Pancake Breakfast

When I went gluten-free, the first thing I missed was breakfast. Breakfast is arguably my favorite meal of the day, and "breakfast for dinner" was always such a treat growing up. So, naturally my family faced an issue when weekends would come around and we wanted to have a nice family breakfast. Do they make pancakes/waffles/french toast/biscuits anyways or do they eat gluten free with me and stick to eggs & potato products? Luckily, early on I discovered Bisquick makes a gluten-free product that can be used for the same things as regular Bisquick. Now, whenever I'm home my mom will make a separate batch of pancakes or waffles for me and everyone else has the regular!

The first time I had the gluten-free pancakes made with Bisquick I remember thinking the texture was a little different than ordinary pancakes, however by the second time I had them I didn't even notice & I think they taste as close to regular pancakes as possible. I've tried other gluten-free pancake mixes, and though most I've tried are less expensive...they suck. Suck to the point where I end up just throwing them away. So, I suck it up and just buy the expensive, and tiny, box of gluten-free Bisquick and save it for weekends when I treat myself to a nice breakfast.

A little extra batter is the perfect excuse for a "Mickey" pancake :)

The recipe on the back of the box claims to yield 10 pancakes, and since there is no reason why I should be eating 10 pancakes myself, I always cut it in half. It cuts in half easily, with the exception that the original recipe calls for one egg. Since I like to have eggs with my pancakes, I just eyeball half of the egg into the mixture and then put the rest aside to cook with another egg when my pancakes are almost done.

Since going gluten-free, I've found it easier to eat natural products. One thing I love about living in Miami is that almost any spanish restaurant you walk into sells fresh juices. It reminds me of being in Ecuador where every juice you have is fresh squeezed to order, and once you've had truly fresh orange juice..the grocery store just won't do. 

So, to top my meal off I juice 2-3 naval oranges (enough until I have 8oz.) right before I sit down and then I'm ready to eat!

Of course I had to Instagram my Mickey pancake :P

The syrup I use is an Aunt Jemima brand. I've read the ingredients, and although it's not certified GF it seems to be pretty safe for those of us who don't have severe allergies. The only ingredient that raises suspicion is the "caramel color".  But according to Celiac.com caramel color is likely to be gluten-free if it is made in the US. I'm pretty sensitive to gluten, especially first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, & this syrup doesn't bother me. However if you have severe allergies I would opt to buy a gluten-free syrup product Check out this list of ingredients to watch out for when you're looking to buy a product that isn't certified GF. It's super helpful & worth printing out for a quick reference! 

Next weekend I'll share my gluten-free cinnamon swirl pancake recipe for when an ordinary pancake just won't do. :) Now, if only some restaurants could offer at least one gluten-free pancake/waffle option.. one can dream!

Have you tried any gluten-free pancake & baking mixes or syrups that you love?