The best pancake mix is a big time lifesaver for those looking to create a top-tier Saturday morning breakfast at home. In fact, we believe it’s one of the most important pantry items to pick up at the grocery store. But there’s a lot of boxes out there promising fluffy flapjacks. What is the best pancake mix? After testing many, many mixes, we found 12 that fit the bill—including not only the ebay buttermilk pancake mix, but also the best gluten free pancake mix, the best keto pancake mix, and even the best buckwheat pancake mix.
To make the pancakes, we mixed according to the simplest possible package instructions. If the egg was optional, guess what? That mix wasn’t getting that egg. We also tested these pancakes straight, no chaser—aka no maple syrup. Of course, when we finished the initial tasting, we went back and polished off our favorites with syrup for the complete picture, but at that point, they had earned it.
If we’ve learned anything from Neville Longbottom’s glow-up, it’s that a lot can change in a couple years. Plenty of new boxed pancake mixes have come out since we initially published our ranking of the best pancake mixes. So, we recently tasted a bunch more mixes in search of some new picks to add to the list—specifically, we sought out pancake mixes that satisfied some more particular dietary requirements. Whether you’re keto, gluten-free, prefer sweet or savory, we’re happy to announce that there’s a pancake out there for everybody.
Here’s the full, updated list of the best pancake mix you can buy.
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- Betty Crocker Cinnamon Toast Crunch Pancake Kit
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On one hand, you could argue that this product doesn’t need to exist. You could just buy a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and combine it with your preferred pancake mix. However, Betty Crocker’s collab kit gives you a little pouch of cinnamon toast powder, and I think that’s got incredible value. The powder, when you sprinkle it on the pancakes, adds a wonderful and thoroughly sugary cinnamon flavor. This is the best boxed pancake mix for midnight munchies, for sure. — Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- New Hope Mills Buckwheat
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I’m not a huge buckwheat fan, but the pancakes from this buckwheat pancake mix were perfectly pleasant. And I was entranced by how fluffy they came out. These will be a hit at a sophisticated brunch—a fancy one I’d be kicked out of for wearing flip flops. A warning: The packaging is impossible to open. But, if you’re looking for the best buckwheat pancake mix, that’s just the price you’ll have to pay. —Hebba Gouda
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
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Krusteaz Belgian Waffles ranked highly on our best frozen waffles ranking, and, while their pancake mix didn’t break the top five, it’s still some of the best buttermilk pancake mix we tasted. What I really like about these is how fluffy they are. These pancakes have such a good height. They really stand tall for a powdered pancake mix. They lack in flavor, though, and taste somewhat bland. That’s an easy fix and, for some, a check in the plus column—I would go absolutely nuts with sugary fillings and toppings here. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Great Value Complete Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix
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Walmart has come through with a solid and extremely cheap pancake mix. It’s slightly sweet and a little bit salty, and honestly when you nail those two things, really what else do you want? It’s got an excellent plain flavor, and the texture is pleasantly chewy. It contains buttermilk powder and dried egg yolks, so you just need to add water. Best part is it costs less than $2 a box. If you’re stocking up for a crowd or just looking for a good deal, Great Value is the best pancake mix brand for you. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Betty Crocker Dunkaroos Complete Rainbow Sprinkles Pancake Kit
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These pancakes are wild as hell. Somebody should check to see if Betty Crocker is alright. The pancake mix itself is pretty standard, albeit filled with sprinkles, but it comes with sweet, sweet Dunkaroos frosting goo, which is what makes it chaotic. The frosting melts and liquifies over the hot pancakes almost like syrup. This is the best store bought pancake mix to break out for a birthday breakfast for your very stoned roommate or your eight-year-old child. It would be the best boxed pancake mix for either. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Maple Grove Farm Gluten Free Pancake Mix
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I had a good feeling about this one from the get-go. The mix was sweet and aromatic as soon as I opened the bag. Despite this tantalizing scent, the finished pancake had a surprisingly neutral flavor, striking a balance between something subtle for those who don’t want a sugar bomb, and a veritable raft for syrup for those who know how to live. The pancakes crisped up quickly and evenly in the pan, and the texture was pretty great despite just the tiniest bit of grit and a touch of extra denseness. This is, by far, the best gluten free pancake mix you can buy. Celiacs, rejoice! —Hebba Gouda
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Hawaiian Sun Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pancake Mix
