Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (2024)

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GOOD OLE TRADER JOE’S. The newest obsession: PANCAKE BREAD.

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • What is pancake bread?
  • Does it taste like a pancake?
  • What is the batter like?
  • How do you get mile high crumb?
  • I don’t have buttermilk, can I use regular milk?
  • Why did you use malt powder?
  • My crumbs got swallowed by the batter during baking
  • Why does it take so long to bake?
  • Why does it bake at such a low temperature?
  • How do I prevent it from burning?
  • What kind of loaf pan should I use?
  • How long will this keep?
  • How should this be eaten?
  • Other copycat bread recipes that you may like:
  • Trader Joe’s Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe Recipe

They certainly know how to start a trend and the hype for all their products is real.

And what is so astounding is that they don’t do any advertising. AT ALL.

Everything is word of mouth.

Every new product of theirs that’s “viral” or has people scrambling to their local stores to seek out is all word of mouth.

From cauliflower gnocchi to everything bagel seasoning to now this pancake bread.

I was intrigued because everyone was saying how good it was but I hadn’t been able to find it at my local Trader Joe’s.

I finally tracked it down and bought two loaves of pancake bread because why not?

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (2)

So, I can see why everyone is obsessed.

I got a Trader Joe’s insider pro tip at the register.

The team member told me that the pancake bread is best when it’s warm and heated up.

I popped a few slices into the toaster oven when I got home and it was epic.

It was a little toasty/crusty on the outside but still warm and tender on the inside.

There was a subtle hint of maple syrup but it wasn’t overpowering.

I wouldn’t say it tasted exactly like a pancake but I can see the resemblance.

I knew I had to recreate this.

One, because not everyone has a Trader Joe’s locally and two, I actually had a bunch of people message me on Instagram asking me if I could try to recreate it.

I must say, my pancake bread copycat is pretty similar.

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (3)

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Trader Joe’s in any way whatsoever. They didn’t pay me to talk about this (why would they? I feel like they would want to keep selling their pancake bread haha)

This is also not “their” recipe. I didn’t call them up and ask for it.

I developed this based on my knowledge of baking and what I’ve used in past recipes for the crumb layer.

Trader Joe’s owns the right to their name and everything associated with “Trader Joe’s.”

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (4)

What is pancake bread?

As Trader Joe’s packaging says, it is a “twist on a buttermilk stack, baked into a sweet moist loaf.”

Does it taste like a pancake?

Okay, so we PERSONALLY think that it tastes like a sweet, tender, coffee cake texture with a hint of maple syrup and sweetened cornbread flavor.

So, definitely not like a stack of pancakes.

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (5)

What is the batter like?

It actually resembles pancake batter.

Thick, velvetty, and ribbon-like when you hold the spatula in the air.

How do you get mile high crumb?

You literally pile it on.

The crumb mixture makes a lot but you definitely use majority of it.

You have to use majority of it because a lot of it gets ‘swallowed’ by the batter during baking.

I don’t have buttermilk, can I use regular milk?

You can make your own!

For every 1 cup of regular milk, add 1 tablespoon of regular white vinegar to it.

Stir then let it sit for 5 minutes and you’ll have buttermilk!

Why did you use malt powder?

I was reading the ingredient list on the package and it said there was malt barley flour.

It did taste a bit malty/butterscotchy so I decided it couldn’t hurt to add in the malt powder.

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (6)

My crumbs got swallowed by the batter during baking

The crumb layer was too thin.

You need to pile it on at least three or four layers thick.

Why does it take so long to bake?

Because it is DENSE!

And because all that crumb mixture on top weighs down the cake so it will take a bit for it poof up and cook.

But also it bakes at a low temperature.

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (7)

Why does it bake at such a low temperature?

Because I noticed that if you bake it at a high temperature, the exterior gets really dark and sometimes will have a burned taste.

The low temperature ensures it bakes through but also doesn’t scorch the exterior.

How do I prevent it from burning?

If the top of your pancake bread is getting really dark, you can tent the top of it with foil for the remainder of the baking process.

