Pancake Mini Muffins (Quick Bite-Sized Breakfast)
If you love pancakes but don’t love standing at the stove flipping batch after batch… you are going to obsess over these Pancake Mini Muffins (Quick Bite-Sized Breakfast).
They’re everything we love about pancakes—soft, fluffy, buttery, lightly sweet—baked into adorable mini muffin cups that are ready in minutes. No flipping. No messy griddle. No “one person eating while everyone else waits.” Just one pan, one bake, and a full batch of warm pancake bites you can grab, dip, and devour.
More breakfast ideas you’ll love
These mini pancake muffins are also one of the best breakfast meal-prep hacks ever. Make them on Sunday, refrigerate or freeze, and you’ll have fast breakfasts for the entire week. They’re perfect for kids (and adults), lunchboxes, after-school snacks, brunch boards, holiday mornings, and even as a fun “breakfast-for-dinner” option.
And the best part? You can customize them in a single batch. Do half with chocolate chips, a few with strawberries, some with blueberries, and maybe even sneak in cinnamon-sugar or chopped nuts. You’ll feel like you made a bakery-style variety pack… but with pancake batter.
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Why Pancake Mini Muffins Are the Ultimate Breakfast Upgrade
Traditional pancakes are delicious—no doubt about it—but they come with a few problems:
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You have to cook them one by one
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Someone always ends up eating last
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The first pancakes get cold
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The kitchen smells amazing but looks like a disaster
That’s where Pancake Mini Muffins (Quick Bite-Sized Breakfast) come in.
Instead of babysitting a skillet, you just pour batter into a mini muffin pan and bake. In 10–12 minutes, you get golden pancake bites that are perfectly portioned and easy to serve.
These mini pancake muffins are also:
✅ Great for meal prep
✅ Kid-friendly & lunchbox friendly
✅ Easy to freeze
✅ Perfect for dipping in syrup
✅ Ideal for parties, brunch trays & holidays
Once you try them, you’ll want to keep a stash in your freezer at all times.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here’s why this recipe has become a go-to favorite in so many homes:
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Ready in 25 minutes (including prep!)
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Makes 24 mini muffins
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No flipping, no mess
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Soft and fluffy texture
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Perfect for grab-and-go breakfasts
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Easy to customize with toppings
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Freezer-friendly for busy mornings
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Great for kids AND adults
Pancake Mini Muffins (Quick Bite-Sized Breakfast) – Recipe Info
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
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Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
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Total Time: 25 minutes
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Servings: 24 mini muffins
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Cuisine: American
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Category: Breakfast / Snack
Ingredients for Pancake Mini Muffins
These Pancake Mini Muffins (Quick Bite-Sized Breakfast) are made with simple pantry staples—no pancake mix needed.
Pancake Muffin Batter
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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1 tablespoon cane sugar
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1 cup whole milk
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3 tablespoons butter, melted and slightly cooled
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1 egg
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Toppings (Choose Any!)
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Mini chocolate chips
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Strawberries (chopped)
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Blueberries
Ingredient Notes + Pro Tips
Flour
All-purpose flour gives you the perfect light pancake texture. You can swap with half whole wheat flour if you want more fiber, but the muffins will be slightly denser.
Baking Powder
This gives your muffins their fluffy rise. Make sure it’s fresh—expired baking powder can cause flat, dense muffins.
Cane Sugar
A small amount is perfect for classic pancake flavor. You can increase to 2 tablespoons if you like sweeter muffins, especially if you’re skipping toppings.
Whole Milk
Whole milk makes the batter richer and more tender. But you can use 2% or even non-dairy milk (almond or oat milk works well).
Melted Butter
Butter gives true pancake flavor. The key is letting it cool slightly so it doesn’t scramble the egg.
Vanilla Extract
This adds warmth and sweetness—don’t skip it if you want that real “breakfast bakery” vibe.
Equipment You’ll Need
You don’t need anything fancy, but these tools make it super easy:
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Mini muffin tin (24-count)
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Mixing bowls
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Whisk
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Rubber spatula
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Cooking spray or butter for greasing
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Optional: small cookie scoop (for neat, even portions)
How to Make Pancake Mini Muffins (Step-by-Step)
1) Preheat the oven
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
This hot temperature is important—it helps the muffins puff quickly, just like pancakes rising on a griddle.
