Ricotta Pancakes are light, fluffy and so easy to make. This recipe adds pumpkin, fall spices and homemade Ginger-Thyme pancake syrup for an unforgettable breakfast!
A hot breakfast always starts the day off right!
This easy recipe for Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes are flavor-packes and soul-warming.
As children we loved the Ricotta Pancakes my grandmother would make.
Light, fluffy and so moist in the middle.
I’ve changed up my Grandmother’s recipe for fall flavored Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes.
Warming spices and a homemade Ginger-Thyme Syrup make an exciting seasonal recipe your family will beg you to make on repeat!
What are Ricotta Pancakes?
Ricotta pancakes contain ricotta cheese. Ricotta cheese is a soft, wet cheese sold in containers.
It’s probably most familiar as an ingredient in lasagna recipes.
Adding the moist cheese to pancakes creates pancakes with almost a custardy consistency inside.
They don’t dry out like regular pancakes can.
The ricotta cheese does not make the pancakes taste ‘cheesy’.
It mainly adds moisture to the pancakes unlike a traditional pancake batter.
Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes
To give these ricotta pancakes a delicious fall flavor pumpkin puree and fall spices are added.
Light Fluffy Pancakes
Ricotta pancakes are probably most well known for their light fluffy texture.
There is an optional additional step to make the pancakes the fluffiest possible (detailed below).
Whether you take a few extra minutes to try this way or add the eggs whole, the pancakes are moist and delicious!
PRO TIP for Fluffiest Pancakes
- Instead of mixing whole eggs into the batter, separate the egg whites and yolks.
- Mix yolks in with the wet ingredients.
- Beat the whites separately until fluffy then fold into the wet ingredients.
Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes Ingredients
Making pancakes from scratch is easy. It takes only a few minutes to mix together the wholesome ingredients.
- Baking Powder
- Kosher Salt
- All Purpose Flour (regular or gluten-free blend)
- Ground Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Milk
- Ricotta cheese
- Pumpkin Puree
- Eggs
How to Make Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes – Step-by-Step
For a detailed printable recipe refer to the recipe card at the end of the post.
STEP 1: Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix to combine.
STEP 2: In a second large bowl combine the wet ingredients: milk, ricotta cheese, pumpkin puree and eggs. Whisk.
STEP 3: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix only to combine (do not overmix).
STEP 4: Spoon batter onto a heated griddle or skillet. Allow bubbles to appear on the top surface before flipping the pancakes.
Homemade Ginger-Thyme Pancake Syrup
Regular maple syrup or whipped cream would be delicious on these Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes.
If you have a bit more time making a homemade pancake syrup is a delicious addition to the pancakes.
It’s easy and you may become hooked on making your own!
Kid-Friendly Pancake Syrup
When making this originally I wondered if the flavors would be ‘kid friendly‘.
My then 9-year old cleaned his plate and asked if we could have it again for dinner!
Thickening Homemade Pancake Syrup
I’ve made numerous homemade pancakes syrups. They are very easy but the one thing that’s different than store bought syrups is their thickness.
After experimenting I’ve found the best results with using a bit of arrowroot or cornstarch to thicken the syrup.
Tips When Using a Thickener
There are two key tips when using a thickener for homemade pancake syrup:
Tip #1: Do not add the starch to the syrup mixture directly
Always make a ‘slurry’ which is a mixture of starch and water.
The slurry will be made with equal parts starch and water. Mix it together to dissolve the starch before pouring it into the syrup mixture.
This ensures the starch will not clump. If just pouring it in directly the starch may not dissolve fully.
Making a slurry is used in many recipes such as homemade gravy.
Tip #2: The syrup will thicken once it has cooled
You’ll notice some thickening as the syrup cooks but it will be fully thickened after it has completely cooled.
Homemade Pancake Syrup Ingredients
Pancake syrup is sugar mixture. This version includes ginger and thyme to give a special flavor!
- Fresh Ginger root
- Granulated White Sugar
- Light Brown Sugar
- Honey
- Fresh Thyme
- Vanilla Bean
- Water
- Arrowroot starch or Cornstarch (for thickening)
How to Make Homemade Pancake Syrup
Pancake syrup is very easy to make.
For this Ginger Thyme homemade syrup allowing fresh ginger and thyme infuse in a sugar mixture gives it a full bodied fresh flavor.
STEP 1: Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a low boil, stirring to dissolve sugars, honey and starch. Simmer for 30 minutes
STEP 2: Strain. Discard the ginger, thyme and vanilla bean.
STEP 3: Allow to cool and thicken before using. NOTE: for faster cooling the syrup may be refrigerated.
The syrup can be made the day before making the pumpkin ricotta pancakes.
