My Mom’s pancakes are my all-time favorite pancakes. Whenever I go out to a restaurant, I don’t typically like ordering pancakes, because I know they can never compare to my Mom’s. A little biased? Yes, but I can’t help it. So what’s this delectable secret to why my Mom has the best pancakes? Aunt Jemima Pancake mix. Wait, she uses boxed mix? There’s no way that can be better than from scratch. Well, on a level, I agree with you that nothing’s better than scratch, but after tasting my Mom’s pancakes, I have a new faith in boxed-based recipes. See, this recipe doesn’t just follow the box instructions; it improves upon a solid pancake foundation.
The two secret, but crucial, ingredients in this box-based mix are applesauce and vanilla extract. For some reason boxed mixes forgo the flavoring step, and I feel like that really limits the recipe.
I add just a tablespoon or so of cinnamon applesauce, some vanilla extract, and just a dash of almond extract, to really make this recipe shine. Add some sprinkles for a colorful, fun element, and you’ve got a party! A breakfast party, that is.