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!
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!
Congratulations to the Class of 2018!
To all the graduating high school seniors in Denver, we say, congratulations and well-done! You’ve worked hard over the past four years to reach this momentous occasion and now you are off to great things! Graduation is such a special time, enjoy the celebrations and summer ahead. Hopefully you’ll have time for a few leisurely breakfasts in Denver with your friends before moving on to work and college in the fall.
This year, we send out a special congratulations to one of our staff members at The Original Pancake House, Tianna Morris. Tianna is a host at our Cherry Hills location and will graduate from Vista High School this May. After graduation, Tianna is planning to join the U.S. Navy! From all of us at The Original Pancake House, we say congratulations Tianna! We are so proud of you and wish you all the best in your Navy career. We will miss you!
And to the Class of 2018, your journey is just beginning. The world is waiting for you to bestow great things upon it. Congratulations on your graduation, may your knowledge carry you far. And our biggest piece of advice on your graduation is to make sure you start every day with a good breakfast
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!
Sweet Treats for Easter
With Easter coming up this weekend, most families in Denver are planning their annual traditions. For some, it is church, followed by brunch in Denver with the whole family. For others, the holiday starts at the crack of dawn with an egg hunt and easter baskets and brunch at home. Whatever your tradition, everyone wants some easy pre-made breakfast treats on hand to go with their morning coffee! After all, a big Easter brunch may be several hours away! Here are a few of our favorite recipes for Easter morning that work well for before, during, or even after Easter brunch.
French Toast Bake
We love this recipe because you can prepare it the night before and just pop it in the oven when you are ready to nosh on Easter morning!
Ingredients:
6 large eggs
1 1/2 c. whole milk
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 loaf white bread, preferably day old
Powdered sugar, for serving
Maple syrup, for serving
strawberries, for serving (optional)
Directions
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt.
- Dunk bread slices in the egg mixture then arrange them in a tall baking dish, standing up. Pour extra egg mixture over bread. Cover and refrigerate, 2 hours, or up to overnight.
- Bake in oven on 375° until the tops of the bread are golden and crunchy, about 45 minutes.
- Sift powdered sugar on top of the French toast bake. Serve warm with maple syrup and strawberries, if desired.
Lemon Poppyseed Loaf
Prepare this delicious, sunshiney breakfast bread ahead of time and then slice and go! Whether you are chasing tots around the yard on their egg hunt, or getting everyone in the car to go to church and brunch, this is the perfect pre-breakfast treat!
Ingredients
1 2/3 c. all-purpose flour
3 tbsp. poppy seeds
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. granulated sugar
Zest of 2 lemons
3 large eggs
1/2 c. yogurt
1/4 c. skim milk
Juice of 1 1/2 lemons, divided, plus small wedges for serving
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 c. powdered sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 9”-x-5” loaf pan with cooking spray. Line pan with parchment paper and grease parchment paper with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, poppy seeds, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer, combine butter, sugar, and lemon zest and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Add yogurt, milk, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and vanilla and mix until fully incorporated.
- Add flour mixture to the egg mixture in 3 additions, stirring at low speed between each one. Stir until batter is just combined, then pour batter into prepared pan and bake until the loaf is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes.
- Let loaf cool in pan for 15 minutes then carefully transfer to cooling rack to cool completely. When the loaf has cooled, whisk together powdered sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice to make glaze. Pour over loaf and garnish with lemon wedges.
And remember, we’ll be open on Easter so bring your family in for brunch! From all of us at The Original Pancake House in Denver, Happy Easter to you and yours!
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!
Peachy Keen!
August is National Peach Month and we’re loving all the delicious peaches coming into Denver from Colorado’s western slope. If you went peach picking in Palisade, or your local farmer's market, you may be wondering how you can incorporate peaches into every meal, including breakfast! Here are a few of our favorite ideas for a peachy breakfast in Denver.
Peach, Banana & Pecan Pancakes
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 and 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 medium banana - mashed
- 1 medium peach - peeled and chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
Combine dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls. Combine both wet and dry to form batter and cook on a frying pan or griddle using the same methods as traditional pancakes.
Tropical Peach Smoothie
- 1 large ripe peach - sliced
- 1 cup coconut yogurt
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- Ice to taste
Combine all ingredients in a blender and enjoy! You can add more fruit such as banana or use different yogurt such as vanilla or peach to create variations to this recipe.
Peach Pecan Muffins
- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter - melted
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 medium peaches - peeled and diced
For The Topping:
- 1/2 cup pecans - chopped
- 1/3 cup brown sugar - packed
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons butter - melted
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease and flour 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin cups. Combine topping ingredients until mixture is crumbly; set aside.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together butter, milk, and egg in a separate bowl. Stir milk/egg mixture into the flour mixture and blend just until moistened. Fold in diced peaches. Spoon into muffin cups; sprinkle evenly with topping mixture.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan.
