Add This Fall Favorite Drink To Store-Bought Pancake Mix For An Instant Flavor Boost

Pancakes are a no-fuss, crowd-pleasing breakfast option that can be endlessly customizable to suit any taste — just take a look at these creative ways you can upgrade boxed pancake mix! When experimenting with new flavors, you can also tailor the vibe of your pancakes to match the seasons. Think bright additions like lemon zest for a summery touch, or to embrace a cozy autumnal mood, why not pair your batter with a fall classic: apple cider? To find out more about why this combo works, Food Republic consulted Marissa Stevens, recipe developer and founder of Pinch and Swirl, who revealed that "it adds a subtle apple flavor that feels cozy, like fall should."

"Apple cider adds both sweetness and a touch of acidity," Stevens explained. "So the pancakes taste a little brighter and more complex than ones made with neutral liquids like milk or water." Apple cider is the punchier and cloudier cousin to apple juice, which is why you'll find it popping up in hearty fall recipes from stews to donuts, or even steeped with spices to turn it into a soothing seasonal beverage. 

"It also adds natural sugars that caramelize quickly and help them brown better," Stevens told us. Apple cider contains fructose and sucrose, the former of which caramelizes at lower temperatures than many other sugars, adding an extra hint of dark caramely richness. Plus, since many homemade and boxed mixes use baking soda as a leavening agent, the cider's gentle acidity reacts with the alkaline soda to produce carbon dioxide gas. The result? Pancakes that are golden on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside.

Like most baked goods, pancakes are the product of a delicate chemical balance, and introducing new ingredients can easily shift that equilibrium. "If your cider's sweetened, I'd cut back on the sweetener. If you're using plain sugar, [reduce] by a tablespoon or two," Marissa Stevens told us. "If you're using honey or maple syrup, I'd cut back even more." Normally, apple cider is unsweetened as the natural sugars already give it a sweet complexity, but some commercial brands add sugar and sweeteners for extra flavor. To ensure your pancakes have the perfect balance of sweetness, be sure to check the label of your apple cider for ingredient information and adjust your recipe accordingly.

"If you're using buttermilk or yogurt, use fresh cider instead of hard or vinegary cider to avoid doubling up on acidity," Stevens added. Apple cider comes in several different forms. You've got fresh cider, which is pressed and unfermented; hard cider, a fizzier, alcoholic version that has been fermented; and apple cider vinegar, which has undergone even longer fermentation, which turns it into a tangy, acidic vinegar. While each version has its own unique place in the kitchen, we strongly recommend that you only opt for fresh apple cider in your pancakes — even if other acidic ingredients are omitted. This is because the fermentation process develops strong flavors and pungent aromas that can easily overpower the delicate sweetness of your batter and the overall flavor profile of your pancakes.  

In keeping with the spirit of the autumnal twist that apple cider can bring to your pancakes, it's only reasonable to incorporate other fall flavors. "Cinnamon is the obvious one," Marissa Stevens told us, "but I like mixing in a combination of warming spices: cardamom, nutmeg, even a pinch of ground cloves." Other classic fall spices you could consider adding are ginger and star anise. To make things easier, you could also pre-make a spice mix for immediate use. "Pumpkin pie spice is also an easy way to add a blend," Stevens told us. You can also adjust your spice mixes according to your own personal taste; maybe an apple pie spice blend containing cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, or even a chai blend of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves. With so many recipes out there, the options are practically limitless!  

Beyond spices, there are plenty of delicious toppings to finish your pancakes. "Sauteed apples or pears on top are classic," Stevens said, and for an even cozier vibe, cooking the fruit with sugar, juice, and cornstarch in your skillet will create a thick, comforting sauce to slather over your pancakes, but if this feels too heavy, "A drizzle of real maple syrup is always a good idea," she added.

"For texture, I like to add toasted pecans or finish with a little butter and flaky salt," Stevens told us. "Or, for something lighter, Greek yogurt with honey and a dusting of Saigon cinnamon." You could also finish your pancakes with a garnish of fresh, seasonal fall berries like cranberries or pomegranates for a little extra flair.