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (8)

What kind of loaf pan should I use?

A 9×5″ nonstick loaf pan is best.

Glass could work too.

Just make sure you line either with parchment paper and grease it well so the loaf releases easily.

How long will this keep?

Up to five days.

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (9)

How should this be eaten?

With zero self control, LOL

I 100% recommend eating the pancake bread warm and 30 minutes out of the oven.

However, for leftover slices, pop it into the toaster oven at 325 degrees for 5 minutes and it’ll be just like fresh out of the oven again!

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (10)

Other copycat bread recipes that you may like:

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (11)

Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (12)

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4.62 from 31 votes

Trader Joe’s Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe

By: Julie Chiou

Not near a Trader Joe’s or your local Trader Joe’s has run out of pancake bread? Don’t fret! Make your own loaf at home!

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

For the crumb topping:

  • cup (67 g) granulated sugar
  • cup (73 g) dark brown sugar, packed
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 ¼ cup (156 g) all-purpose flour
  • Pinch of salt

For the bread batter:

  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup (31 g) malted milk powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup (118 ml) buttermilk
  • ½ cup (118 ml) maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325 °F (163 °C) and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper overhanging on either side. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

  • In a medium bowl, mix together all the ingredients of the topping. It will resemble coarse crumbs that are pea-shaped with various sizes (some will be powdery and some will form into balls). As long as when you take some into the palm of your hands and firmly grasp it, it holds it shape, it is all good. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, malt powder, and salt.

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or a regular bowl with a hand mixer, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time and mixing after each addition. Add the buttermilk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and mix together.

  • Pour half the dry mixture into the wet ingredient bowl and mix until no flour remains. Pour the remaining dry mixture into the bowl and mix until just incorporated.

  • Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top with the crumb topping in an even, thick layer. You’ll think there is far too much but there is never far too much, haha. Don’t press/push it down into the batter. Just let it sit on top.

    Place the loaf pan on top of a large baking sheet in case the crumb mixture spills over during baking.

    Bake for 90-100 minutes, OR until a wooden toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean. Please note: ovens all vary in hotness. Some will need longer, some will need shorter. Just keep an eye on it. If you notice the edges are getting very brown, tent the pan with foil for the remainder of baking. The exterior of the bread will be slightly darker in color than normal because of the sugar and butter content in the bread :)

  • Let cool for 15 minutes then run a knife around the edges then carefully lift out the loaf by the two sides of parchment paper and place on a wire rack to cool completely.

  • Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

For the malted milk powder: I used the Carnation brand. You can use Ovaltine but make sure it is not chocolate and it says malt powder on it. I do not recommend omitting it; however, if you do omit it, you may need to replace that omission with more flour.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 587kcal, Carbohydrates: 82g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 25g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 44g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

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Trader Joe's Pancake Bread Copycat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are pancakes quick bread? ›

Muffins, coffeecakes, scones, and pancakes are examples of quick breads, that like their name implies, can be prepared quickly in a kitchen.

Is pancake a bread or pastry? ›

A pancake (or hotcake, griddlecake, or flapjack) is a flat cake, often thin and round, prepared from a starch-based batter that may contain eggs, milk and butter, and then cooked on a hot surface such as a griddle or frying pan. It is a type of batter bread.

Can I substitute pancake mix for flour in baking? ›

Measurement Adjustment: When substituting pancake mix for flour, you need to adjust the measurements. For every cup of flour required in the recipe, reduce it by 2.5 tablespoons to account for the leavening agents and sugar already present in the pancake mix [3].

Why are my pancakes like bread? ›

Flat pancakes are nearly always because of expired baking powder, too little baking powder for the recipe size, or too thin of a batter. How to fix flat pancakes: First, test your baking powder by adding a teaspoon of baking powder in a glass and adding a tablespoon of water or two.

What are the 3 main ingredients of quick breads? ›

The possibilities are endless, but the common factor is the basic ingredients of fat, sugar, eggs, flour, liquid, leavening agent, and a flavoring ingredient. The flavoring might be a fruit or vegetable, a liquid such as buttermilk or fruit juice, an extract, herbs, or spices.

