Step-by-Step: 5 Patriotic Pancake Recipes Moms Can Make With Kids for Veterans Day

How to Make Red White and Blue Pancakes: A Fun Veterans Day Breakfast for Kids

Knowing how to make red white and blue pancakes is one of my favorite ways to create a special memory with my kids on Veterans Day. It transforms a simple breakfast into a meaningful morning activity that’s both delicious and fun. This isn’t just about making food; it’s about starting a conversation, sharing a moment of gratitude, and building a family tradition your little ones will cherish. 👧👦

Over my years of developing family-friendly recipes, I’ve learned that the best ones are simple, engaging, and deliver big on smiles. This kid friendly Veterans Day recipe is designed to be completely stress-free 💆‍♀️, with easy steps perfect for little hands to help with. From whisking the dry ingredients to decorating the final stack, your kids can be a part of the whole process.

This is more than just one of our go-to Veterans Day breakfast ideas for families; it’s a chance to create a delicious memory your kids will ask for year after year. So, grab your little chefs and your apron, and let’s make a breakfast that’s as heartfelt as it is tasty!

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This beautiful, patriotic pancake stack is the perfect centerpiece for your Veterans Day brunch.

What You’ll Need

A question I get all the time in my community cooking classes is how to get those really vibrant colors in baked goods without ruining the texture. The secret is gel food coloring! I learned this the hard way years ago. My goal was to make brilliant red velvet pancakes for a holiday breakfast, but I used liquid food coloring. My frustrating failure was a sad, pinkish batter that was way too thin and spread all over the griddle. The solution I discovered was gel food coloring. It’s super concentrated, so you only need a few drops for a deep, true color, and it won’t water down your perfect pancake batter.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups buttermilk (this is the secret to incredibly fluffy, tender pancakes! Its acidity reacts with the baking soda to create extra lift that you can’t get from regular milk.)
• 2 large eggs
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Red and blue gel food coloring
• For Topping: Fresh strawberries (sliced), fresh blueberries, and whipped cream. Patriotic sprinkles are a fun, optional addition!

Kitchen Tools

• 3 medium mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Non-stick griddle or large skillet
• Spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Ladle or 1/4 cup measuring cup for pouring batter
• Optional: Star-shaped cookie cutter (metal works best)

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Having all your ingredients prepped and ready makes this a fun and easy family breakfast activity.

How to Make It

Here’s our step-by-step guide to creating this easy pancake art for kids. We’ll break it down into four simple phases so everyone can join in.

1. The “Little Chef” Prep Station

First, set your kids up for success! In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Let your little ones take turns whisking it all together. This is a perfect, low-mess task for them. You can also set up a “toppings bar” with the berries and whipped cream so it’s ready for the final step.

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A close-up shot of a child’s hands whisking the dry ingredients shows how easy it is to get them involved.

2. Make & Color the Master Batter

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until just combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until a lumpy batter forms. It’s important not to overmix! Now, divide the batter evenly among your three mixing bowls (about 1 1/3 cups each). Leave one bowl plain (white). Add a few drops of red gel food coloring to the second bowl and a few drops of blue to the third. Let the kids gently stir the colors in.

💡 Pro-Tip: Don’t overmix the batter when adding the food coloring. Stir gently until the color is just combined to keep the pancakes light and fluffy. A few streaks are okay!

3. The Pancake Assembly Line

Preheat your non-stick griddle or skillet over medium-low heat. Lightly grease it with butter or cooking spray.

✅ Safety Note: The griddle or stove is for adults only. Make sure kids stay a safe distance away while the pancakes are cooking to prevent any burns.

Using a 1/4 cup measure, pour batter for each color onto the hot griddle, leaving space between them. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until you see bubbles on the surface and the edges look dry. Flip carefully and cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.

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The vibrant colored batter sizzles as it’s poured onto the hot griddle.

For perfect star shaped pancakes, place a lightly greased metal cookie cutter directly on the hot griddle. Pour a small amount of batter inside the cutter. Let it cook for a minute before carefully removing the cutter with tongs, then let the pancake finish cooking.

⭐ A Heartfelt Reminder: As you cook the different colors, you can talk with your kids about what the colors of the flag represent. It’s a wonderful, simple way to connect the activity to the meaning of Veterans Day.

4. Decorate & Celebrate

As the pancakes finish, stack them on a plate. To keep the finished pancakes warm while you cook the rest, place them on a baking sheet in a single layer in a preheated 200°F (93°C) oven. Once you have a stack for everyone, it’s time for the best part! Let the kids take the lead in stacking their pancakes (red, white, blue!) and decorating with fresh berries, a big dollop of whipped cream, and sprinkles.

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Kids will love taking charge of decorating the final pancake stack with patriotic toppings.

Nancy’s Expert Tips for Success

• Use Gel Food Coloring: For the most vibrant red and blue colors that won’t thin your batter, always choose gel over liquid food coloring. You can find it in the baking aisle or at craft stores.
• Don’t Overmix: A few lumps in your pancake batter are a good thing! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, chewy pancakes instead of light and fluffy ones.
• Control Your Heat: Pancakes cook best over medium-low heat. If your griddle is too hot, the outside will burn before the inside is cooked through. The first pancake is always a test! Adjust your heat as needed.

Recipe Variations & Dietary Swaps

This patriotic pancake recipe for kids is wonderfully versatile! Here are a few ways to adapt it:

• Make it Easier: In a hurry? Use a complete “just add water” pancake mix and simply follow the instructions for dividing and coloring the batter.
• Level it Up: Create a homemade blueberry syrup by simmering 1 cup of blueberries with 2 tablespoons of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice until thickened. It’s a delicious touch for your Veterans Day brunch.
• Dietary Swaps: For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
• Fruit Flag Pancakes: Make one large rectangular pancake and have kids decorate the top with rows of sliced strawberries and a corner of blueberries to look like an American flag.

Serving, Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

Serving: Serve these festive pancakes immediately while warm, with a side of crispy bacon or sausage links to balance the sweetness. A glass of fresh orange juice or milk completes this perfect holiday breakfast with kids.

Storage: Store leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They reheat beautifully in the toaster or microwave.

Make-Ahead: You can make the dry ingredient mix a week in advance and store it in an airtight container. The full batter (uncolored) can be made the night before and stored, covered, in the fridge. Give it a gentle stir before dividing, coloring, and cooking.

I truly hope this becomes one of your favorite Veterans Day breakfast ideas for families. Seeing the joy on your kids’ faces as they build and decorate their own patriotic stack is a memory you won’t forget.

What are your family’s favorite food traditions for Veterans Day? Please let me know in the comments below! And if you make this recipe, I would be so grateful if you could leave a star rating—it helps other readers find it, too!