Easy as Pumpkin Pie! Make your own Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Pie Smoothies
If you are like us, you are certainly counting down the days till America’s favorite foodie holiday – Thanksgiving! Each year we welcome family and friends to our table to share a feast and give thanks for our many life blessings. If you have friends or family visiting for the long weekend, you’ll certainly need to feed them breakfast in addition to the big feast. Here are a couple of festive pumpkin Thanksgiving breakfast treats to share with your guests:
Pumpkin Pie Smoothies
Ingredients:
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup (120g) vanilla Greek yogurt1
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice2
- 1/2 cup (120ml) skim milk3
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) pure maple syrup
- 2/3 cup (150g) pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
- 1 cup ice
Directions:
- Make sure you have a strong, powerful blender. I like this Ninja or this Vitamix.
- Add all of the ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on high for at least 3 minutes or until smooth - this may take longer if your blender isn't very strong. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed.
- Add more milk to thin out if it is too thick. Add a couple more ice cubes for a thicker texture, if desired. Add more spices to taste, if desired.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons pure pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more for sprinkling
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup hot espresso or strong brewed coffee
- Sweetened whipped cream, for serving
Directions:
Combine the milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla in a medium microwave safe bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and vent with a small hole. Microwave until the milk is hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk vigorously until the milk mixture is foamy, about 30 seconds. Pour the espresso or coffee into a large mug and add the foamed milk. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
And of course when you get worn out from cooking, join us for breakfast in Denver over Thanksgiving weekend! We’ll be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but will be open and ready to serve you over the rest of the holiday!
Back to School Breakfasts
It is hard to believe it is back to school time again! We know how hard it can be to get back onto a school schedule so we’ve compiled a few of our favorite fast and easy breakfast recipes to help get you out the door on time. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, hopefully these ideas will also make it the easiest meal so that everyone gets to school with a full tummy!
Freeze and Go Breakfast Burrito
We love these burritos because you can pack your freezer full of them and have them ready to pop in the microwave on any morning you are running late! Simply cook large quantities of your breakfast favorites such as scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon, and potatoes. Combine all cooked ingredients plus green chile if you have adventurous kiddos, and cheese in flour tortillas, roll them up, wrap in foil and plastic baggies, and freeze. In the morning you can toast or microwave these burritos and be ready to go in less than two minutes!
Mason Jar Breakfast Parfait
These are so easy to prepare ahead and will last a whole week in the fridge. Use a large mason jar and fill in alternating layers with your favorite yogurt, fruit medley, and granola. Screw the tops on the jars to keep the parfait fresh and store in the fridge. They’ll be ready to grab and go in the morning!
Banana Bread in a Jar
This breakfast is oh-so-yummy and comforting in the morning. We recommend preparing the mixture and filling the jars the night before. Then in the morning you microwave each jar for 2 ½ minutes and you have individual servings of delicious, warm banana bread for breakfast!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 c. Coconut Milk (Unsweetened)
- 1/4 c. Almond butter (You can use cashew butter as well)
- 1/4 tsp. Baking powder
- 2 tbsp Nutiva Coconut Flour
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1/2 Ripe Banana (Mashed)
- 1/5 c. Dark Chocolate Chips
- Sprinkle of shredded pecans
- Pinch of shredded coconut
Combine dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix thoroughly. Pour into individual mason jars and top each with chocolate chips, pecans and coconut. Store in fridge and microwave for 2 ½ minutes when you are ready to eat!
Best Breakfasts Around the World
Summer is the season to travel and we love hearing about the adventures our customers experience as they travel the globe over the holiday months. Our customers’ stories have us wondering, what are the best breakfasts to experience around the world? We decided to create a breakfast travel wishlist in case we are ever able to book that ‘round the world’ plane ticket! If your travels take you to any of these destinations, snap a photo and show us the yummy food you tried!
Mexico: When visiting our southern neighbor, be sure to order the Chilaquiles for breakfast. You’ll enjoy a tortilla topped with eggs, red or green chile sauce, cheese, beans, and sometimes shredded bacon or chicken.
England: One must order a full English breakfast when visiting the U.K. You’ll get a hearty plate with eggs, baked beans, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes, sausage or bacon, and toast. Sounds good to us!
Australia: When in the land down under, one must order toast with vegemite for breakfast. Vegemite is a thick, black Australian food spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives. Some people love it, others not so much, let us know what you think!
Japan: Traditional Japanese breakfasts usually include miso soup, steamed rice, and boiled fish. Now that sounds like a breakfast our doctor would approve of…
Turkey: In turkey, as with other Mediterranean countries, you can expect lots of fresh produce including feta cheese, tomato, cucumber, olives, toast, cherry jam, spicy Turkish sausage, and of course Turkish tea.
