Denny’s Pancake Puppies

The delicious offspring of a pancake and hush puppy, these craveable bites can be dressed up with your favorite toppings for a family-friendly, affordable, simple breakfast treat.

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What are Pancake Puppies? 

What do you do when you’re craving the sweet, filling doughiness of pancakes but are a little bored with the same old flapjacks? The answer comes from a true icon of the breakfast world: Denny’s. “America’s Diner” invented these unique treats and gave them their adorable name, a play on the traditionally savory hush puppies.

But if you don’t feel like heading out for breakfast, you can enjoy these original pancake puppies at your own table with this simple copycat recipe. 

What makes Pancake Puppies so good?

It’s difficult to find a person who doesn’t love pancakes. Sweet, bready, and perfect for topping with your favorite syrups or condiments, there’s a reason they’re a breakfast classic. Pancake puppies take the best part of traditional pancakes and reshape them into freshly fried dough balls along the lines of a beignet, donut, or even funnel cake.

You can enjoy them simply with a dusting of powdered sugar and maple syrup or add all sorts of toppings and garnishes, from fresh fruit to chocolate or caramel sauce.  

Why you’ll love this recipe

Few recipes can offer this amount of delicious flavor with this few ingredients. By using your favorite store-bought pancake mix, you save the time and hassle of making your own. Other than water for mixing the batter, the only other must-have is a bit of neutral oil for frying.

This simplicity also means there’s no long wait to enjoy them. In just minutes, you’ll be chowing down on piping hot, perfectly cooked pancake puppies for breakfast, snack, or even dessert.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make pancake balls:

• Pancake Mix – the kind that you only have to add water
• Water
• Oil for frying
• Powdered sugar
• Maple syrup for serving

How to make Pancake Puppies

Those who’ve made pancakes or deep-fried anything before will be familiar with the following steps, but even newbies will find it easy:

1. Heat a few inches of oil in a deep fryer or pot to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Add water and pancake mix in a large bowl and mix to combine. It will have an extra thick pancake batter consistency.
3. Using a cookie scoop, drop balls of pancake batter into the hot oil, being careful to avoid splashing the oil. Do this in small batches so you won’t overcrowd the fryer.
4. Cook until the balls of batter have browned on the bottom, then flip and cook for another 30 seconds. They should be golden brown.
5. Remove the puppies from the oil and drain the excess oil on paper towels or a wire rack over a baking tray.
6. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve immediately with maple syrup.   

Deep frying tips

Deep frying can be a bit intimidating to first-timers, but it’s a relatively straightforward process when done carefully. You should use high smoke point oils like vegetable oil or similar blends, which can be bought in cost-effective quantities at Costco. 

Those looking to buy their first deep fryer should try out the T-fal fryer, which offers easy temperature control and a basket to strain the oil for future reuse. 

What to serve with them

Think of these pancake puppies as either pancakes or donuts and pair them with your favorite breakfast meals. They serve as an excellent companion for eggs and breakfast meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham and can also complement lighter fare like fresh fruit.

Offer a mix of your favorite sauces or syrups, from traditional maple to more unusual options like blueberry, strawberry, caramel, and more. Cream cheese icing is another option.

Instead of powdered sugar, you can sprinkle cinnamon sugar on them for a sweet coating.

Don’t forget a piping hot cup of coffee or tea to wash it down, or, alternatively, a cold glass of milk or juice. 

How to store pancake puppies

As with any fried items, pancake puppies are best enjoyed as soon as possible after leaving the fryer. However, it is possible to store them if you have leftovers. Once cooled, they can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two or up to a week in the fridge.

They can even be frozen for up to two months for long-term storage, ideally individually wrapped in plastic for extra protection and convenience in defrosting. 

What is the best way to reheat pancake puppies?

Pancake puppies can be reheated in the oven, toaster oven, or microwave. The former two methods typically take a few minutes and preserve the best overall texture. Microwaving the puppies in short bursts until warmed through also works if you’re looking for a quick bite. 

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