Fluffy Cream Cheese Pancakes Recipe | Keto & Low Carb

This is a recipe for easy cream cheese pancakes. That’s right, pancakes made from just 4 simple ingredients, and not the ingredients that you usually think about when talking about making pancakes. 

These pancakes are not made from any type of flour, so you don’t have to worry about using traditional high carb flour, or trying to figure out how to substitute that with some of the alternative low carb flours…etc. They are easy, simple and quick to make.

It was surprising to me that you can make cream cheese pancakes so easily, just 4 simple ingredients makes them a winning recipe. 

The batter is so simple to make, they cook up in just a couple of minutes, and are so light and fluffy to eat. As long as you can eat eggs and dairy products this will be a regular low carb and delicious breakfast for you and your family. 

Even if you enjoyed our Almond Flour Pancakes or Coconut Flour Pancakes, these are even easier to make and a must for any low carb breakfast menu.

What are Cream Cheese Pancakes?

Cream cheese pancakes are thin and delicate which remind me of crepes. If you are like Stephanie, she can eat crepes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. The same is true of these cream cheese pancakes.

They are a quick, easy breakfast but at the same time they can be eaten for other meals, dessert and snacks. Like any other pancakes there are so many toppings to add to your delicious breakfast treat.

Using just 4 simple ingredients, they take only about 5 minutes to make up the batter and another few minutes to cook them up.

What Do They Taste Like?

These cream cheese pancakes taste like the lightest and creamiest pancakes you’ve ever tried. Their flavor is so delicious and they make a good pancake substitute, even though their texture is not the same as the traditional pancakes that you may be used to eating. 

Plus they take on the flavor of whatever you put on top of them, so if you like toppings, load them up!

Are Cream Cheese Pancakes Low Carb/Keto?

Yes, when you make pancakes with cream cheese they are keto-friendly which gives us a great low carb breakfast treat. This is opposite of normal pancakes which are usually loaded with carbs and no good for a low carb diet.

How Many Carbs in Cream Cheese Pancakes?

There are only 0.8 NET Carbs in this keto cream cheese pancakes.

There are only 4 ingredients in our recipe, all of which either have 0 carbs or almost 0 carbs.  So, when you combine them all together, it only makes sense they are a winner if you are on a Keto diet or watching your carb intake.

Are Cream Cheese Pancakes Healthy?

Yes, these cream cheese pancakes are a good choice for your next breakfast. They are made of cream cheese, and eggs, which are both healthy things to eat. Cream cheese is full of healthy benefits including:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B2
• Antioxidants
• Probiotic effects
• Low in carbs

What Ingredients are in Keto Cream Cheese Pancakes?

• Cream cheese – Full fat, not low fat, cream cheese is the only type to use. We prefer to only use the Philadelphia brand, it is the best. 
• Eggs – Any eggs of your choice will be good, and I usually use large size eggs, they are the most common size sold and fit into all recipes. Eggs always act as a binder in recipes so in this case they help hold the pancakes together.
• Vanilla – This extract, in my opinion, gives these pancakes the best added flavor.
• Sweetener – Powdered Swerve, which adds just a touch of sweetness, and has zero net carbs.

Cream Cheese Options

Philadelphia original cream cheese is the best. It is the creamiest cream cheese with the best flavor.  You can use other brands, including a store brand, for the reason that they may be cheaper than Philadelphia, but you get what you pay for. 

We buy it in a double pack which is cheaper than buying 2 single packs, and the expiration date usually is long enough to give you time to use it. Look out for cream cheese to go on sale at your store which is another plus.

Do not use low fat cream cheese or you won’t get the same flavor and texture for your pancakes.

Sweetener Options

There are several low carb sweeteners that you can use, some powdered, granulated, and liquid:

• Swerve – Powdered or granulated, white or brown, they both measure the same as sugar.
• Monk Fruit – Granulated or powdered, white or tan, and they both also measure the same as sugar.
• Stevia – This is in liquid form and is very, very sweet so just a few drops is sweet enough.
• Xylitol – It is very sweet and can be toxic to pets if they eat any. So please be careful if you have any pets.