Venezuela: In Venezuela, breakfast arepas are like a grilled pancake or tortilla or sorts filled with assorted meats and sausage, cheese, and are served with avocado salad, eggs and beans. Now that sounds like a breakfast that will get you through the day!
Of course, we think a classic American breakfast with pancakes, eggs, sausage, and home fries really can’t be beat! When you return from your world travels, be sure to stop in and say hi at the Original Pancake House in Denver, we’ll cook you up a breakfast that tastes like home!
4th of July Feast! How to eat like our Founding Fathers
Every year on the 4th of July we honor our nation’s independence by donning red, white and blue, spending time with friends and family, and firing up the grill. But while we like to eat hamburgers and ribs, our Founding Fathers shared a very different spread back in 1776. Here are a few of our Founding Fathers’ favorite foods, and how you can incorporate them into your modern day 4th of July!
Cornmeal Hoecakes: A staple food of the early colonial days, cornmeal hoecakes, similar to a pancake, were found on almost every table. Also, did you know that George Washington wore dentures and thus preferred soft foods? Cornmeal hoecakes were one of his favorites! At the Original Pancake House in Denver, we have a whole assortment of pancakes that would surely please our first President!
Cherries: We’ve all heard the myth about George Washington and the cherry tree. Did you know that both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington had cherry orchards on their farms? If you want to incorporate cherries into your 4th of July, be sure to try our Cherry Kijafa Crepes!
Oysters: Since many of our Founding Fathers lived near the coast, seafood was almost always part of their daily menu. Oysters were a particular favorite food and Martha Washington included several recipes for oysters in her First Lady’s cookbook.
Apples: A staple part of the colonial harvest, apples appear in many early American recipes. Abigail Adams, John Adams wife, tended their farm and crops while he was busy creating a new nation. She often made apple pandowdy, a sort of cobbler, with their fresh apple harvest. If you are in the mood to eat like President Adams, you won’t want to miss our oven baked Apple Pancake!
Whatever you eat this 4th of July, we hope you enjoy the holiday with family and friends! And from everyone at the Original Pancake House in Denver, we wish you a happy birthday, America!
Healthy Summer Breakfasts
At The Original Pancake House in Denver, we often associate summer with relaxed mornings and leisurely summer breakfasts. In reality, some summer days are quite rushed, scooting the kids off to camp, or getting up early to hit the trails before it gets too hot. For those days, we have collected a few of our favorite make-at-home, easy-breezy summer breakfast recipes.
Here they are!
No-Bake Chocolate Energy Bites: We love these because they make a delicious and easy breakfast, or snack on the go! Freeze them and save them for a day when you are short on time!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup no stir almond butter or creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- Up to 4 tsp warm water , as needed
- 1 cup old fashioned oats (raw)
- 3/4 cup toasted or raw coconut
- 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
- 6 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, stir together almond butter, honey, vanilla and cocoa powder. If mixture seems too thick stir in 2 tsp warm water to thin. Add oats, coconut, flaxseed meal and chocolate chips and stir until evenly coated. At this point if mixture still doesn't stick well, stir in up to 2 tsp water as needed. Transfer mixture to refrigerator or freezer and chill until nearly set and easier to handle.
- Remove from refrigerator and shape into 1-inch balls. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie - this recipe wins points for being super easy (all you need is a blender!), and for using up the inevitable watermelon leftovers you’ll have after buying a whole melon.
Simply combine the following ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh watermelon, cubed (black seeds removed)
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/2 ripe banana previously peeled, chopped and frozen
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 Tbsp chia or hemp seeds (optional)
Overnight Blueberry Cobbler Oatmeal: Make this one the night before and it’s ready to eat for a morning on the run!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 plus cup plus 2 tablespoons quick-cooking oats
- 1/2 cup milk, I used almond but any milk will do
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar (I use 2 if I drizzle on extra honey)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- pecans, optional
- honey, optional
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, stir together oats, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Fold in blueberries.
- Divide evenly between 2 small bowls and cover to refrigerate. Leave in the fridge for at least 5 hours or overnight. Enjoy with a drizzle of honey and your favorite nuts, if desired.
And for those days that you do have time for a leisurely summer breakfast, come in and join us at The Original Pancake House for breakfast in Denver! We’ll take good care of you and your belly! Happy Summer!
Berries are Back!
At the Original Pancake House in Denver, we love the beginning of summer. Long summer days, leisurely morning breakfasts, and the return of fresh berries make us smile this time of year. There is nothing quite so delectable as perfectly ripe and sweet fresh seasonal berries topping your favorite pancakes, waffles, french toast and crepes! Here are a few of our favorite dishes which showcase the best, most delicious, fresh berries:
Fresh Seasonal Berry French Toast
Our golden brown French toast topped with fresh seasonal berries and our fresh whipped cream. Served with our warm strawberry syrup.
Blueberry Pancakes
Buttermilk pancakes filled with plump blueberries and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and warm blueberry compote syrup.
