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Tender, sweet, and lemony, these Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are what your weekend dreams are made of! Start with a pre-made pancake mix, these come together in a cinch!
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes | Fancy Yet Simple
I love making french toast or waffles on the weekend, but if you’d like to switch up your normal brunch routine, give these Lemon Ricotta Pancakes a try! It’s a fancier take on the regular fluffy pancake recipe, but couldn’t be simpler to make.
If you’ve been following my blog for any amount of time, you will probably know that lemon anything will always be my choice. Even when integrated into the pancake world. The ricotta cheese in this recipe adds a little extra moisture and tang while the lemon keeps these tasting super light and delightful. If loving pancakes if wrong, I don’t want to be right.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are frequently found on all the restaurant brunch menus and for good reason! It’s a classic combination that never gets old and tastes divine.
Main Ingredients Needed
This is a super simple Lemon Ricotta Pancake that cuts a few corners to make a quick breakfast meal. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pancake Mix – use a store-bought brand like Hungry Jack Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix or use my very own Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe.
- Extra Pancake Mix Ingredients – this is usually something like water or milk for the store brands, however, if you are using my pancake mix recipe, you are going to need eggs, oil, and water.
- Lemon Zest – this is where all of that great lemony flavor comes from. If you are looking for more lemon flavor, consider making a lemon glaze (lemon juice and powdered sugar mixed together) to drizzle on top.
- Ricotta Cheese – ricotta cheese in pancakes? Really? Yes, really! While some people may have strong opinions about cheese in pancakes, I promise it is a good decision. Ricotta cheese mostly just adds moisture and a tender texture with a slight tang that pairs perfectly with the lemon zest. You can’t really taste the cheese, but will notice a big difference in the overall finished product which you will love!
Lemon Ricotta Pancake Variations
And if you are looking to alter this recipe a little, that is fine by me! Here are a couple of suggestion to get you started:
- Cottage Cheese: this is a good substitute for ricotta cheese. I suggest blending it with some water to get it mostly smooth before adding it to your batter.
- Adding Blueberries or Raspberries: these two berries would be perfect to add to the batter before frying up. You could also just top the whole thing with fresh berries too.
- Looking for Protein? If you are looking for more protein in your diet I would suggest using Kodiak Cakes Protein Pancake Mix.
How to Make Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
Because we are taking the help from the store, this pancake batter comes together in no time at all!
Make Batter
Measure out pancake mix, water, ricotta cheese, and lemon zest into a large bowl.
Whisk together until the batter is mostly lump-free. (A few small lumps are ok!)
Fry
Preheat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat.
Butter the pan well and fry pancakes until golden brown on each side.
Serve warm with syrup and powdered sugar.
Toppings
The classic, go-to for any pancakes would include butter, maple syrup, and powdered sugar which are perfect for these Lemon Ricotta Pancakes too, but there are lots of other variations you could try! Give these toppings a go:
- blackberry syrup
- lemon curd
- strawberry or raspberry jam or jelly
- fresh fruit and whipped cream
- blueberries and mint
More Pancake Recipes to Love!
Check out my other Sweet Breakfast Recipes while you’re at it:
- Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Protein Pancakes
- Oatmeal Pancakes
- Pumpkin Pancakes
- Apple Pancakes with Caramel Syrup
That’s it for these Lemon Ricotta Pancakes! Try this easy recipe soon friends 🙂
The printable recipe card is down below, enjoy!
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup pancake mix such as the New Hungry Jack Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix
- 3/4 cup cold water
- 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
- zest of 2 small lemons
- powdered sugar for garnish
- syrup & butter for serving
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl, stir pancake mix, water, ricotta cheese and lemon zest together until mostly smooth with a few small lumps.
- Fry on a lightly greased nonstick skillet until golden brown.
- Serve with powdered sugar and syrup.
I made these for the first time this mornings, they were super fluffy and light. I loosely measured a cup and a half of add water Krusteaz pancake mix. I added a little more than 1/3 cup of ricotta cheese, didn’t measure precisely , 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of lemon Juice since I didn’t have lemon zest, I always juice my lemons and freeze the juice in ice cube trays. I added a mix of unsweetened almond milk and buttermilk and about a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Next time will have to use lemon zest for a stronger lemon flavor but they were so good, will be using this recipe when I need pancakes fast.
So fluffy and light ! We thoroughly enjoyed these !