2) Mix dry ingredients
In a mixing bowl, whisk together:
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flour
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baking powder
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salt
3) Mix wet ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
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cane sugar
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milk
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melted butter
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egg
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vanilla
4) Combine wet + dry
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir gently with a rubber spatula until just combined.
Important: Don’t overmix! The batter should look slightly lumpy. Overmixing = tough muffins.
5) Grease the pan well
Spray your mini muffin tin generously with nonstick cooking spray.
Mini muffins love to stick, so don’t be shy here.
6) Fill muffin cups
Fill each mini muffin cup with batter. This recipe makes 24 mini muffins.
Using a cookie scoop helps keep them evenly sized.
7) Add toppings
Top each muffin cup with:
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2–3 blueberries, OR
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2–3 strawberry chunks, OR
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about 1 teaspoon mini chocolate chips
You can mix and match across the pan to create variety.
8) Bake
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until:
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tops look set
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edges lightly golden
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toothpick comes out clean
9) Cool + serve
Let muffins cool in the pan for 2–3 minutes, then remove and serve warm.
✅ Best served with maple syrup for dipping!
What They Taste Like (And Why Everyone Loves Them)
These mini pancake muffins taste like classic fluffy pancakes… but better in some ways:
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The outside edges get lightly golden like a pancake griddle surface
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The inside stays soft, moist, and tender
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Toppings bake into the muffin, making every bite flavorful
With chocolate chips, they taste like a pancake version of mini chocolate chip muffins. With blueberries, they taste like blueberry pancakes in snack form. With strawberries, they feel fresh and sweet.
They’re fun, comforting, and seriously addictive.
Tips for Best Pancake Mini Muffins
If you want the fluffiest, softest Pancake Mini Muffins (Quick Bite-Sized Breakfast) every time, here are the top tips:
✅ Don’t overmix the batter
A few lumps = good.
Smooth batter = overmixed = dense muffins.
✅ Grease the pan very well
Mini muffin pans are notorious for sticking. Grease every cup thoroughly.
✅ Cool the melted butter slightly
If the butter is piping hot, it can cook the egg in the batter.
✅ Rest the batter 5 minutes
Resting allows the flour to hydrate and gives fluffier muffins.
✅ Use a cookie scoop
This helps each muffin bake evenly and look perfect.
Flavor Variations (So You Never Get Bored)
Once you master the base recipe, you can create endless flavors:
1) Cinnamon Sugar Pancake Mini Muffins
Before baking, sprinkle each muffin with cinnamon sugar. After baking, brush with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar for a “donut pancake” vibe.
2) Banana Pancake Muffins
Fold 1 mashed ripe banana into the batter. Add mini chocolate chips = AMAZING.
3) Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Swirl in 1–2 tablespoons peanut butter and top with chocolate chips.
4) Lemon Blueberry
Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the batter and use blueberries on top.
5) Funfetti Pancake Bites
Add 2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles + white chocolate chips.
6) Apple Cinnamon
Use tiny diced apples + cinnamon. Serve with warm syrup for dipping.
Best Toppings for Pancake Mini Muffins
These muffin bites are perfect as-is, but toppings make them extra exciting.
Here are the best topping ideas:
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Maple syrup (classic dipping sauce)
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Honey
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Nutella
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Peanut butter
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Greek yogurt + fruit
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Whipped cream
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Powdered sugar
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Strawberry jam
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Cinnamon butter
Want to be fancy? Serve them on a brunch board with syrup cups, berries, and whipped cream.
How to Serve Pancake Mini Muffins (Brunch Ideas)
These pancake mini muffins are incredibly versatile. Here are some serving ideas:
For a quick breakfast:
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Serve 6–8 muffins per person
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Add fruit on the side
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Serve with syrup for dipping
For brunch:
Add them to a brunch spread with:
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scrambled eggs
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sausage links or bacon
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hash browns
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fruit salad
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coffee or orange juice
For kids:
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Serve in a lunchbox with apple slices
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Add a small container of syrup
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Pair with yogurt pouch
For holidays:
Set up a “pancake muffin bar”:
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mini muffins in different flavors
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multiple dips (syrup, Nutella, peanut butter)
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berries + whipped cream
Storage & Reheating
These are perfect for meal prep.