Happy peach season Denver!
Cold Mornings Require Hot Eats!
Though this February in Denver has been quite lovely, we are fairly certain that Old Man Winter has a few chilly days left for us before spring officially arrives. For breakfast on a frosty morning, we all crave something a bit warmer than cold cereal. Here are a few ideas to warm up your breakfast table!
Cranberry Apple Baked Oatmeal - Oatmeal is so comforting and just the ticket to warm you on a cold day. We love this recipe with cranberry and apple to spice up an old favorite.
Baked Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast - YUM! This new take on French Toast has a delectable cream cheese filling and is very easy to prep ahead of time. We like to fill individual ramekins, but you can also use a big casserole dish if you are feeding a crowd.
Mini Quiche -A great make-ahead recipe with lots of adaptation potential. Throw in whatever you want, and just heat up a handful before you run out the door. These freeze well too, perfect for busy families and busy mornings!
Breakfast Out in Denver at OPH! When the barometer dips, bundle up the whole family and bring them in for a cozy morning at The Original Pancake House in Denver. With a choice of pancakes, crepes, waffles, egg dishes and more, our piping hot plates of delicious breakfast fare will warm you up in no time!
Warm wishes from your friends at The Original Pancake House in Denver!
Happy New Year: Our Top 5 Favorite Breakfasts of 2016
Over the past year we’ve shared many scrumptious breakfast recipes and ideas on our blog. Some are our own and some are recipes that we like to make for our families at home. Since 2016 has truly been a year of amazing breakfasts, we’d like to share with you our top 5 breakfasts from the past year.
- Maybe because it ‘tis the season, but our Ho Ho Ho Pancakes top our list of favorite
breakfasts! With Red and Green M&M’S inside our made from scratch buttermilk pancakes are topped with our fresh whipped cream and sprinkled with red and green Elf dust. You just can’t get more festive than that! - From our Back to School Breakfasts post we love the Banana and Nutella “Sushi” recipe. It is so quick, so delicious, and so portable; it remains our go-to for mornings on the run!
- As they say…”When in Denver…” order a Denver Omelette! Our fluffy oven-baked omelette filled with diced ham, green and red peppers, onion and aged Tillamook cheddar cheese. It’s a perfect hearty breakfast for those days when you need to fill your belly!
- For a breakfast at home that is sure to impress, our favorite recipe this year is for an
Asparagus and Prosciutto Strata. Comforting, homey, delicious, and fancy enough to serve to your mother-in-law, we pull out this recipe every time we have friends over for brunch! - Whenever we take our friends out to breakfast in Denver at The Original Pancake House, we always order an Apple Pancake for everyone at the table to share. This mountain of granny smith apples and pure Sinkiang cinnamon glaze is just too sweet a treat to pass up!
We wish you a very Happy New Year Denver! Thank you for visiting us in 2016 and we look forward to seeing you at our breakfast table in 2017 because Tradition is Delicious! Bon Appetite!
Fall Feast - Celebrate the Flavors of Fall!
September 22 marks the fall equinox and the official beginning of the new season. We’ve all seen the return of pumpkin spice lattes over the past few weeks, but there are so many other flavors, fruits, and veggies that are iconic of the fall season. When planning fall meals and celebrations, don’t forget these delicious seasonal treats!
Apple: The fall apple harvest means hot apple cider, apple cinnamon donuts, caramel apples, apple pies…there are so many ways to incorporate this delicious seasonal fruit into your next meal and gathering. Add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger and these sweet and delicious treats will warm you on those first chilly evenings!
Pomegranate: This little fruit comes into season each fall with celebratory red colors and bright flavors. Not to mention, pomegranates are packed full of vitamins! Try adding pomegranate to your morning yogurt and granola, or spice up a seasonal salad with these delightful little berries.
Pear: Pears are also in season during the fall months and make any meal sweeter. We like to add them sliced thin on sandwiches, or mixed in with a fall garden salad, and of course a pear tart with cinnamon and ginger makes for an enchanting fall desert!
Maple: At The Original Pancake House in Denver we enjoy hot maple syrup year round at our breakfast table, but maple is a great flavor to add to any dish this time of year. We love to make maple pound cake and maple muffins for a yummy fall treat.
Butternut Squash: We love this little gourd even more than pumpkin! A warm bowl of butternut squash soup on a cool evening is a heavenly comfort meal. We always season with a bit of fall spice such as ginger, nutmeg, and a dash of cinnamon.
The next time you are out for breakfast in Denver; try some of our fall favorite menu items at The Original Pancake House. Our Apple Belgian Waffle and our Apple Pancake are chock full of fresh granny smith apples, with flavors of cinnamon and maple. And Sara’s Pumpkin Pancakes are not to be missed with rich pumpkin, molasses, and pie spices. Happy fall Denver!