I used the Mrs Butterworth Buttermilk complete (just add water) and they came out fantastic. After several iterations (yes I love these) I modified the recipe slightly. Instead of two small lemons I used just one larger lemon and there is more than enough lemon flavor (and its cheaper since lemons are usually sold each). Also, I added a bit more ricotta 1/3 cup and reduced the water to 1/2 a cup. Lastly and I really think this is key, and I am a big proponent of using seltzer water in place of tap water. Makes your pancakes so much fluffier.
But your recipe is by far the easiest since, so many other call for folding in whisked egg whites which honestly is a huge unnecessary chore.
Question: some pancake mixes we require things like eggs, milk, and oil while other pancake mixes say to only add water. In your recipe, should I only add the water, ricotta, and lemon zest regardless of what kind of pancakes mix I have?
Make the pancake mix as stated, then fold in the ricotta and lemon.
SCRUMPTIOUS!!!
This was sooo good! I had this with cherry preserves watered down to a syrup. I’ve steadily been craving these pancakes for a week now. Normally, I do not care for pancakes (I’m more of waffle person) but these too good to pass up
Can you substitute Cottage Cheese for the ricotta?
Yes, but I might blend it with the water first to get it smooth…or mostly smooth.
I love breakfast and I love anything lemon so these will hit the spot! Can’t wait to try them! Yum!!
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These look delicious!
[…] Lemon ricotta pancakes, courtesy of Lauren’s Latest blog […]
[…] Lemon ricotta pancakes, courtesy of Lauren’s Latest blog […]
Holy yum. Its save to say that I am about to start drooling because I am so hungry! These look great! I love the added powder sugar- fancy 🙂
[…] Lemon ricotta pancakes, courtesy of Lauren’s Latest blog […]
[…] Lemon ricotta pancakes, courtesy of Lauren’s Latest blog […]
[…] Lemon ricotta pancakes, courtesy of Lauren’s Latest blog […]
[…] Lemon ricotta pancakes, courtesy of Lauren’s Latest blog […]
[…] Lemon ricotta pancakes, courtesy of Lauren’s Latest blog […]
[…] Lemon ricotta pancakes, courtesy of Lauren’s Latest blog […]
New Hungry Jack mix is the bomb. And with ricotta and lemon. Breakfast for dinner is great.
I keep seeing these pancakes and I just need to make them already! Also, your daughter is adorable. And you photography is amazing! Who knew the top of the syrup bottle could look so good?!
Pancakes + lemon + cheese = delicious!!!
ugh i need me some of those pancakes!!!!
Pancakes! YUM!!
These pancakes look delicious!
These look amazing!
The added protein will be awesome for my meat loathing girls
We love pancakes at our house!!
These look yummy!
The microwaveable syrup bottles are a great idea!
not sure what happened to my comment. Added these to my meal plan this week. I love anything lemony
These look amazing! I’ll definitely make some.
I am making these delicious looking pancakes for dinner tonight!
Soooooo trying these! You are the first blogger I started following because of the mutual love for anything lemon! I love your blogger family too. My phone needs to turn into scratch and sniff or peal and eat. Now.
Trying these! Thanks for posting!!
This recipe sounds so good!
Now that school has started back up & with swim lessons starting next week, I’m thinking we’re going to have a lot of breakfasts for dinner! These pancakes look super, a little fancy spin…and if i could get my son to flip them, that would be perfect!
Looks great! Breakfast for dinner is so much fun. I almost never make hot breakfasts in the morning anyway (I make smoothies!), so this would be a good way for me to enjoy pancakes.
Those pancakes look absolutely wonderful! I have tried many of your recipes and have never been disappointed. I can’t wait to try this one. I also love hearing about your growing family ?
sounds good, love anything lemony 🙂
My family and I LOVE everything lemon! I am so excited to try these!
Ive been looking for a simple way to make these. Cant wait to try them.
Those look awesome!
These look great! Syrup looks good but I just want to slather it in lemon curd and devour them.
Would love to try lemon pancakes!
Lemon pancakes sound amazing!
Can I substitute your instant pancake mix (https://laurenslatest.com/the-best-instant-pancake-mix-recipe/) for the one mentioned in the recipe?
yes, but you’ll have to add in the egg, water and oil instead of just water.
I love lemon and these look amazing!! Going to be a must try in my house!
Can I use your homemade pancake mix?
yes, but you’ll have to add in the egg, water and oil instead of just water.