me cry in high cholesterol.) You can use unsalted or salted butter, depending on how much flavor you want. When we use salted butter, the cakes are so flavorful we don’t even use syrup. They’re savory-sweet in a kettle corn sort of way. We just eat them plain, usually with a glass of strawberry milk on the side. But if your taste buds aren’t as obnoxious as ours…you might want to try it with unsalted butter, at least for your first batch!
(Note: if you are using salted butter, you might want to cut down, or even cut out, the 2 tsp of salt in the batter, depending on your taste.)
Speaking of butter, it’s not just in the batter but also turns your pan into a deliciously non-stick surface. You’ll see the recipe calls for a tablespoon to make this pancake slip-n-slide, but I wouldn’t recommend using it all at once. That’ll make your first pancake ridiculously buttery. (I’m not saying I didn’t still eat it. I’m just saying it was a lot.) Instead, use just enough butter to coat the pan, then add a little more butter between pancakes as needed.
Lastly, I know it might seem silly to let the batter rest for an entire 30 minutes before slapping it on the griddle, especially considering you’re the one doing all the work! But believe me, that rest makes all the difference when it comes to ultimate fluffiness!
Generally, we use those 30 minutes to wash the dishes we’ve dirtied so far, so it’s almost like multi-tasking!
When you’ve finished cooking your pancakes, you can douse them in syrup, top them with sugared-covered strawberries, or give Mickey a whipped cream smile.
The main thing is getting to enjoy a bit of Walt Disney World right at your own dining table! Bon appetite!
The Best Buttermilk Mickey-shaped Pancakes
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet or Electric Griddle
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups all purpose flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2.5 cups buttermilk
- 8 tbsp butter (1 stick, melted)
- 2 eggs (white and yolks separated)
- 1 tbsp butter (for pan or griddle)
- chocolate chips or blueberries (optional)
- maple syrup (for serving)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, whisking together to combine.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs yolks, whisking together to combine.
- Add the buttermilk mixture into the dry mixture. Fold together with a rubber spatula (or gently mix with a fork) until combined. Take care not to overmix – lumps are just fine!
- Add the egg whites to your batter and mix them in, again taking care not to overmix.
- Let batter rest for 30 minutes. (15 minutes minimum.) Cover with lid, if your mixing bowl has one, or use cling wrap.
- Watch an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+ while you wait.
- Add 1 tbsp of butter to cast iron skillet (or electric griddle) and use medium-low to medium heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, reduce heat to medium-low.
- Scoop about 1/4 cup batter onto skillet, forming it into a round shape (Mickey's head). With a regular spoon, dollop two heaping portions onto the skillet for Mickey's ears. Make sure they connect to, or overlap with, the initial round. You can use the spoon to try and shape the batter if need be. (Note: Messy Mickeys still taste good!)
- Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until bubbles start to form and pop on the pancake's surface. (If desired, add chocolate chips or blueberries now for a smiling Mickey face!) Carefully use a spatula to flip the pancake and cook another 1 to 2 minutes, until golden brown.
- Serve your delicious Mickey pancakes with syrup, whipped cream, peanut butter, or any topping your heart desires.
- Enjoy!!!
Have you tried making Mickey-shaped pancakes? What’s your favorite topping? And do you have any #protips on how to perfectly flip flapjacks?? Please let us know in the comments below!
Cover and Recipe Images
Photo: MouseEars TV Creative Team
Recommended Gear for this Adventure
Disclaimer: We earn a commission if you click any of the links above and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