Fridge Storage
Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.
Freezer Storage
Freeze up to 2 months.
How to freeze properly:
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Let muffins cool completely
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Place in a freezer bag
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Remove air and seal
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Freeze flat for easy storage
Best Ways to Reheat Pancake Mini Muffins
Microwave (fastest)
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15–20 seconds
Air Fryer (best texture)
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300°F for 2–3 minutes
Oven (best for large batches)
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325°F for 6–8 minutes
Pro Tip: Warm them, then serve with syrup. They taste freshly baked.
PrintPancake Mini Muffins (Quick Bite-Sized Breakfast)
These Pancake Mini Muffins are the cutest and easiest way to enjoy pancakes—no flipping, no waiting, and no mess! They’re soft, fluffy, and perfect for grab-and-go breakfasts, lunchboxes, or weekend brunch boards. Plus, you can make a variety in one batch by adding chocolate chips, strawberries, and blueberries.
Ingredients
Pancake Muffin Batter
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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1 tablespoon cane sugar
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1 cup whole milk
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3 tablespoons butter, melted and slightly cooled
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1 egg
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Toppings (Optional)
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Mini chocolate chips
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Strawberries (chopped)
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Blueberries
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
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In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
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In a separate bowl, mix together cane sugar, milk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla.
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Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir gently with a rubber spatula until just combined.
(Don’t overmix—this keeps them fluffy.) -
Grease a mini muffin tin well with cooking spray.
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Fill each mini muffin cup with batter (this makes 24 mini muffins).
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Add toppings:
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2–3 blueberries per cup, OR
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2–3 strawberry chunks per cup, OR
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about 1 teaspoon mini chocolate chips per cup
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Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Let muffins cool in the pan for 2–3 minutes, then remove and serve.
Notes
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Don’t overmix the batter (a few lumps are fine).
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Grease the tin well—mini muffins stick easily.
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Use slightly cooled butter so it doesn’t cook the egg.
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Want extra fluffy muffins? Let the batter rest 5 minutes before baking.
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For even filling, use a small cookie scoop.
Estimated Nutrition
Per 1 mini muffin (1/24 of recipe, without toppings):
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Calories: ~55 kcal
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Carbohydrates: ~7g
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Protein: ~2g
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Fat: ~2g
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Sugar: ~1g
Nutrition will change depending on toppings.
FAQs About Pancake Mini Muffins
Can I use pancake mix instead of flour?
Yes! If you’re short on time, you can use pancake mix—just follow the mix instructions but make it slightly thicker so it bakes well in muffin cups.
Why are my muffins dense?
Most common reasons:
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Batter was overmixed
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Baking powder was old
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Oven wasn’t hot enough
Can I make these dairy-free?
Yes. Use:
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plant milk (oat milk works great)
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melted coconut oil or vegan butter
Can I make regular-sized muffins?
You can, but the texture will be more muffin-like than pancake-like. If you do:
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bake at 375°F
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bake 14–18 minutes
Can I add syrup into the batter?
A little (1 tablespoon) is okay, but too much makes muffins heavy. Better to dip them after baking.
Final Thoughts
These Pancake Mini Muffins (Quick Bite-Sized Breakfast) are the kind of recipe that makes mornings easier and more fun. They’re fluffy and tender like pancakes, but baked into perfectly portioned little bites you can grab straight from the fridge, pop into lunchboxes, or warm up for a cozy breakfast.
I love recipes like this because they solve so many problems at once: no flipping, no standing at the stove, and no waiting for batches. Instead, you get 24 mini pancake muffins baked all at once—perfect for busy weekday mornings, meal prep Sundays, brunch spreads, and even snack time.
And because they’re endlessly customizable, you can keep the base recipe the same while making them feel brand new every time. Chocolate chip pancake bites one day, blueberry pancake muffins the next, and strawberry vanilla the day after—that’s breakfast variety without extra work.