Different Variations of Cream Cheese Pancakes

This is the fun part of any recipe, getting creative with different variations. Let’s show you some ideas for these low carb cream cheese pancakes:

• To give it a warm, fall flavor try adding a little cinnamon to the batter.
• Add some nuts, chopped fine, either walnuts or pecans, to add more flavor and protein.
• If you want to add some almond flour to the batter that is an option too.
• If you like citrus, some lemon or orange zest could give it a refreshing taste.
• Like any other pancakes, adding some blueberries to the batter, in my opinion, makes them so much better. I love blueberries in  my pancakes and muffins too.

Cream Cheese Substitutes

You may be wondering if there is any substitute for cream cheese in this recipe, especially seeing that they are called cream cheese pancakes. 

The only cheese that can be used as a substitute for cream cheese would be ricotta because it has a similar texture and has a flavor that would go well in these pancakes. Just don’t expect them to be 100% the same.

Can I Add Almond Flour or Coconut Flour?

There is no need to add any low carb flour to the cream cheese keto pancakes but If you want them to have a sturdier texture then feel free to add a small amount of almond flour, about ¼ cup will do the trick. 

Use an almond flour that is extra fine, we find that Kirklands brand from Costco is the best and also have a great low price, so if you have a Costco near you buy yourself a bag or two. 

Coconut flour would not work as well because it is too dry in this recipe.

How to Make Cream Cheese Pancakes from Scratch

This recipe for cream cheese keto pancakes is very easy, and below we have give you step-by-step instructions:

STEP 1: Mixing the Batter

1. Put all of the ingredients into a blender or Vitamix, in this order:
2. First the cream cheese, then the eggs, next the sweetener, and last the vanilla.
3. Blend the ingredients together until smooth. Let the batter rest for a couple minutes to allow the bubbles to settle down.

STEP 2: Cooking the Pancakes

1. Now get a non-stick frying pan and add some butter for cooking the pancakes, about 1 tablespoon to start with, adding more when needed in between pancakes to that they do not stick to the pan.
2. Pour some of the batter into the hot pan. Cook about 2 minutes on medium heat, then flip it over and continue to cook for another 30 seconds.
3. Repeat with the rest of the batter until you have cooked all of the pancakes.
4. Serve with your favorite toppings.

How to Know When Coconut Pancakes are Done?

The low carb cream cheese pancakes are done cooking when they appear to be firmed up and are golden brown on both sides.

Like any other pancake, don’t overcook these because they will lose their light fluffy texture and be hard and rubbery, no one likes hard cream cheese!

STEP 3: Topping and Eating 

Now your work has paid off and you get to eat your yummy cream cheese pancakes. Pick one or more of your favorite toppings and then enjoy eating them.

FAQs and Best Tips

We will attempt to answer some questions that may be running through your head since you most likely  have never made these cream cheese keto pancakes before. We can also share with you some helpful tips that we have learned along the way.

• Use a cream cheese with only 1 gram of carbs per serving.
• If you use a thin spatula it will be easier to get it underneath the pancake and likewise help to keep it in one piece while flipping it. Also the larger the spatula, the better it will fit underneath the pancake.
• Invest in a high quality non-stick frying pan because it will last longer and you will see that you will use it over and over again. We have several good ones and use them constantly.
• If you find that your butter is burning while cooking your pancakes you can always try avocado oil which holds up better under heat without smoking.
• Keep the pancakes on the smaller side, about 4 inches round, to aid in the flipping process. If the pancake is too large it may fall apart.

How to Make Cream Cheese Pancakes Extra Fluffy

These cream cheese pancakes are very good and for sure plenty fluffy just the way they are. However, if you want them to be extra fluffy then try adding ½ tsp of baking powder. 

Another thing to add is ¼ tsp xanthan gum, a product that adds some fluffy texture and more stability which will enable you to make bigger pancakes.

How Big Should I Make Each Pancake?

When we make the cream cheese pancakes, along with any other low carb pancakes that we have recipes for, the average size is about 4 inches round. 

