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 Harvest Grain and Nut 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 WW friendly copycat Harvest Nut & Grain pancake recipe (6 Weight Watchers points on my plan ) out of pure desperation.
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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!
Although the IHOP original Harvest Grain and Nut Pancakes are pretty healthy and light as far as IHOP's pancakes go (@ only 8 WW points, 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 my plan. And when I tested them on the family, they loved my version (even better than the original)!
🥘 Ingredients
For this IHOP pancake recipe, you'll need:
- old-fashioned rolled oats (quick oats)
- whole wheat flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- salt
- Unsweetened apple sauce
- 1% milk *Using 1% milk with white vinegar is a low-fat way to mimic buttermilk
- white vinegar
- brown sugar
- egg whites
- walnuts
- almonds
*See recipe card for quantities
There are a lot of IHOP pancake recipes out there, but these Harvest Grain and Nut pancakes are my fave, so 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 program, it is, especially when you only get 23 in total per day!
🔪Instructions
How to make Harvest grain and nut pancakes:
Mix milk and vinegar together (to make low-fat buttermilk) 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 (shown).
Beat the egg whites in a separate medium bowl until stiff peaks form.
In another bowl combine buttermilk, 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 (shown). 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 an 8 inch frying pan (so they stay perfectly round), 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. *
Remove when pancake is golden brown on each side.
🍎IHOP Cinnamon Apple Topping (copycat)
When I used to hit the International House of Pancakes 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.
💭 Top tip
If you want all your pancakes to be uniform and the same size, cook them individually in an 8 inch frying pan. You can get them close to the same size by cooking them on a griddle or in a larger frying pan and measuring the exact same amount of batter (I used ⅓ cup for these) I would also recommend using a very thin spatula (affiliate link)- it makes flipping much easier.
🍽 Equipment
You will need a non-stick frying pan (affiliate link) or pancake griddle (affiliate link) to make this copycat IHOP harvest grain pancake recipe. You will also need a food processer (affiliate link).
🌡️Storage
- These harvest grain 'n nut pancakes can be stored, in an airtight container, in the fridge, for 3 days. If you make the apple topping to go with these IHOP pancakes, keep the apple topping in a separate sealed airtight container in the fridge (it was also last 3 days).
- Freeze pancakes flat, in an airtight container or Ziplock freezer bag, for up to 3 months.
👪 Servings
This recipe makes 10 pancakes. However, you can also cut this recipe in half or double or triple it by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card. Just click on the serving size (it's highlighted in blue) and select the number of servings you’d like and the quantities will adjust accordingly.
🔢WW Points
This recipe is 6 WW points on my plan. Plug the recipe into the app to see how many points it is on your plan!
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 Nut and Grain Pancake fix. Although I just might anyways; just for old times sake.
⭐ Reviews
Here's what others are saying: "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!"
🥞 Harvest Grain and Nut Pancakes (IHOP copycat)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (quick oats)
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 ¾ cups 1 % milk
- 1 ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 egg whites
- 3 tablespoon finely chopped walnuts
- 3 tablespoon 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 medium 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 ingredients 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 an 8 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.
kim
What a yummy recipe! My whole family gobbled these up!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Kim! My family sure did!
Delia Dominguez
Thank you so much for this recipe. IHOP no longer serves Harvest Grain'n Nut Pancakes, which I love. So I searched the internet and found this recipe.
Dee Dominguez, Covina, CA
Terri Gilson
Hi Dee,
You are welcome! Oh I haven't been there in a few years, so I didn't know they discontinued them - that's too bad. I'm so glad you found my recipe and love it!
Terri
Anita @ Daily Cooking Quest
This is simply perfect for health freak like my hubby. He'll be over the moon when I tell him the pancakes are healthy!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Anita....These definitely make healthy people happy !
claire cary
This reminds me of my childhood! I can never say no to pancakes 🙂
Terri Gilson
I'm with you, Claire! I'm fussy about my pancakes, but when I find ones I like I'm all over them!
Sara Welch
These made the best breakfast this morning! Perfect with my morning cup of coffee and didn't need to go anywhere to enjoy them!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Sara! Glad you like them!
Geetha Priyanka
This recipe looks so delicious and perfect breakfast. Cinnamon apple topping is too tempting!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Geetha! It really does make the perfect breakfast and they cinnamon apple topping is also a lighter, Weight Watchers version!
Nina
These pancakes with that topping look divine! I'm pinning this!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Nina!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
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!
Terri Gilson
Hi Leanne. Well, my kids say these are even better than IHOP's, so you're in good hands !
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli
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!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Nicoletta! Yes, the topping is great on so many things like yogurt or ice cream!
Sabrina
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!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Sabrina!
Rachel
The recipe card says "1 g serving." Did you mean "100 gram serving?"
Terri Gilson
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
Ana Khan
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?
Terri Gilson
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
Carolynn
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
Terri Gilson
Hi Carolynn: I'm so glad you loved them and were able to make them dairy-free! I hope you enjoy all your apples!
Lynee
These sound fantastic!! I have been searching for a recipe ever since we found out that IHOP removed the Harvest Grain n' Nut from the menu. 🙁
Terri Gilson
Hi Lynee,
I'm glad you found the recipe! Hope you enjoy it. I actually like it better than the original 🙂 Be sure to try it with the apple topping too.
And if you LOVE it, please come back and leave a 5 star review and a comment- I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks,
Terri