This Cake Mix Hack Is Your New Breakfast Shortcut

I was never much of a pancake-at-home girl growing up, preferring to leave it to diner pros when eating out. But in this time of much needed comfort, pancakes have actually become one of my favorite things to make. Sunday mornings are just cozier with a stack of hot fluffy pancakes. And once you go down the pancake route, you can end up in some weird and wonderful places. You might remember my Pizza Pancakes, Buttermilk Ranch Pancakes, and French Onion Dip Pancakes?

But these days I have abandoned my exploration of the savory pancake world for the sweet and have discovered an amazing hack.

Cake mix is your new genius secret to choose your own adventure pancakes.

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The endless variety of cake mix flavors paired with any additions that your mind can dream up means you are minutes away from living your best pancake life.

This is the easiest thing you’ll ever do in the morning. The batter is super easy, and here’s all you’ll need:

• 1 15.25-ounce box of any flavor cake mix
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 2 ½ cups milk (use what you like, from skim to whole, or consider buttermilk if you want some extra tang and lift)
• ¼ cup melted butter or neutral oil

Want some extra flavor boosts? Add an extract like vanilla or almond. Stir in some citrus zest, or a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Cook like any pancake, on a heated griddle or nonstick pan, with a thin layer of butter or oil. If you want to sprinkle some add-ons like fruit or nuts, add them over the wet batter as soon as you’ve spooned it into the pan. Cook until you see bubbles all over the surface of the pancakes, and the edges look dry, then flip. Voila!

I use Duncan Hines brand almost exclusively. They have a huge range of fun flavors, and I love the results I get with their products, whether I am using them for actual cake or as an ingredient in another recipe. If you have another brand, this recipe will work as long as it is 15.25 ounces.

Note: If you have one of the newer larger 18.25-ounce boxes, just omit the extra flour called for in this recipe.

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This recipe is so easy, it can be really fun to begin playing with options. Here are some of my favorite cake mix/mix-in combinations to get you going.

Spice cake mix with rolled oats and golden raisins

Banana cake mix with sliced fresh bananas

Lemon cake mix with fresh blueberries and lemon zest

Chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips and walnuts, because 2020 and why the heck not have brownie pancakes.