- Last updated on August 11, 2025
Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Pancakes
- Major Shortcut—Using my favorite pancake mix makes these pumpkin pancakes quick and easy, making them perfect for busy mornings.
- Fall Flavors—Pumpkin, pumpkin spice, and brown sugar add warm, autumnal flavor to every bite.
- Gilmore Girls-Inspired—Based on Luke’s pumpkin pancakes, this easy breakfast captures a bit of the magic of fall in Stars Hollow.
These pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon butter are 100% inspired by the unofficial (but official according to me) TV show of fall—Gilmore Girls. Just in case you don’t remember—in season 4, episode 9, Luke offers pumpkin pancakes with homemade cinnamon butter to mother-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory in his diner right before they head off to the Harvard-Yale football game.
My take on Luke’s pumpkin pancakes utilizes a major shortcut to save time: Krusteaz buttermilk pancake mix (grab a bag on Amazon or Walmart). I add in pumpkin purée, pumpkin spice, brown sugar, and vanilla extract to create sweet (but not too sweet), fluffy, delicious pumpkin pancakes in no time. Top them off with a simple cinnamon compound butter, and you can pretend you’re enjoying breakfast at Luke’s Diner without ever leaving your kitchen!
Pumpkin Pancakes Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need…
Pancake Mix: Krusteaz buttermilk pancake mix is my personal favorite, and it serves as a perfect base for these pumpkin pancakes. Of course, you can sub in your own favorite pancake mix—but keep in mind that mix-to-liquid ratios, texture, and flavor may vary.
Shop Krusteaz Pancake Mix on Amazon | Shop Krusteaz Pancake Mix on Walmart
Pumpkin Pie Spice: Adds warm, spiced flavor that pairs perfectly with pumpkin purée and brown sugar.
Light Brown Sugar: Or dark brown, either will work! This extra brown sugar adds warm sweetness without making the pancakes too sweet.
Pumpkin: You can’t have pumpkin pancakes without some actual pumpkin! Here’s the key—use 100% pure pumpkin purée not pumpkin pie filling.
Vanilla Extract: In another episode of Gilmore Girls, Lorelai asks herself WWTBFCD? (“What would the Barefoot Contessa do?”) Anyone who has seen Ina Garten’s cooking show knows that she would use “good” vanilla. My favorite is Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract—shop it below.
Shop Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract on Amazon | Shop Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract on Williams-Sonoma
Water: Krusteaz mix only requires water—no milk, no eggs.
Homemade Cinnamon Butter Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need…
- Salted butter
- Honey
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- Light or dark brown sugar
How to Make Pumpkin Pancakes With Homemade Cinnamon Butter: Step By Step
1. Make the pancake batter.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the Krusteaz mix, pumpkin spice, and brown sugar until well combined. Then, add the water, pumpkin purée, and vanilla extract. Stir well.
Note: If you want thinner pancakes, consider adding up to one extra tablespoon of water. If you want thicker, fluffier pancakes, add an extra tablespoon or so of pancake mix, or withhold a bit of the water.
2. Preheat your skillet.
Heat a large skillet over medium-low/medium heat and melt enough butter to coat the bottom. Give the butter a couple minutes to melt fully and begin to bubble.
3. Cook the pumpkin pancakes.
Spoon the batter into the skillet (I use a bit less than 1/4 cup per pancake). Cook on medium-low to medium heat for about 2 – 2 1/2 minutes on the first side, or until the tops are bubbly, the edges are set, and the bottoms of the pancakes are golden. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until the bottoms of the pancakes are golden and the center is cooked through.
How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Butter
Add all ingredients to a small bowl and use a hand mixer to mix them until well combined. Either spread some cinnamon butter on your pancakes right away, or store the butter in the fridge in a small container or wrapped in parchment or plastic wrap.
More Pancakes You’ll Love
If you want to add some variety to your fall pancake breakfast, make some of my cinnamon swirl pancakes and chai spiced pancakes. And, while you’re at it, make yourself a chai latte to sip on while you eat!
Shop My Pumpkin Pancake Favorites
Shop all linked products on Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, or Walmart!
- Pick up some Krusteaz buttermilk pancake mix on Amazon or Walmart. It’s the perfect base for these pumpkin pancakes, cinnamon swirl pancakes, chai pancakes, pancake muffins, and more.
- Again, make sure you use 100% pure pumpkin in these pancakes, not pumpkin pie filling!
- I love using these Staub bowls or this Le Creuset batter bowl to mix up pancake batter.
- This Gotham Steel skillet is my go-to for cooking pancakes since it’s extra roomy.
- Pour 100% pure maple syrup—not flavored corn syrup—over these pancakes. You just can’t beat the real deal when it comes to maple syrup.
Read on for the yummiest Gilmore-approved fall breakfast recipe.
And if you haven’t watched Gilmore Girls yet, turn on one of my favorite fall episodes while you cook. Then, once you have given these pancakes a try, come back here to leave a rating and review!
Luke's Diner Pumpkin Pancakes Made Easy (Krusteaz Mix Recipe)
Equipment (Shop on Amazon)
Ingredients
Luke's Diner Pumpkin Pancakes
- 1 cup Krusteaz buttermilk pancake mix
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- ⅔ cup cold water
- ¼ cup pure pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Homemade Cinnamon Butter
- 4 tbsp salted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 tsp honey
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp light brown sugar
Instructions
Luke's Diner Pumpkin Pancakes
- In a small/medium bowl, whisk together the Krusteaz mix, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar. Add the water, pumpkin, and vanilla extract and mix until well incorporated. Do not overmix, as this could cause the pancakes to turn out tough and rubbery.1 cup Krusteaz buttermilk pancake mix, ⅔ cup cold water, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, ¼ cup pure pumpkin, 1 tbsp light brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Melt butter in a large frying pan on medium/low to medium heat—enough to coat the bottom of the pan. When the butter has fully melted and started to bubble, add your pancake batter. This recipe will make 5-6 small pancakes (about 4 inches across) or 2-3 larger pancakes. I use a scant ¼ cup of batter per pancake to yield 6 pancakes.
- Cook the pancakes for 2-2½ minutes over medium/low to medium heat, or until the edges appear set, the tops are bubbly, and the bottoms are golden. Flip. Cook on the second side for 1-1½ minutes, or until the bottoms are golden and the center is cooked through.
- Serve with cinnamon butter, maple syrup, or your other favorite pancake toppings. Enjoy!
Homemade Cinnamon Butter
- Using a hand mixer, beat together the salted butter, honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and brown sugar for 2-3 minutes, or until well combined.4 tbsp salted butter, 1 tsp honey, ½ tsp vanilla extract, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp light brown sugar
- Either serve right away or store the butter in the fridge.
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2 Responses
This looks so scrumptious Camy, YUM!!! 😋 I just may have to have at some point. Your bro made some pancakes last night for Oliver- he does make thee best… Super fluffy & perfection all around, definitely what your picture looks like! That cinnamon butter though 😏🤤
Aw that’s so sweet. They sound yummy!
Yes, love the cinnamon butter! 😊