Strawberry Belgian Waffle
Our golden brown Belgian waffle lightly dusted with powdered sugar, then topped with fresh strawberries and our fresh whipped cream. Served with our warm strawberry syrup.
Seasonal Berry Crepes
Three delicate crepes rolled and topped with fresh seasonal berries, our fresh whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar. Served with our warm strawberry syrup.
The next time you are out for breakfast in Denver, be sure to stop in and try one of our seasonal berry breakfasts, they are berry delicious!
A Topping for Every Pancake
If you want pancakes for breakfast in Denver, look no further than the Original Pancake House! We are proud to say that we make the most perfect, golden brown pancakes you’ll ever have. If you are a purist, we will always have our classic buttermilk pancakes topped with whipped butter and served with our warm maple syrup, but for those who are feeling adventurous, we have a topping for every taste!
For those who love our classic, American buttermilk pancakes, try one of these favorites inspired by the American heartland:
49'er Flap Jacks - From the mother lode country. Plate-sized, chewy, and tender. Served with whipped butter and warm syrup.
Potato Pancakes - Served with sour cream or cinnamon applesauce.
Sourdough Flap Jacks - This recipe was the favorite of the klondike gold rush. Served with whipped butter and warm syrup.
Georgia Pecan Pancakes - Buttermilk pancakes filled and topped with warm toasted pecans. Lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and warm tropical syrup.
For those that are feeling like something a little exotic, you have to try one of these delightful takes on classic 
pancakes:
Swedish Pancakes - Authentic lacy Swedish pancakes are always a treat. Served with lingonberry sauce from Sweden and whipped butter.
Coconut Pancakes - Buttermilk pancakes filled and topped with warm toasted coconut. Lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and tropical syrup.
Hawaiian Pancakes - Buttermilk pancakes filled with crushed pineapple and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and warm tropical syrup.
For the young, and the young at heart, we always recommend folks try our Bacon Pancakes, Blueberry Pancakes, Banana Pancakes or our Chocolate Chip Pancakes. All are served with whipped butter and warm syrup of course!
And last, but certainly not least, if you are feeling fancy you must try our signature Dutch Baby Pancake which is oven baked and served with whipped butter, lemon and powdered sugar, or our signature Apple Pancake which is oven baked with fresh Granny Smith apples and pure Sinkiang cinnamon glaze. We promise you won’t go home hungry after one of these breakfast works of art!
Little Helpers - Great Breakfasts to Make with Your Kids
We all enjoy breakfast or brunch in Denver with our kids, it is a truly special way to spend a weekend morning with our families. For the mornings you stay home, it is great to get kids involved in the kitchen. Even the smallest tots enjoy mixing, stirring, and cracking eggs! Here are a few of our favorite recipes to make with our kids. These recipes are easy and fast, meaning breakfast will be on the table in a jiffy, especially with the extra help from your kids!
Chocolate Chip Pancake Poppers
This recipe is essentially chocolate chip pancakes in mini-muffin form so your kids don’t have to worry about flipping messy pancakes on a hot griddle. Its as easy as 1- 2 -3 and of course they are fun to eat too!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tbsp. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. milk
2 tbsp. maple syrup
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg, lightly whisked
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then stir in milk, maple syrup, butter, egg, vanilla and cinnamon. Fold in mini chocolate chips until just combined. Divide batter evenly between mini muffin cups.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, with maple syrup.
Donut Apples
We love this recipe because there is actually real fruit hiding below all the delicious toppings! It’s fun and healthy too!
Ingredients:
12 oz. cream cheese, softened, cut into thirds
2 tsp. honey, divided
1/2 c. melted chocolate
2 drops pink food coloring
3 apples
Assorted sprinkles, for decorating
Directions:
- Divide cream cheese among three small bowls. In one bowl, add 1 teaspoon honey. In another bowl, add melted chocolate. In the last bowl, add remaining teaspoon honey and pink food coloring. Stir each bowl together until combined.
- Slice apples and use a biscuit or cookie cutter to hollow out centers.
- Spread mixtures on apple slices and top with sprinkles.
And of course if you aren’t in the mood for making a mess of your kitchen, come join us at The Original Pancake House for breakfast out in Denver!
Call ahead, we’ll save you a spot in line!
Our holiday gift to you Denver - now you can call ahead and save a spot in line at The Original Pancake House in Denver! Starting Monday, December 11th, you can now call ahead and we’ll put your name on the waiting list.
Its as easy as…
- Call when you are on your way!
- We will let you know the current wait time and add you to our waitlist.
- Check in when you arrive and we’ll update you on the status of your table.
We now offer our call ahead wait list every day of the week. Because less waiting means more time to enjoy breakfast with friends and family!