Which of the 3 types of quick bread mixtures are pancakes? ›

Types of Quick Breads: Pour Batter: Thin batter which pours easily. Pancakes and waffles are made from a pour batter. Drop Batter: Too thick to be poured so it is usually dropped from a spoon. Muffins and some coffee cakes are made from a drop batter.

What's the difference between a pancake and a hotcake? ›

What is a Hotcake? It's a pancake. Our crew Googled it and the definition of a hotcake is in fact “a pancake.” There is, however, a subtle difference on how you prepare a hotcake versus a pancake. Generally, pancakes are wide and have a fluffy texture, whereas the hotcakes tend to be thicker and denser.

What's the difference between British pancakes and American pancakes? ›

They are different. American pancakes are made with self raising flour (or baking powder) so they have a cake-like texture. British pancakes are made with plain flour and no raising agent. The batter contains a greater proportion of milk and egg to flour than the American variety.

Why are original pancake house pancakes so good? ›

Our recipes demand only the very finest of ingredients, such as 93 score butter, pure 36% whipping cream, fresh grade AA eggs, hard wheat unbleached flour, and our own recipe sourdough starter. Our batters and sauces are made fresh in each kitchen every day.

Why do my homemade pancakes taste like flour? ›

Perhaps they taste like raw flour instead of being cooked all the way through. Try lowering the heat a bit and cooking on the first side until the batter holds the shape of burst bubbles instead of covering them over. Pancakes are mostly, flour, so they're going to have a bread like flavor no matter what.

What is the healthiest flour to use for pancakes? ›

To make healthy pancakes, use whole-wheat or another whole-grain (cornmeal, oats or buckwheat) flour instead. Whole-wheat flour has 16 grams of fiber per cup compared to 3 grams of fiber in white flour.

What happens when you add baking powder to pancake mix? ›

Most baking powder is double action – it starts to activate and make bubbles of carbon dioxide when the wet ingredients are added to the dry, and then is activated again to make more bubbles when the pancakes are cooked.

What does adding an extra egg do to pancakes? ›

The egg will add richness to the recipe and make the end result taste like homemade pancakes. If your pancake mix already calls for an egg, try adding an extra one.

Does adding more baking powder make pancakes fluffier? ›

Baking powder (double acting) provides two rises: The first occurs when the baking powder comes into contact with a liquid, the second when it's exposed to heat. Too much baking powder will create a very puffy pancake with a chalky taste, while too little will make it flat and limp.

Why do restaurant pancakes taste different? ›

Restaurants use better quality ingredients

However, along with that ease, you may be taking a hit in the overall taste department. Restaurants tend to use real, farm-fresh eggs and real milk when making their pancakes, which as you might guess, adds to a richer, higher-quality eating experience.

What type of bread are pancakes? ›

Pancakes and waffles are bread, the type known as 'quick breads' - bread leavened with baking soda or baking powder. Waffles are almost identical to pancakes, only having a little more fat in the batter, and cooked on a grid shaped pan (waffle maker).

What is considered a quick bread? ›

Quick breads include many cakes, brownies and cookies—as well as banana bread, pumpkin bread, beer bread, biscuits, cornbread, muffins, pancakes, scones, and soda bread.

What qualifies as a quick bread? ›

Quick breads, unlike yeast breads, rely upon baking powder, baking soda or eggs for leavening. That's why they're “quick” to prepare – there's no kneading, shaping or rising required. Sweet loaf breads (such as banana bread, zucchini bread, pumpkin bread), scones and biscuits are examples of quick breads.

Are pancakes and waffles quick breads? ›

There is an assortment of baked goods we eat everyday that are quick breads: muffins, corn bread, biscuits, scones and quick loaf breads, (i.e., banana bread, fruit and nut breads.) Also listed in the quick bread category are pancakes, waffles, doughnuts, fritters, dumplings, short cake and coffee cakes.

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