Birch Benders Pancake Mix Review

(PHOTO: BIRCH BENDERS)

Although I prefer a savory breakfast, my family LOVES pancakes. Recently, I came across Birch Benders Pancake Mix in my grocery store. So, as always, I decided to try it out and give you my feedback. Not only is Borch Benders Pancake mix plant-based, but it is also oil-free and refined sugar-free. 

Of course, I should also mention this pancake mix only requires water, and I like to add a little fruit to my pancakes for a little extra love. 

For example, I freeze fresh organic blueberries before adding them to the pancake mix, so they pop after cooking the pancakes. 

My husband, Paul, has a sweet tooth, so I often find candy wrappers in the laundry. In order to please his palate, I make pancakes for him, but to be honest, Birch Benders Pancake Mix makes it simple for me to make as few as 3-4 pancakes. 

As a result, I can make him pancake, while I enjoy a Southwest Tofu Scramble or Vegan Quiches. 

LET'S LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS IN BIRCH BENDERS PANCAKE MIX

(PHOTO: BIRCH BENDERS)

• Whole-Wheat Flour
• Unbleached Wheat Flour
• Organic Coconut Sugar
• Pea Protein: Pea protein is a type of food. It is a source of protein derived and extracted in powder form from the yellow and green split peas
• Brown Rice Flour
• Vital Wheat Gluten: Wheat gluten is a food made from gluten, the main protein of wheat. It is made by washing wheat flour dough with water until all the starch granules have been removed, leaving the sticky insoluble gluten as an elastic mass, which is then cooked before being eaten
• Potato Starch
• Cassava Starch: is a starch extracted from the storage roots of the cassava plant, a species native to the north region and central-west region of Brazil, but whose use is now spread throughout South America.
• Salt
• Spices
• Xanthan Gum: Similar to corn starch or arrowroot, Xanthan Gum is a common food additive. It is an effective thickening agent and stabilizer to prevent ingredients from separating
• Monk Fruit: Monk fruit sweetener is extracted from monk fruit. The sweetener is created by removing the seeds and skin of the fruit and crushing it to collect the juice, which is then dried into a concentrated powder. Monk fruit contains natural sugars, mainly fructose and glucose.

Even though Birch Benders Pancake Mix includes two forms of sugar, both are unrefined. There is, however, vital wheat gluten and wheat flour, which clearly is not for those following a gluten-free diet. It is also important to note, this pancake mix is oil-free, and contains 10 grams of protein per serving.

POSSIBLE ADDITIONS TO PLANT-BASED PANCAKES AND WAFFLES

• Frozen blueberries
• Chopped Apples
• Sliced Strawberries
• Diced Peaches
• Raspberries
• Bananas
• Pineapple 
• Vegan Chocolate Chips
• Pecans

NUTRITIONAL FACTS 

BIRCH BENDERS PANCAKE MIX...WAFFLES, MUFFINS AND MORE

 

After a little research, I found a lot of recipes, which are easily adaptable to a plant-based diet. For instance, this pancake mix also makes waffles and muffins by adding just a few ingredients. 

I adapted a few of the recipes I found on the Birch Bender Website to make them plant-based. 

(PHOTO CALI WARNE MEDIA)

HOT COCOA WAFFLES (recipe adapted from Cali Warner Media)

• 1 pouch Birch Benders Plant Pancake Mix
• 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• 2 ¾ cups water

CHOCOLATE SYRUP (OPTIONAL)

• ½ cup Oat Milk (or any plant milk)
• ¾ cup vegan chocolate chips
• Optional: Daddy's vegan mini marshmallows

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

• In a large bowl, fluff together Birch Benders Plant-Based Pancake Mix and cocoa powder.
• Add water until you get a thick, lumpy batter. Don’t over mix!
• The thicker batter will result in a fluffier waffle.
• For the chocolate syrup, stir together cream and chocolate chips in a pot on low heat until melted.
• Drizzle hot syrup over hot waffles and top with mini marshmallows.

(PHOTO CALI WARNER MEDIA)

GINGERBREAD PANCAKES(adapted from Cali Warner Media)

• 1 pouch Birch Benders Plant Pancake Mix
• 2 ¾ cups water
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ maple syrup

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

• Preheat pan on medium heat.
• Combine cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt. Mix well until there are no lumps.
• Add a pouch of Birch Bender's Plant Protein Pancake Mix, or if you like a stronger gingerbread flavor, add half a pouch.
• Add water and maple syrup until you have a thick batter.
• Don’t over mix, as a thick batter will result in fluffy pancakes.
• Use a ½ measuring cup to scoop and pour the batter onto the preheated pan and let cook per package instructions.

CINNAMON APPLE STREUSEL MUFFINS ( adapted from Rachel@healthways for days)

• 1 cup Birch Benders Plant-Based Pancake Mix
• ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ⅓ cup vanilla almond milk (or vanilla flavored plant milk of choice )

APPLE TOPPING:

• 2 Honey Crisp Apples (or apples of choice), diced
• ⅛ cup coconut sugar (or maple syrup)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Mix all the ingredients together, then top with diced Honey Crisp apple (coat the diced apple pieces in cinnamon, and coconut sugar or substitute maple syrup for sugar and sprinkle with cinnamon).
3. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes.

WHERE TO BUY BIRCH BENDERS PLANT-BASED PANCAKE AND WAFFLE MIX

I accidentally found my punch of plant-based pancake mix on a shelf at my local Sprouts grocery store, but I know not everyone has the same local stores, so here is what I found.

• Amazon whenever I can't find unique vegan products, I order from Amazon or Thrive. 
• Walmart
• Instacart
• Vitacost.com
• Target
• Whole Foods
• Vitamin Shoppe

THE BOTTOM LINE: THIS PANCAKE MIX IS THE BOMB! 

Not only is this pancake and waffle mix easy to make (only add water), but the pancakes are fluffy also taste fabulous! And despite the small amount of sugar in the remix, this pancake mix is a staple in my pantry. 

My husband and kids LOVE this mix, and it was fun experimenting with different recipes using the mix to make waffles and muffins. 

So, if you are looking for a healthy, quick, and easy plant-based pancake mix, Birch Benders Plant-Based Protein Pancake and Waffle mix is great!