Product Review: Birch Benders Pancake & Waffle Mix

What it is:

Birch Benders is a line of pancake and waffle mixes created in 2011. Just in the last year the company has released a line of frozen waffles as well.

Where to Find it:

Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, Fresh Market, select Target, select Meijers, online (Amazon, Thrive Market, Boxed, Birch Benders), and Costco

CLICK HERE to get $15 off first order of $60+ at Boxed.com.

Pros:

Easy to Use: Every single one of their pancake and waffle mixes simply require adding water to the mix. No egg, oil, etc. It’s nice to know if you’re running low on groceries but you have a stash of pancake mix on hand, you can make breakfast dinner!

Great taste: My first time trying Birch Benders was using the Paleo mix. I’m not usually attracted to products with labels containing popular diets, but after reading the ingredient list I was willing to try. I have tried the Paleo mix as waffles and pancakes and both had great flavor. I have since tried the Blueberry and Pumpkin Spice flavors which are also delicious! However, my favorite, and my husband’s favorite, remains the original Paleo mix.

High fiber, low sugar – This is what originally drew me to the Paleo mix. Since the mix is made from cassava flour, coconut flour, almond flour and sweetened with monk fruit instead of white flour and refined sugars, you’ll get 5 grams of fiber and 0 grams of sugar per serving! Much more satisfying than the 1 gram of fiber and 6+ grams of sugar from traditional mixes. As an added bonus, these “healthy pancakes” don’t taste like cardboard. I too have been victim of 100% whole wheat and buckwheat pancakes. Gross.

Cons:

Minimal leavening for pancakes – Ok this critique needs to come with the disclaimer that I am not a pancake expert. Waffles are more my expertise. When I used the Paleo mix to make waffles they really didn’t rise that much. They still tasted good but I didn’t get the thick, fluffy appearance and texture you always see on the website and Instagram. If we’re being honest, Instagram rarely looks like true reality!

Difference in yield: Whether I make pancakes or waffles, I have never been able to get the same yield that the package claims. When following the instructions to make 12-14 4” pancakes, I ended up with 7-8. Waffles are a little harder to estimate since I make 6” waffles instead of 4”. I also like to double the recipe because they freeze well and make great leftovers the next day. My tip, the first time you use this mix make more than what you think you’ll need. Worst case scenario is delicious leftovers!

Final Verdict

The Paleo pancake and waffle mix is officially a pantry staple in my household. I love to make waffles with eggs or bacon on a lazy Saturday morning or for an easy weeknight dinner. Since the Paleo mix is high in fiber and low in sugar (with no cardboard taste!), it gives me sustainable energy for the day without blood sugar crashes making me feel like I need to go to bed. Whenever Birch Benders comes out with new flavors I’m always excited to try them, but the Paleo mix will always be a staple of mine.

Just a reminder, eating healthier pancakes does not mean you should always add more sugary syrup on top! Still go easy on the maple syrup and avoid the “pancake syrup” altogether. There isn’t much maple in these types of syrup, mainly corn syrups or artificial sweeteners. Feel free to get creative with sweet and savory additions to your pancakes and waffles. My favorite is to top my waffles with Raspberry Chia Jam or peanut butter!