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Sweet, nutty, and chocolatey, Hawaiian Sun’s Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pancake Mix provides a delightfully aromatic pancake experience with an almost coconutty flavor. The package even suggests pairing it with Hawaiian Sun’s Coconut Syrup. That sounds good as hell to me. I love the idea of pouring some sweet coconut syrup and freshly cut pineapple on these deliciously fluffy cakes. The chocolate and the macadamia flavors are very subtle, which I appreciate. This mix provides a very understated yet flavorful blank slate for you to add fruity toppings. Hawaiian Sun makes some of the best pancake mix—and you just need to add water. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Lund’s Swedish Pancake Mix
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This Swedish pancake mix is super fine—almost like a dense pancake powder instead of a coarse mix. Lund’s does require you to add an egg (and the instructions suggest using milk instead of water), which is kind of cheating if you ask me, but the overall product is still great. Swedish pancakes are meant to be quite flat, almost like crepes. These Swedish pancakes have a buttery flavor with an excellent, toothsome bite. They get really nice and crisp on the outside, too. If you want to cook them a little longer, you’ll be rewarded with an extra layer of crispness that can withstand your river of syrup. This is some of the best pancake mix that produces formidable, tasty, thin Swedish pancakes. Don’t sleep on it. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- King Arthur Buttermilk Pancake Mix
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This buttermilk pancake mix from baking mix royalty, King Arthur, has that classic buttermilk tang along with a delightful touch of salt. Our favorite thing about King Arthur Buttermilk Pancake Mix is that it somehow tastes buttery. My guess is that this is due to the inclusion of sunflower oil. In addition to the decadent texture and flavor, these suckers get nice and fluffy, too. No featureless pancakes here. This mix came close to being the absolute best pancake mix, but it’s definitely the best buttermilk pancake mix. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Simple Mills Protein Almond Flour Pancake Mix
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This one was my favorite—not necessarily because it tasted the best or had the best texture (though it was up there in both categories), but it really earned my respect for being so different and still so good. Kind of like Lady Gaga. She’s unique in that she’s the best in the intersection of singers and people who have publicly worn meat dresses. This pancake mix is really distinct in that you can really taste the almond and coconut flour. I’m not certain that it would scratch the itch of “classic pancake” if that’s what you were looking for, but if you’re looking for a way to really enjoy getting 11g of protein in the morning, this is the best pancake mix for the job. Often, protein-infused products are chalky, but these pancakes are somehow almost creamy in the middle, while being wonderfully nutty and subtly sweet. Best protein pancake mix, hands down. —Hebba Gouda
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Birch Benders Keto Carb Friendly Pancake & Waffle Mix
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The only time I really watch my carbs is when I stare lovingly at the grilled cheese I just made, the way that a new parent watches their young child sleep. As someone who understands pancakes to be a disc of carbs, I was skeptical about how a low carb pancake mix would play. And yet, I am here, extending a formal apology to Birch Benders for my skepticism. I don’t know what sorcery Birch Benders has perfected, but my first note was, “Oh my god, it’s delicious!” and I stand by that, having finished the whole pancake. The pancakes have a great, fluffy texture and they sit pleasantly on the sweeter side of the spectrum. They’ve got a real Nilla Wafer thing going on, which is always something I’m trying to justify having for breakfast. Whether you’re looking for the best keto pancake mix or, generally, the best low carb pancake mix, this is the best pancake mix brand for you. —Hebba Gouda
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Birch Benders Organic Buttermilk Pancake Mix
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For a “just add water” pancake mix, we were all blown away by the flavor of Birch Benders. When I was making the pancakes, this was the batter I enjoyed the most in its raw form (yes, I ate the batter raw, so what?). The buttermilk flavor is absolutely delicious; the tangy taste is tamed by additional sweet, sugary notes that create a perfectly balanced batter. Birch Benders is made with organic ingredients, so I believe the quality here is high. Moreover, the batter didn’t produce flat-ass pancakes. There was a nice bubbliness from the added leavening agents in the mix, so you get a light and fluffy yet substantial hotcake. Great flavor. Great texture. Reasonable price. Birch Benders Buttermilk Pancake Mix continues to be the best pancake mix around. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Amazon
Best Cinnamon
Best Buckwheat Pancakes
Best Fluffy Pancakes
Best Budget
Best Brand Collab
Best Gluten Free Pancakes
Best with Fruit
Best Swedish Pancakes
Best Buttermilk Pancakes
Best Protein Pancake Mix
Best Keto Pancake Mix
Best of the Best
Other pancake mixes we tried: Bisquick, Log Cabin, Cap’N Crunch Berrytastic, Mrs. Butterworth’s Double Choco, Pillsbury Funfetti, Hungry Jack, King Arthur Gluten Free, Kodiak Chocolate Chip, Birch Benders Chocolate Chip, Pearl Milling Company, Betty Crocker Lucky Charms, Stonewall Kitchen Farmhouse, Bob’s Red Mill, Arrowhead Mills Buckwheat, Bob’s Red Mill 10 Grain, Dolly Parton Pancake Mix, Birch Benders Protein, Pamela’s Pancake Mix, Krusteaz Protein