We have found that size makes them easy to work with, plus It’s a good size for kids and adults with small appetites so that there is no waste when they get full.

How to Keep them from Falling Apart?

We have not had any trouble with our pancakes falling apart, but adding ¼ tsp xanthan gum can be used to make your pancakes stronger if necessary. This allows you to make them a little larger.

Can I Make Waffles with the Batter?

You will be very pleased to know that you can also make cream cheese waffles which will give you a slight variation. I know sometimes we feel like pancakes and sometimes waffles are better. Even though the batter is pretty similar, it’s nice to have options.

• Add ¼ tsp of xanthan gum for stability.
• Add ½ tsp baking powder for texture.
• Add 2 Tbsp almond flour for binding.

How to Make this Recipe in the Oven

You can make these cream cheese pancakes in the oven if you cook them in a large muffin pan. You do not need to grease the pan because there is enough grease in the pancake batter.

Bake them at 350 degrees for about 7-8 minutes and they are done.

What to Serve with This Recipe?

Like other pancakes, you can add many things to this recipe when you get ready to serve and eat them. Here are some suggestions that I get excited about:

Best ToppingsThe best toppings for cream cheese pancakes are the same as you would eat on any type of pancake.

• Keto Maple Syrup – No sugar
• Butter – Any type
• Sugar-Free Whipped Cream –  Made with low carb sweetener
• Berries – Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries
• Powdered Sweetener – Swerve
• Low Carb Sweetener – mixed with Cinnamon
• Peanut Butter – Sugar-free
• Jam – Sugar-free
• Chocolate – Melted chocolate or chocolate chips on top, also of course sugar-free.

Best Syrup to Use

Maple syrup is so good on all pancakes, it just adds a warm, yummy flavor. To keep this recipe low carb you will need to use a sugar-free syrup. 

We have a sugar-free keto syrup recipe on our wite so please look it up. It is so easy to make and yummy to eat without the guilt!!

Storing & Make Ahead Options

Making Ahead – Just like any other pancake batter, it is an easy thing to make ahead of time and put it in the refrigerator. That way you can just make 1 or 2 at a time, for yourself, or the whole batch for the whole family. You can keep the batter for 1-2 days.

Storing – To keep cream cheese pancakes fresh, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will keep for 1-2 days.

How to Reheat

When you want to have 1 or 2 cream cheese pancakes for breakfast they are really easy to heat up. Just stick them in the microwave for a quick 30 seconds and take them out and serve them with your favorite toppings.

Can You Freeze Low Carb Cream Cheese Pancakes?

How to Freeze – If you choose to freeze your cream cheese pancakes, first put a piece of parchment paper in between each one so that they do not stick to each other. 

Then place them in an airtight plastic container, and then in a ziploc bag to keep them the freshest so that they will stay fresh for 1-2 months.

To Thaw Them Out – Place them on the kitchen counter for about 30 minutes will make them soft enough to heat up in the microwave or in the toaster or toaster oven. Since they are so light, only about 30 seconds in the microwave will work well. The toaster oven is also quick, only 1-2 minutes will be perfect.

Tools to Use

There are only a small amount of tools needed to make the best cream cheese pancakes.

• Blender or Vitamix – To make the batter with. 
• Frying Pan – Use a non-stick kind to keep the pancakes in one piece so that they do not fall apart.
• Spatula – For flipping the pancakes. Use a thin one which will make it easier to get underneath the pancake and turn it over.

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Keto/Low Carb – Another winner recipe for keto and a low carb way of eating.
• Gluten-free – Again there is not any gluten in this pancake recipe.
• Nut-free – This is a good pancake recipe for those of our readers that have a nut allergy and can’t use almond flour.
• Sugar-free – We do not put any sugar in any of our recipes.

Other Similar Recipes

We have a bunch of other great low carb pancake recipes that you may enjoy trying too:

• Coconut Flour Pancakes
• Almond Flour Pancakes
• Low Carb/Keto Pancakes
• Pumpkin Pancakes
• Blueberry Pancakes
• Almond Flour Waffles

All of them are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will have your friends raving!

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