
Leftover. Pie. Pancakes.
Whether Thanksgiving or any other time of year that you have leftover pie, these pancakes are an excellent vehicle for chunks of extra flavor and texture. They’re extremely puffy and thick yet light. The dough isn’t too sweet, creating the perfect canvas for chunks of pie and ready to be topped with syrup.





What makes this recipe special?
The low ratio of liquid to dry ingredients creates an extremely thick batter that results in puffy yet light pancakes. This recipe (which comes from a childhood friend’s recipe) originally called for half a stick of butter, but I like them just as much with half the amount. The high amount of cornstarch in the powdered sugar helps soak up additional liquid in a way that regular sugar can’t.
What kind of pie can I use in these pancakes?
Anything works! The optional cinnamon works well if you’re using a pie like pumpkin, but you can leave it out if you’re using a fruit pie or a flavor not as conducive to cinnamon.
And if you don’t have leftover pie, these are still fantastic as a base pancake!


Leftover Pie Pancakes
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup milk of your choice
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- pinch cinnamon (optional)
- 1/2 cup leftover pie, cut into chunks
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine milk, egg, melted butter, flour, powdered sugar, baking powder and cinnamon, if using. Use a fork to stir until well combined (lumps are not necessary; batter should be thick and smooth). Gently fold in the pie chunks.
- Heata lightly greased pan over medium heat for at least two minutes before cooking.Pour batter into pan 1/4 cup or less at a time. Batter should be extremely thick and Β hard to pour; they should cook about 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Place finished pancakes in a 200 F oven to keep warm if not eating right away.
kylie @ immaeatthat
Oh my gosh. This is even more brilliant than the whole pumpkin-pie-in-oatmeal idea. Seriously?!!! Is it Thanksgiving yet??? Or more specifically, the day after Thanksgiving:)
Jayne
Ive only just discovered these, wow they look amazing! So fluffy and what a great picture!
erika
Thanks so much for stopping by Jayne! I hope you get a chance to try em out–one of my favs π
Alexandra {Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker}
These look fantastic! This is the first time I’ve ever heard of putting pie in cupcakes, and I love the idea. So creative and fun! I’m really intrigued by the recipe too, particularly the powdered sugar part. Do you know why it has such an effect here?
Thanks for making me crave pie and pancakes, such a good influence haha! π
erika
Thanks so much π
I think the powdered sugar really helps make these super fluffy because it contains cornstarch, and higher the dry to wet ingredients ratio you have, the thicker your pancake will be. So I can only assume that powdered sugar helps soak up more moisture than regular sugar π
I know, I’m such a great influence aren’t I? Haha.
Christine (@cookingcrusade)
Woaah, pie pancakes. Seriously epic. Ps love that first shot! so pretty!
erika
Thanks Christine!
elizabethranger (bubbleteafordinner.com)
Cakespy-worthy sugar-rushed madness!!! Best holiday breakfast, ever, probably.
erika
Haha yes def!!
Cass @foodmyfriend
zomg these look so fat and delicious. We are having our Thanksgiving this Sunday so I will try and steal the leftovers to make these!
erika
Haha yay please do!!! I really loved these!! So good warm, straight off the pan…or topped with butter and syrup if you can stand to wait π
gottagetbaked
Erika, you constantly outdo yourself – these pancakes look to die for. I cannot believe how thick, moist and fluffy they look! What an awesome recipe and fantastic way to use up leftover pie.
erika
Oh stop π I do have to say, though, that these are probably my best to date. So. Amazingly. Fluffy. While I was eating one, S was like, “so is this up to restaurant quality?” and I almost choked–it was an epiphany. THEY TOTALLY WERE!!
gottagetbaked
LMAO. You’re hilarious!
The Squishy Monster
That is such a crazy gorgeous stack..I love that I can “have my cake and eat it too!”
erika
Aw thank you! Haha, can that be my life motto?
MonkeyBreadandSweetPea
I have a bit of pumpkin pie left! I’ll have to do Pancake Monday! haha
erika
Aww yay! Let me know how you like them if you end up making them π A little bit of leftover pumpkin pie is the best!
Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen
I always use a mix of white and whole wheat in my pancakes too π I’m sad all of our leftovers are already gone, but now I can start making some Christmas treats, yay!
erika
Omg tell me about it! I am TOO excited for Christmas cookies. My roommate and I want to have a big holiday cookie exchange party and I can’t wait!
Valerie Diaz
Erika! they look so yummy! Feed me T-T I didn’t have any pie on Thanksgiving so I can’t make leftover pancakes
erika
Haha come over! Do you like marzipan? I think it might be involved in my next pancake endeavor…why didn’t you have pie?? You crazy. It’s a staple!
cakewhiz
oh erika! this is a fabulous way to use up leftover pie. all of a sudden, i find myself hungry for pancakes…lol!
erika
YAY! That’s how everyone should feel π And thanks π
Yesle @ D is for Dentist
OMG how am I still hungry after stuffing myself the last two days? Your photos are great, Erika. I love the tone of your writing too. π
erika
LOL that’s exactly how I feel! Yesterday I was like “I’m never eating again” and then STUFFED myself with cauliflower pizza two hours later. Haaaha. Thanks a lot Yesle π
Stephanie
These look delicious! Love the photo with the syrup pouring over the pancake!
erika
Aww thanks Stephanie π
petit4chocolatier
These look so delicious! You are awesome with the pancakes!!
erika
Thanks so much Judy!
myhealthyohana
Wow, these sound amazing, I’m going to make these for our Sunday breakfast!! I love the first picture with the maple syrup dripping down…I can never seem to accomplish that kind of picture!! π
I used to love Le Peep when we lived in Chicago, haven’t heard that name in years!
erika
Yay, let me know how you like them! And thank you so much, I had my boyfriend help me out with the pouring that shot π
Aw man, I love Le Peep! My first pancake love is Stacks in California, but since I’ve been in Texas, it’s my fav π Do you have a favorite spot for pancakes?
myhealthyohana
My favorite pancake of all time is the huge apple pancake from Clark’s in Chicago! It’s got tons of buttery, caramelized apples on the bottom, and then they turn it over and top it with lots of powdered sugar. Used to eat it all the time at 2 AM during college π
Choc Chip Uru
This is thickness and delicious overload π
Great idea!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
erika
Thanks Uru! Yes, these are definitely my fav pancakes to date in terms of fluffiness!!
Leah
This is brilliant! We have so much pie and apple crisp leftover and I’m dying to try this.
erika
Oooh YUM! I bet this would totally work with apple crisp too! What kinds of pies did you make??
Leah
We were pretty traditional this year – just a pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake pie. They’re not my preferred pies but that’s what everyone wanted!
erika
Aww. That’s nice of you to oblige everyone else π
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
Love this! Such a great, healthy-ish way to use up leftover pie! I love Pancake Fridays π
erika
Thanks Kayle! I was suuuuper excited about these. They are SO GOOD!
Profiteroles & Ponytails
You really are the pancake princess Erica! What a clever idea! Happy thanksgiving!
erika
Aww thank you so much! Hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving!
Vina'sdeliciousrecipes !
Yummy !
Bam's Kitchen
Dessert for breakfast! I am all for that! Your first picture is so stunning. Every post your pictures are getting better and better!
erika
Thank you so much Bam! I really appreciate your lovely comments π And yes, dessert for breakfast is definitely the best!