These tips will help you create the perfect pancake board for your next brunch or breakfast. Such a fun and easy way to make a simple meal special for your family and friends!
Easter, Mother’s Day, and bridal shower season always have me thinking about brunch ideas. Therefore, I’m dedicating March to all things brunch here at SGM. We kicked off brunch month with this delicious recipe for a No-Bake Fruit and Yogurt Tart, followed by Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes, and today, we have The Perfect Pancake Board. (See the bottom of this post for more brunch recipes, tips, and ideas.)
You probably already know that food boards/charcuterie boards, and food bars are my absolute faves!!! They are so simple to put together, customizable, always look so impressive, and most importantly they bring people together. They are perfect for date nights, hosting guests, or for making an ordinary family meal a little more festive.
Creating the perfect pancake board for your next brunch will be a breeze with these tips!
Pancake Board Tip #1 – The Pancakes
Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes are my top choice for a pancake board. They do not contain any refined ingredients, and they are a favorite of everyone in my family. My Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes are my absolute favorite, but I recommend sticking to a plain pancake since everyone will be able to add their favorite toppings.
Pancake Board Tip #2 – The Toppings and Side Dishes
The best part of a pancake board are all of the fun toppings! To make it a complete and balanced meal, I like to add some crowd-pleasing sides.
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Bananas
- Chocolate Chips – I like using Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chunks because they only contain 2 ingredients: dark chocolate and cane sugar.
- Butter – Kerrigold Pure Irish Butter is my favorite. I recommend slicing your butter when it’s cold and placing it on the board early so that it can come to room temperature.
- Nut Butter – Choose your favorite. I used cashew butter for mine.
- Honey – I like purchasing local, raw, and unfiltered honey.
- Pure Maple Syrup – You can serve at room temperature or heated.
- Whipped Cream – Skip the Cool Whip and spray whipped cream and make your own. It tastes so much better, and it’s not loaded with crap ingredients. I just add cold organic grass-fed heavy whipping cream into my mixer with a little vanilla extract and beat on medium speed until peaks form. Since there are plenty of sweet toppings on the board, there’s no need to sweeten it. You can make the whipped cream a day ahead of time. I put the cream into a ziplock bag and cut a corner off so that I can pipe it into my serving bowl.
- Granola – I love the crunch and health benefits granola adds to pancakes. Check out my Homemade Granola Recipe.
- Yogurt – Plain yogurt is a great addition to the board. It can be used to top pancakes instead of whipped cream or it makes a great side dish for those who may not want pancakes. The board has all the fixin’s to top yogurt. I like plain Greek yogurt because it contains more protein than regular plain yogurt, but either works.
- Bacon – Meat lovers will appreciate the bacon. We don’t eat it very often, but when we do I purchase Applegate Uncured Bacon without Sugar.
Feel free to make the board your own by subbing or adding jams, jellies, hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and/or additional fruits.
Pancake Board Tip #3 – The Serving Board
There are endless possibilities for serving boards. The most important thing to keep in mind is the number of people you will serve, and the number of items you want to include on your board. I used this Oversized Carved Wood Tray by Hearth and Hand Board that I purchased at Target. It was just the right size for my pancakes and all of my toppings. I like that it has large handles for carrying the board and raised edges so your toppings do not fall off.
Pancake Board Tip #4 – Serving Pieces
You will need a variety of bowls, ramekins, a small pitcher, appetizer spreaders, and spoons for your pancake board depending on what you choose for your toppings and sides. If you’re creating the board for guests, I recommend gathering all of your serving pieces and getting an idea of your layout a night or two before your brunch. This way you will not be scrambling when your guests are about to arrive.
Pancake Board Tip #5 – Assembling Your Board
Just before you are ready to make your pancakes, assemble all of the toppings and sides that do not need to be served hot. I like to arrange items that will be in bowls first and then place the other toppings and sides around them, making sure to vary the color.
I cook my bacon at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes in the oven on a wire rack placed over a baking sheet. While my bacon is cooking, I make my pancakes. You can turn your oven to 200 degrees and keep the pancakes and bacon warm until just before serving.
I hope these tips help you to create an amazing pancake board for your next brunch, weekend breakfast with your family, or even a fun weeknight breakfast for dinner.
If you make this pancake board, please let me know. You can leave a comment and/or a rating below, and be sure to tag me on Instagram. I love hearing from you and seeing your creations!
Here are some other recipes and tips you might like for your next brunch, breakfast, or shower.
5 Tips for Creating the Perfect Bagel Bar
Mini Herb Favors to Spruce up Your Spring Tablescape
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