For those following a ketogenic diet, finding suitable alternatives to traditional favorites can be a challenge. Pancakes, a beloved breakfast staple, are no exception. Fortunately, the market now offers a variety of keto pancake mixes designed to satisfy cravings without derailing your diet. However, not all mixes are created equal. This review dives into some of the top keto pancake mixes available, evaluating them based on net carbs, ingredients, and, most importantly, taste.
Evaluating Keto Pancake Mixes: A Matter of Taste and Ingredients
Creating keto-friendly pancakes that truly mimic the taste and texture of traditional pancakes is a difficult task. While the number of keto pancake mixes on the market is growing, many still fall short in terms of flavor and ingredient quality. This review aims to provide an honest assessment of several popular brands, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed choice.
Important Note: This review is based on personal opinions and experiences. To maintain the integrity of this food blog, no brand partnerships were engaged in, nor were free products accepted.
Top Keto Pancake Mixes: A Detailed Breakdown
Here’s a closer look at some of the leading keto pancake mixes, ranked based on their overall performance:
1. Good Dee's Pancake Mix
Good Dee's Pancake Mix stood out as the best-tasting option in this review. While it's important to note that these pancakes won't perfectly replicate the taste of traditional pancakes, they offer a satisfying alternative, especially when paired with sugar-free syrup.
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To prepare Good Dee's pancakes, you'll need to add egg, heavy cream (or milk), butter (or coconut oil), and vanilla extract. Some Amazon reviewers have expressed concerns about the need for these additional ingredients, suggesting that it might be just as easy (and more cost-effective) to make homemade keto pancakes.
The ingredients in Good Dee's mix are generally good, but the baking powder contains tapioca starch. While the amount of tapioca starch is likely minimal due to its position on the ingredient list, those following a strict keto diet may want to consider this.
Ingredients: Almond Flour, Allulose, Corn-Free Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Tapioca Starch, Calcium Phosphate), and Salt.
Note: Good Dee's offers multiple pancake mix varieties, so be sure to check the packaging carefully before purchasing.
2. Perfect Keto Pancake Mix
Perfect Keto utilizes a blend of almond and coconut flour in their pancake mix. The coconut flavor is subtle but noticeable, which may appeal to some palates while deterring others. The batter is thicker, making it slightly more challenging to work with.
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Preparation requires the addition of egg, oil, and water or nut milk. The resulting pancakes are dense but offer a decent flavor, particularly when served with sugar-free syrup. The ingredients are keto-friendly.
3. [Brand Name Removed]
This pancake mix creates a batter that closely resembles traditional pancake batter and cooks similarly. While the pancakes were found to be somewhat bland, they lacked any strange flavors or aftertastes. With the addition of sugar-free syrup, they were deemed acceptable.
The preparation requires egg, milk (almond milk was used in the review), and oil. However, the net carb count is higher than other options on this list, and tapioca starch is the second ingredient, which is not considered keto-friendly. Those adhering to a strict keto diet may want to explore other alternatives.
4. Carbquik
Carbquik pancake batter has a similar look and feel to regular pancake batter. The mixture is made from a proprietary flour that mimics wheat and includes enzyme-enriched wheat, vital wheat gluten, and oat fiber.
The pancake recipe on the box calls for egg, heavy cream, water, and butter. This recipe was considered more labor-intensive compared to most other pancake mixes in this review. The mixture does not contain any sugar alcohols, which may be a positive aspect for individuals sensitive to these ingredients.
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5. Scotty's Everyday
Scotty's Everyday offers a high-fiber pancake mix that results in zero net carbs per serving. The high-fiber content comes from ingredients like resistant tapioca starch (zero carbs), chicory inulin, and psyllium husk. The mix is also free of nut flours, making it suitable for those with nut allergies.
To prepare, you need to add water, egg, and vanilla extract. The batter becomes thick and sticky, which can make it difficult to create pancakes. The resulting pancakes were described as dry, dense, and bland in flavor.
6. King Arthur
King Arthur's keto pancake mix creates a batter that resembles bread dough. Simply adding water transforms it into an elastic, doughy mixture. This unique texture made it somewhat challenging to form pancakes.
Once cooked, the pancakes had a smooth texture but a bland, bread-like flavor. Syrup greatly improved the taste.
7. [Brand Name Removed]
These keto pancakes offer a decent initial taste but finish with a bland flavor and a somewhat strange aftertaste. The mix includes chocolate chips, but the quantity was excessive, resulting in a thick batter that was difficult to cook. While the idea of chocolate chips is appealing, it seemed like they were added to mask the underlying blandness or aftertaste.
Preparation is simple, requiring only the addition of water. However, some ingredients, such as canola oil and tapioca starch, may not be suitable for strict keto diets.
8. Birch Benders Keto Pancake Mix
Birch Benders products are widely available, making their keto-friendly pancake mix easy to find. However, the batter is thick and somewhat difficult to turn into decent pancakes.
Unfortunately, the flavor and texture were not well-received. The pancakes have a strange, almost sour flavor and a grainy, dense texture.
Birch Benders' Perspective:
Birch Benders states that they believe every day can be a little sweeter and more thoughtful. They aim to bring people together and improve favorite foods. According to them, they are constantly innovating and improving recipes and packaging. They encourage consumers to consult the details on their packaging for the most up-to-date information, as formulas may vary.
Birch Benders highlights that their keto pancakes contain only 5g net carbs per serving. They emphasize the convenience of their mix, requiring only the addition of water. The resealable pouch is designed to keep the mix fresh for future use.
9. Lakanto
Lakanto pancake mix produces a thick, sticky batter (likely due to added fiber) that makes it difficult to create regular pancakes. Preparation requires eggs, water, oil, and vanilla extract.
The taste and texture were found to be lacking. The pancakes are dense, dry, and rather flavorless. The ingredients include tapioca starch, making the mix unsuitable for those on a strict keto diet.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Keto Pancake Mix
When selecting a keto pancake mix, consider the following factors:
- Net Carb Count: Pay close attention to the net carb count per serving to ensure it aligns with your daily macro goals.
- Ingredients: Carefully review the ingredient list, looking for potential allergens, unwanted additives, and ingredients that may not be suitable for a strict keto diet (such as tapioca starch).
- Taste and Texture: Read reviews and consider trying multiple brands to find a mix that satisfies your personal taste preferences.
- Ease of Preparation: Some mixes require more ingredients and effort than others. Choose a mix that fits your lifestyle and cooking skills.
Birch Benders Keto Pancake Mix: A Closer Look
Birch Benders' perspective on their keto pancake mix provides additional insight. They emphasize the convenience of their mix, requiring only the addition of water.
Additional Information from Birch Benders:
- Taste and Texture: Birch Benders claims to have cracked the code on keto pancake texture and flavor, delivering a fluffy texture and satisfying flavor.
- Preparation: They recommend adding eggs, water, and oil for perfect pancakes. For richer, fluffier pancakes, they suggest substituting water with twice the amount of heavy cream.
- Sweeteners: Their pancake mix is naturally sweetened with monk fruit extract, avoiding erythritol or artificial sweeteners.
- Gluten-Free: The mix is tested and verified gluten-free to less than 20ppm, meeting FDA standards.
- Waffle Compatibility: The mix can also be used to make waffles. For the best waffles, they recommend adding an extra tablespoon of oil to the batter.