The Ultimate Christmas-Themed Pancake Designs and Topping Ideas

These pancakes are perfect for kids, couples, and families to enjoy for a special Christmas morning breakfast! Easy to make and decorate, the Christmas pancake bar will easily become a family tradition! Enjoy these ultimate Christmas-themed pancake designs and topping ideas!

I’m always making pancakes for special occasions, so I knew I needed to jazz them up for a Christmas pancake bar. Although I’m not much of a baker, I love to decorate! By decorating pancakes, I can create something cute, without feeling the stress of having to bake something super impressive. The kids also love decorating their own breakfasts, which makes this both a meal and an activity for them: so it’s a win-win!

On Christmas morning, we want a delicious breakfast, without the stress of being in the kitchen for hours! That why this Christmas pancake bar is going to be a new tradition for our family!

Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients, including pancake mix, strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. — Although these are the basics for a pancake bar, use whatever toppings you have on hand!

I used whatever I had on hand, as well as our favorite pancake toppings. Below I have added some ideas for your inspiration, but we had a lot of fun just letting the kids design their own “gingerbread man” pancakes and “ornaments”. For the pancake bar, I would recommend similar items to these listed:

Pancake Mix (I buy just-add-water mix for ease, but you can use any pancake recipe or mix)
Whipped cream
Strawberries
Bananas
Chocolate chips (mini or regular)
Marshmallows
Sprinkles (Christmas or other)
Hershey’s syrup
Bacon
Candy toppings (M&Ms, etc.)
Green food coloring
Powdered sugar

To create my designs, you will need the following tools/utensils:

Mixing bowl
Whisk (to mix pancake mix)
Sifter
Pan (for cooking pancakes and bacon)
Waffle iron
Spoons, plates, etc.

Our Christmas Pancake Designs

Although the magic of Christmas will surely flow through you while you decorate, here are some ideas to inspire your Christmas pancake bar!

Santa Pancake

Directions: Place pancake in the middle of the plate. On the bottom edge, place one banana slice. Overlapping, create a second layer using two bananas. Next, add a layer of three. Continue with this pattern until you have completed a layer of five. This should cover approximately 1/3 of the pancake. After that, slice a large marshmallow into three small circles. Use two as the base for each of Santa’s eyes. Place a chocolate chip in the corner of each for Santa’s pupils. Then, line the top of the pancake with sliced strawberries in the shape of his hat, overlapping each one slightly. Put a circular slice in the center of his face for his red nose! Finally, apply whipped cream to the bottom of his hat and add a ball of cream to the end.

Pancake Ornaments

These are the best for easy decorating! Anyone can decorate them using all of their own creative ideas.

Directions: Make small circular pancakes. On a plate, use Hershey’s syrup to draw the “hook” of each ornament. (You can also substitute licorice or other string-like candy for the hooks.) Then, design the outside of your ornament using candy, whipped cream, and sprinkles!

Christmas Tree Waffle

Directions: Using green food coloring, dye a small portion of the pancake batter green. If using a waffle iron, add the mix to the waffle iron and cook thoroughly. If using a pan, create a circular, green pancake. Slice into four section, creating a cross. Then, overlap the pieces with the pointed ends pointing toward the top of the plate. Decorate with a “star” made of whipped cream and add some falling snow and decorations to your Christmas pancake tree!

Snowman Pancake

Directions: For these snowmen, you will need two pancakes, with one slightly larger than the other. Place the larger pancake on the bottom, not overlapping the smaller pancake. Next, using a sifter, gently cover the snowman in a thick layer of powdered sugar (it will immediately start to absorb into the pancakes, so decorate quickly!). For the buttons and arms, I used Hershey’s syrup to draw them onto the snowman. Add the eyes and mouth using M&Ms, mini chocolate chips, or other candy.

*For an adorable look, bend a piece of bacon into the shape of a scarf and fry. Once cool, dab away excess grease and place it on top of the snowman. You can also add a hat, nose, or another item. Be creative!