In our opinion, pancakes are one of the most delicious foods in the world. However, before you tuck into a big stack of pancakes with maple syrup, it’s a good idea to know how many calories are in them.
There are many different ways to make pancakes, which means that different types of pancakes have different calorie counts.
Here’s everything you need to know about calories in pancakes, including the average calories in some of the most popular types of pancakes, and answers to your frequently asked questions about pancake calories.
How Many Calories Are In A Pancake?
A plain, 6-inch pancake without any syrup or toppings usually comes to about 175 calories.
Obviously, you can add a lot of different ingredients to pancakes to change their flavor. For example, you can make blueberry pancakes, or chocolate chip pancakes.
Because blueberries are fairly low-calorie, and adding blueberries to the batter means there’ll be slightly less actual batter in each pancake, blueberry pancakes are about the same amount of calories per serving as plain pancakes.
A single chocolate chip pancake can be over 200 calories per serving.
How Many Calories In Pancakes With Syrup?
We’ve established that your average, plain pancake is about 175 calories per serving. But how about when you add syrup? Most of us aren’t eating our pancakes without any syrup or toppings, so it’s important to take these into consideration from a caloric perspective.
The added calories from syrup depend on what kind of syrup you’re using. Maple syrup contains 52 calories per tablespoon, and regular pancake syrup is 53 calories per tablespoon. Butter-flavored syrup has approximately 59 calories in every tablespoon.
However, if you want to enjoy the delicious flavor of syrup without so many extra calories, you can always opt for reduced-calorie pancake syrup. For every tablespoon of low-calorie pancake syrup, you’ll be adding 25 calories to your pancakes.
So, if you want to calculate how many calories a stack of pancakes with syrup equals in total, just add up the pancakes at 175 calories per pancake, and add however many tablespoons of your chosen syrup.
How Many Calories In A Crêpe
A crêpe may not look like the type of pancake you’d be served at a diner, but despite the difference in appearance, crêpes are technically pancakes.
Unlike regular pancakes, which are cooked in a skillet or frying pan, a crêpe is usually cooked on a cast-iron griddle, where it is thinned out.
A crêpe traditionally has fillings rather than toppings. Syrup, fresh fruit, chocolate spread, or even savory ingredients, are spread over the surface of the crêpe before it is folded, so all the added ingredients are contained inside.
So, bearing all that in mind, you might be wondering whether there’s a difference between the calories in a crêpe and the calories in your average pancake. The answer is yes.
Crêpes are much lower in calories than regular pancakes. The average crêpe measures 10 inches across and contains between90 and 120 calories. This includes 14 grams of carbs, 6 grams of fat, and 2 grams of protein.
Calories In Crêpe Fillings
Of course, most of the calories in crêpes come from your chosen fillings. These can be sweet or savory, and depending on what you choose, the calories in your crêpe may go up minimally or substantially.
For example, you may want to add syrup to your crêpe, in which case, you can see the calories for different syrups outlined above. Another popular filling is fresh berries. There are about 4 calories in a single strawberry, and 1 calorie per blueberry.
Another popular sweet filling for crêpes is Nutella, which adds 100 calories for every tablespoon.
In terms of savory fillings, ham and cheese is a popular choice. A 1 cup serving of ham contains 203 calories, while 1 ounce of cheddar cheese contains 113 calories. For the same quantity, Gruyère cheese comes to 116 calories. 1 cup of fresh mushrooms provides 15 calories.
If you’re ordering crêpes at a restaurant, it’s best to check the size of the crêpe before ordering, and inquire about the calories if they are not specified on the menu.
This is because different restaurants may prepare their crêpes differently and add varying quantities for the fillings.
Final Thoughts
No two pancakes are exactly the same. Depending on the size of the pancake, any additional ingredients in the batter, and your chosen toppings, the total calories in your pancakes could vary significantly.
Remember that even though crêpes are technically a type of pancake, there is a difference in the calories.
With that being said, your average 6-inch pancake contains about 175 calories, whereas a standard crêpe contains about 120 on the higher end of the estimate. Syrups, fruits, spreads, and other toppings add more calories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Possible to Make Low Calorie Pancakes?
Although pancakes are not typically low in calories, it is possible to make pancakes in a way that ensures the total calories stay as low as possible.
To make healthy, low-calorie pancakes, use wholemeal flour, and whip egg whites instead of whole eggs. You can serve your pancakes with healthy toppings such as berries or sugar-free syrup alternatives.
This way, your individual pancakes should contain less than 100 calories.
Are Pancakes Empty Calories?
Many pancakes made using the traditional pancake recipe are pretty much empty calories because they don’t really provide nutritional value.
With that being said, you can make pancakes more nutritious. For example, you could add bananas to your pancakes to make them extra moist and add some essential vitamins and minerals.
Can You Eat Pancakes On A Diet?
Yes, you may be surprised to learn that you can eat pancakes while on a diet. Just use whole grain flour instead of white flour, and avoid adding refined sugar to the batter.
You can get sweetness from your pancakes by topping them with fruit, or a low-calorie syrup. Just make sure to eat your pancakes in moderation and keep track of the calories.
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