Be sure to add our two locations to your phone:
The Original Pancake House Cherry Hills - University at Orchard Road
Call: 303-795-0573
The Original Pancake House Denver Tech Center - 8000 E. Belleview Ave.
Call: 303-224-0093
We hope to see you soon, Denver! Happy holidays!
My Breakfast 'Tis of Thee...Patriotic Breakfasts
With the 4th of July just around the corner, we see American flags and the red-white-and-blue just about everywhere we go! For breakfast in Denver this 4th of July, try your hand at a patriotic start to the day. Here are a few ideas to make your breakfast festive!
Patriotic Toast
This is a simple one to whip up and we guarantee the kids will love it! Simply toast your favorite bread and spread with a layer of cream cheese. Then, use strawberries or raspberries and arrange in straight lines across the toast. Alternate the “red” lines with banana slices for the “white” lines. Finally, add blueberries to the upper left corner to complete your “flag” toast!
Stars and Stripes Berry Trifle
Another quick and easy patriotic breakfast, this recipe uses yogurt, angel food cake, and fresh berries. To assemble, alternate layers of yogurt, red berries and blueberries, and angel food cake in a clear glass trifle jar, individual clear cups, or clear mason jars. Top with a bit of whipped cream to make this an extra special treat!
Red, White and Blueberry French Toast
Prepare your favorite French Toast recipe and top with a patriotic medley of fresh berries. We like to use fresh raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries and top it all off with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Yum!
Of course if you are in patriotic mood and don’t have time to cook, come visit us at The Original Pancake House in Denver and we’ll make you one of our famous breakfasts topped with fresh berries! We have fresh berry crepes, pancakes, and waffles! They are all berry patriotic!
Have a safe and happy 4th of July Denver!
Kids in the Kitchen
With school out for summer, there is no better time to slow down and have your kids help you create your family’s meal. Be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, getting the kids involved in cooking helps build positive relationships with food, encourages healthy eating, and is a wonderful bonding experience. Not to mention all the measuring and counting of ingredients might help keep their math-minded brains active! 
Cooking with kids will most likely be a bit messy, but it doesn’t have to be hard. We found a couple fun, delicious, and kid friendly meals that you will enjoy preparing - and eating - together!
Tiny Pancakes*
Inspired by a spanish breakfast staple called a tortillita, these versatile little pancakes can be a perfect meal for breakfast or dinner! Described as either an eggy pancake or a floury omelette, you can add just about any type of savory “toppings” to your taste. Add veggies and protein to make it a complete meal! We love them with ham and cheddar or tomato, spinach and parmesan.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons water or milk
- 2 tablespoons flour
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
PREPARATION
- Beat together 1 egg, 2 teaspoons water or milk and 2 tablespoons flour. Stir in 1/3 to 1/2 cup of any of the suggested ingredients, finely chopped; season with salt and pepper (or sugar if you are making sweet pancakes). Add a not-too-thin layer of olive oil (or butter) to a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, spoon in 8 pancakes, and cook, turning once, until golden on both sides, 2 or 3 minutes per side.
Granola Breakfast Muffins*
These hearty breakfast muffins are easy to make and include a delightful “crunch” from the granola. Eat them fresh out of the oven or freeze half to save for another day.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granola
- ½ cup low-fat milk
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large or extra large eggs
- ¼ cup mild honey, such as clover
- ½ cup buttermilk or plain low-fat yogurt
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
PREPARATION
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF with a rack in the middle. Oil 12 muffin cups. Combine the granola and milk in a bowl and let sit for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cover the raisins with hot water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain and dry on paper towels.
- Sift together whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In medium bowl, beat together the eggs, honey, buttermilk or yogurt, canola oil and vanilla. Quickly whisk in the flour, then fold in the granola and raisins. Combine well
- Spoon into muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then unmold and cool on a rack.
For both these recipes there are plenty of options for kids to get involved. Let them measure, stir, pour, crack eggs and get their hands dirty. Cooking can be a very fun activity for everyone and you never know if you might have a budding chef in your household! From all your friends at the Original Pancake House in Denver, have a wonderful summer!
*Recipes courtesy of The New York Times
Oh! The places they’ll go! Congratulations Seniors!
Congratulations to our all the seniors in Denver who graduated from high school this month! You should be so proud of your accomplishment and all the hard work that went into the past four years of high school. 
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
We would like to extend a very special and warm congratulations to two of our own OPH Denver employees who graduated from high school this month. Please join us in applauding Emily Tautz, one of our servers at our Cherry Hills location. Emily graduated from Cherry Creek High School this May. And from our Denver Tech Center location John Schiefelbein, one of our hosts, graduated this month from Chaparral High School. Way to go Emily and John!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose!
And after graduation, what will all these kids do with their free time this summer? In our humble opinion, we think a good first step would be to join us for a leisurely breakfast to celebrate! Congratulations seniors! Oh! The places you’ll go!