Storing Homemade Pancake Syrup
The strained syrup may be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Do not leave the fresh ingredient in the syrup when storing.
More Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love
- No Fat Pants Persimmon Smoothie
- Shakshuka (Poached Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce)
- Christmas Breakfast Casserole
- Coffee Cake Muffins
- Huevos Rancheros Recipe
- Gingerbread Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Apple Pancakes
Try These Recipes too!
- Orgeat: How to Make + How to Use It
- How to Make Simple Syrup: 8 Recipes and Suggested Uses
- How to Make Compound Butter
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
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Recipe
Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes and Ginger-Thyme Syrup
Ingredients
Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes
- 1 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 pinch Kosher salt
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour regular or gluten-free blend
- 1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 2/3 cup Milk
- 1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese
- 1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
- 3 Eggs lightly beaten
Ginger-Thyme Syrup
- ½ cup peeled sliced ginger sliced ginger
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 4 sprigs thyme
- ½ vanilla bean split open, scraped into pan
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoon arrowroot starch or cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons water to make a 'slurry'
Instructions
Pumpkin Ricotta Pancakes
- In a large mixing bowl combine the baking powder, salt, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
- In a second mixing bowl combine the milk, ricotta cheese, pumpkin puree and eggs (see step below for alternative method). Whisk to fully combine.
- ALTERNATIVE METHOD for Fluffier Pancakes: Add only the yolks the the step above. Separately beat the whites and fold them into the wet ingredients.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients stirring only until combined (do not over stir).
- Spoon pancake batter onto a heated, greased griddle or heavy skillet. Allow bubbles to form on top side before flipping and cooking on the opposite side.
Ginger-Thyme Syrup
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a low boil, stirring to dissolve sugars, honey and arrowroot starch/cornstarch slurry. Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Strain; discard the ginger, thyme and vanilla bean.
- Allow to cool and thicken before serving. NOTE: if the syrup not be as thick as you prefer after is cools, bring the syrup back to a simmer, whisk in an additional teaspoon of arrowroot starch allowing it to dissolve, turn off heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- NOTE for Thicker Syrup: if the syrup not be as thick as you prefer after is cools, bring the syrup back to a simmer, whisk in an additional teaspoon of arrowroot starch and water allowing it to dissolve, turn off heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published: October 2, 2012
Ricotta Pancakes are light, fluffy and full of pumpkin flavor and fall spices!
Lisa Huff says
LOVE ricotta pancakes! What a great idea to add some pumpkin for a delicious fall breakfast.
lisa says
the pancakes themselves sound amazing, but that ginger thyme syrup… oh my. I’m gonna need to make that recipe ASAP
Dannii says
What a delicious way to use pumpkin. I think I am going to make these for breakfast tomorrow.
Ronda says
See you later today, too much good stuff, need a break away. LOL
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
From Boulder Locavore’s Facebook Page:
Lisa Secco: That was one of the most amazing recipes for breakfast EVER! Made them today- just infused maple syrup with fresh ginger and fresh thyme though. I LOVE fall for the cooking opportunities and this recipe WILL be a showstopper for friends and family for the rest of my life WELL DONE My roommate and I devoured the whole recipe in minutes. Each bite was sublime.
Kate says
These look and sound delicious. The flavors are so warm and comforting and the recipe is a classic. I love handwriting too, just not my own. 😉
Batya says
This looks so delicious (syrup included)…and it’s made all the more sweet by being a vintage family recipe. Nothing beats handwritten recipes from Nana! She sounds like a great lady. I am going to make this for brunch this weekend. After 7 months of commuting back-and-forth from Brooklyn to Denver, my husband got a job offer here! We are officially staying and becoming Coloradans. His last day of work in NYC is on Wednesday, then he boards a plane and joins us here! I think this is the perfect way to say “Welcome to Colorado” by the way “it’s fall!” Thanks for sharing.
kitchenarian says
I love family recipes; such wonderful memories intertwined with food and family. I love pumpkin pancakes and the ricotta sounds so amazing – your Nana must have been quite the foodie in her day! It is obvious you take after her.
This meal definitely sounds like a “Breakfast for Dinner” meal in my house.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
Awww…..thank you! I love the collection of recipes. Have one for spice cake my Great Grandmother copied down supposedly from the Washington Post addressing it to my Nana saying Papa would love it! Now I want to try it too! I’ve become smitten with cooking what they had in their collection and imagining all of us comparing multi-generational notes!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Made some pumpkin pancakes last week, but without ricotta. I love your ginger thyme syrup!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
Thanks Angie! The syrup is not too overpowering (I did not want the ginger to blast anyone’s head off as it can!) but a great partner with the pumpkin!
kitchen memories says
love this!!!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
Thank you!