One of the best parts of our summer road trips to the United States is getting stuff you can't get in Canada like chocolate graham crackers, REAL cream soda and for many years, IHOP pancakes!
And although we've had an IHOP in south Calgary for well over 5 years now, it's taken me exactly that much time to finally make it there. But in my defense, getting up in the morning and driving to the far south, from the far north Calgary, is a serious road trip that I don't have time for; I might as well just cross the border! So in many ways, I created this IHOP Harvest Nut & Grain copycat pancake recipe (6 WW points on blue plan ) out of pure desperation.
IHOP Pancakes
As a parent, I drive enough as it is, so I really don't need to be driving across the city for breakfast. Hopefully they will open a Northwest location soon. However, I'm not sure that I will need to go now, given how much I love this copycat version of these IHOP pancakes!
IHOP Harvest Grain n Nut Pancakes
Although the IHOP original Harvest Grain 'N Nut Pancakes are pretty healthy and light as far as IHOP's pancakes go (@ only 8 WW points on blue, per pancake, according to my WW app), I wanted to make mine a little more Weight Watchers friendly, so I've lightened them up to 6 WW points on the blue plan. And when I tested them on the family, they loved my version!
There are a lot of IHOP pancake copycat recipes out there, but these Harvest Grain n Nut pancakes are my fave and I wanted to see if I could lighten them a little more. 2 points may not seem like much, but believe me it is when you're following the Weight Watchers Freestyle Program! When you think about having to walk at medium intensity for at least 30 minutes to earn only 2 WW freestyle smart activity points, you really begin to see the value in those 2 points!
IHOP Cinnamon Apple Topping
When I used to hit the IHOP restaurants in the U.S., they had this really great Cinnamon Apple topping they'd serve with these pancakes. But sadly, they don't have it here, in Canada. I'm not sure if it's still in the United States, but it was a little too WW points heavy for me anyway, so I reduced the fsp's in my Weight Watchers IHOP Copycat Apple Cinnamon Topping! I created this topping to go together with these pancakes and the combination is nothing short of divine...
I love this topping because you not only save your distressed apples, you can use it on anything from pancakes, to ice cream to frozen yogurt! We can't get enough of it around here.
Copycat IHOP pancake recipe
I take my recipe testing seriously and I made this Copycat IHOP pancake recipe at least 3 times before I got it right. And you just know it's right and great Weight Watchers food when your kids not only ask for more, but say they like it better than the original!
As we prepare to cross the border again this summer, I can comfortably end the rationing of my chocolate graham crackers, dream about REAL Cream Soda and don't have to worry about stopping at IHOP for my Harvest Grain & Nut Pancake fix. Although I just might anyways; just for old times sake.
IHOP Harvest Grain & Nut Pancakes (Copycat recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (quick oats)
- 1 ½ cups cups whole wheat flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 ¾ cups 1 % milk
- 1 ½ tsp white vinegar
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 egg whites
- 3 tbsp finely chopped walnuts
- 3 tbsp finely chopped blanched almonds
Garnish (optional)
- Weight Watchers IHOP copycat Apple Cinnamon topping (see link in post and in instructions)
- additional cinnamon sprinkles
- light whipped cream * I use the spray can of light real whipped cream
- a few nuts
Instructions
- Mix milk and vinegar together and set aside.
- Grind the oats in a blender or food processor until fine. In a large bowl, combine ground oats, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form.
- In another bowl, combine , milk mixed with vinegar, applesauce and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix wet ingredients into dry until just combined.
- Finely chop walnuts and almonds and stir into mixture. Fold in whipped egg whites
- Lightly oil a skillet or griddle, and preheat it to medium heat. Ladle ½ cup of the batter onto the hot skillet. I used a 6 inch frying pan, but you could do a bunch on a griddle as well.
- Cook the pancakes for 2 to 4 minutes per side, or until brown. Flip when surface just starts to bubble. *
- * I use a very thin spatula - I find it easier to flip the pancakes with one like this.
- *If mixture starts to thicken too much add a little milk (1-2 tsps until consistency is back to how it was originally)
Garnish
- Garnish with Apple Cinnamon topping (https://foodmeanderings.com/apple-cinnamon-topping-weight-watchers/) and light whipped cream, additional cinnamon and nuts, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe is part of The Country Cook's Weekend Potluck!
What a yummy recipe! My whole family gobbled these up!
Thanks, Kim! My family sure did!
This is simply perfect for health freak like my hubby. He'll be over the moon when I tell him the pancakes are healthy!
Thanks, Anita....These definitely make healthy people happy !
This reminds me of my childhood! I can never say no to pancakes 🙂
I'm with you, Claire! I'm fussy about my pancakes, but when I find ones I like I'm all over them!
These made the best breakfast this morning! Perfect with my morning cup of coffee and didn't need to go anywhere to enjoy them!
Thanks, Sara! Glad you like them!
This recipe looks so delicious and perfect breakfast. Cinnamon apple topping is too tempting!
Thanks, Geetha! It really does make the perfect breakfast and they cinnamon apple topping is also a lighter, Weight Watchers version!
These pancakes with that topping look divine! I'm pinning this!
Thanks, Nina!
I've never been to an IHOP, and we don't have one around here. So I guess I'll need to try this copycat version to get a taste! The harvest grain and nut sounds tasty and wholesome!
Hi Leanne. Well, my kids say these are even better than IHOP's, so you're in good hands !
I've never had the original pancakes and now that we have your version we don't need to try 😉 . I am sure they taste divine, they look so. That topping is great, I can see it working not only for pancakes, yum! Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks, Nicoletta! Yes, the topping is great on so many things like yogurt or ice cream!
These are AMAZING! I love the ground up oats and also that you made these even healthier than the original without losing flavour. Full of ingredients I feel good giving my family, thanks! Totally delicious!
Thanks, Sabrina!
The recipe card says "1 g serving." Did you mean "100 gram serving?"
Hi Rachel,
No, sorry - it's for 1 serving. The recipe makes 10 pancakes, so that is the breakdown per pancake. That's the way I do it because doing it the other way is too complicated. I didn't realize my recipe card automatically puts in 'g' if I don't put anything in that spot. Thank you for pointing that out!
Terri
I have an IHOP copycat recipe that I've tried, but there's something a bit bitter about that one and I'd really love to try yours! Could I do 1 egg instead of 2 egg whites just to simplify? I assume you've done 2 egg white this way to make them fluffier, is that correct? Wondering if you tried with just 1 egg and how that turned out. Also, could I use buttermilk instead of the milk and vinegar you have listed here?
Hi Ana: You could definitely use buttermilk, as the milk and vinegar is simply a low-fat replacement. And using 1 egg would probably work out just fine. Yes, I use the whites to make it fluffier and cut back on calories (and WW points). I hope you enjoy it and I'd love to hear how it turned out!
Thanks,
Terri
Hi Terri, I was looking for a copycat recipe for those harvest grain pancakes from IHOP. Daughter and I had them once when we had out of town company and took them there. We eat vegetarian and very little dairy, so I used soy milk. The pancakes turned out fantastic! We're in California, up in Big Bear Lake. Our apple trees are loaded with apples and almost ready to pick. I'll be making lots of your topping to keep in the freezer. I'll be sharing some with the neighbors too, along with your pancake recipe. Thanks so much! Carolynn
Hi Carolynn: I'm so glad you loved them and were able to make them dairy-free! I hope you enjoy all your apples!