A pancake is a breakfast favourite among many people. Especially with kids, a sweet and savoury pancake topped off with some fresh fruits and berries or syrup is always a superhit! But when you sit back and reflect a bit, you would need to take note of the number of calories in pancakes and if they are right for you and your family. Understanding the exact number of calories in one pancake might be a bit difficult due to the different sizes, types, shapes etc. Instead, let us use a standard weight of 100 grams for our discussion.
Each 100 grams of pancake contains an estimated 227 calories. You should also know that a typical pancake is prepared from a starch-based batter using eggs, milk and butter and fried with margarine, oil or butter. As is evident, all the ingredients used have high calories and carbohydrates within themselves as well. Here is a table showing the nutritional value in 100 grams of pancake.
Total Fat |
12% |
Saturated Fat |
9% |
Trans Fat |
3% |
Cholesterol |
16% |
Sodium |
15% |
Potassium |
3% |
Total Carbohydrates |
8% |
Protein |
3% |
Calcium |
18% |
Iron |
8% |
It is worth noting here that the above mentioned facts are based on 1 simple, plain pancake. People tend to enjoy pancakes more with other additives and condiments. These additions, or changes in servings can affect the number of calories in one pancake.
Pancake Size |
Calories |
Plain pancake 7-in diameter (82 gms) |
185 |
Plain pancake 6-in diameter (77 gms) |
165 |
Plain pancake 4-in diameter (40 gms) |
88 |
Pancake mix 1 oz |
74 |
Pancakes and all similar kinds of food items that are made with a high starch and fat content in the batter usually have a high calorie count. So, it is natural to expect a high calorie content in this particular food group. In fact, calories in pancakes with syrup is much higher since even a tablespoon of pure maple syrup puts in several additional calories. As tempting as they might be, moderation is a must when indulging in pancakes and similar food items. Now that you know the calories in 1 pancake, calories in common food items with pancakes can be found in the table below.
Pancakes with 1 tablespoon butter |
261 cal |
Pancakes with maple syrup |
280 cal |
Chocolate Pancakes |
331 cal |
Pancakes with homemade cream |
310 cal |
Pancakes with ready made cream |
330 cal |
Pancakes are a great source of carbohydrates, for those who require them in plenty. These may include athletes, bodybuilders, and people with a physically busy lifestyle, in general. Since carbohydrates are the natural fuel of the body, people feel energized after consuming pancakes.
An average pancake is also a rich source of iron. Iron, too, is an energizer as well as an important catalyst for pumping oxygen into your tissues. People with low iron in their body or dealing with issues such as anemia can benefit from including regulated quantities of pancakes in their daily diet.
Due to the inclusion of milk in the batter, pancakes can also provide calcium for the body. This is good for the teeth, bones, tissues and overall muscle functioning.
Pancakes, like any other type of carb and calorie-rich food item, need to be consumed in moderation. For people who have high sugar levels in their blood, or those who are suffering with weight issues, healthier options of pancakes can be used to make at home. Calories in homemade pancakes can be significantly reduced by substituting sugar with better alternatives, using whole-grain flour and adding fibre-rich fruits in your recipe. This will help you derive higher nutritional value from your pancakes and also not compromise on the taste.
Pancakes are a delight and, unless you have any medical condition prohibiting you, can be enjoyed by all. Self control and moderation are the key. While pancakes can provide high-energy levels with a good dose of carbs, iron and calcium, they can also lead to high blood sugar and obesity over a period of time. Experts recommend making pancakes at home using healthier alternatives instead of buying ready-to-make batter which have very low nutritional benefits. Including regular exercise in your daily routine is also a healthy way to burn out the excess calories in pancakes. Finally, it is both wise and financially prudent to invest in a robust health insurance policy to protect you and your family from any unforeseen medical issues. Bajaj MARKETS has a wide variety of healthcare plans that can be easily browsed and conveniently applied for.
Using whole wheat flour or oat flour is a great way of reducing calories in one pancake. It also boosts your fiber intake. A unique benefit of oat flour is that it contains beta-glucan. This is a special kind of fiber which is known to reduce blood sugar levels.
Several health-conscious people add different types of fruits or vegetables in their pancake batter. These can be chopped, mashed, or even grated. Apart from enhancing the flavour, they add loads of fiber, vitamins and minerals as well.
Some recommended additions include carrots, blueberries, bananas, pumpkin, zucchini, apples, oranges and raisins. Blueberries are good for the heart, bananas are good sources of potassium, while pumpkin, oranges and carrots provide carotenoids which improve your general immunity.
While they may save cooking time, ready made mixes come with a lot of preservatives and unhealthy additives. Making pancakes at home by using healthy alternatives and fruits can help reduce their calorie count.
Typically, it is observed that 100 gms of waffles have almost twice as many calories as pancakes, 415 cal.