Bar none: my sister is my favorite person to buy gifts for. We’re close in age with similar styles, so chances are, if I like it, she will too. I imagine it’s that kind of blind faith in familial ties that makes buying gifts for siblings genuinely enjoyable. Even if you’re nothing alike, you have a sense of what they enjoy—or at least an inside joke to play off. To make a 2023 gift guide for siblings, I’ve gathered an assemblage of deeply giftable goods from my favorite brands, as well as some of the best gifts I’ve ever given or received—my greatest hits if you will.
Featured image by Anastasiya Pudova.
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17 Gifts Your Siblings Will Love
Whether you’re looking to splurge or just want to find the perfect little something to make them feel special, we have you covered.
Every product is curated with care by our editors and we’ll always give an honest opinion, whether gifted or purchased ourselves. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Casa Zuma Linen Apron
This 100% linen beauty is as hardworking as it is cool, with generous pockets and a Japanese-style crossback for a modern spin on the at-home uniform.
Hearth & Hand™ x Magnolia Lidded Metal Willow 4-Wick Jar Candle Brass Finish
It’s no easy feat to find a lovely-scented candle under-$20, but as always, Target achieves the impossible. With a beautiful brass finish, this is a chic pick that’s minimal enough to fit any design aesthetic.
Frida Kahlo. 40th Ed. by Taschen
When looking for a bookish gift, you can trust in TASCHEN. The art book publisher’s tomes are works of beauty in their own right, and their bestselling Frida book is like a blockbuster exhibition on your coffee table.
The Sabah Dealer Baba Mule Slippers
Ridiculously soft and incredibly manly (that suede’s made from real bison hide!), these cozy mules suit the brother who prioritizes style and comfort.
Houseplant Ashtray Set by Seth
Striking, functional, and one of the only things in the world that can prompt, “Hey, did you know Seth Rogan made this?”
Bell’INVITO Gratitude Box
For the sibling who’s forever lamenting the lost art of the handwritten thank you note, this assortment of cards from luxe stationer Bell’INVITO will keep them well stocked.
Courant Catch-1 Essentials Belgian Linen Wireless Charging Pad
For the sibling whose phone battery is forever running on fumes but who’s also committed to an aesthetic.
H&M Home Metal Watering Can
A display-worthy version of the utilitarian tool makes it even more accessible—and keeps house plants happy.
Schoolhouse 2024 Perfect Yearly Task Planner
This meticulously crafted beauty is made in Washington D.C. and sourced by Schoolhouse, the Portland-based brand that thoughtfully curates American-made designs that are as utilitarian as they are beautiful.
The Salad Ritual Bundle
Give the gift of no more boring salads with Casa Zuma’s thoughtful set, which includes a limited edition Salad Ritual Booklet.
CB2 Black Faux Leather Mahjong Game Set
Everyone’s learning Mahjong, and for good reason. CB2 sells a stylish, portable version of the social, strategy-fueled game.
Sézane Black Crocodile Print
The bucket bag is having a moment. Honor the trend with an investment piece that blends luxurious Italian materials with a Parisian sensibility.
Casa Zuma Espresso Cups, Set of 4, With Wooden Tray
There are coffee drinkers, and then there are espresso drinkers. The latter group is a serious bunch who also deserve a seriously good cup to elevate their morning favorite.
Kendra Scott Letter Pendant Necklace in Gold
Kendra Scott jewelry is a joy to collect. Start your sibling’s collection with something personable.
Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet
The Strategist consistently names this beauty the best slim bifold wallet on the market for its straightforward design and high-quality full-grain leather.
Williams Sonoma Emile Henry French Ceramic Pizza Stone
Elevate family pizza nights with a bestselling stone made with
Thanks to this bake-off, my year has officially peaked. I’ve always wanted to uncover the best pumpkin bread recipe on the internet to find out once and for all if there really is a difference between them. Like many, I’m a pumpkin bread fiend. At the sight of the first falling leaf, I’m ready to break out my flannel and toss pumpkin spice around like confetti.
To be fair, if you look at the ingredients between most recipes, it’s hard to imagine there would be a difference. They all include some variation of flour, sugar, spice, pumpkin, and eggs. So with a little extra time on my hands (and an extra craving for comfort with the drop in temperatures), I decided it was time to determine which of these popular internet recipes is truly the best pumpkin bread recipe ever.
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For this bake-off, I stuck to well-known food publications that are reliably great recipe sources. And after polling my friends, most have tried at least one of these recipes. (Be sure to scroll to the bottom where I’m sharing a few more of my favorite pumpkin bread recipes from some of the best bloggers and bakers on the internet!)
Here’s how the best pumpkin bread recipe bake-off shook out, should you want to host one of your own.
Rules of the Road
No Mix-Ins
Some of the recipes I baked ask for optional toppings or mix-ins, but for the sake of comparison, I wanted a clean slate.
Must Follow Recipes EXACTLY
As someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, I’m used to taking a few liberties and inserting my own interpretations of recipes. However, for the sake of this bake-off, I stuck to the exact directions as written. That meant that even if I disagreed with the method or measurements, I ignored my personal opinions and followed the recipe exactly.
Ranking Guardrails
In the spirit of continuing to find fun and inventive ways to socialize with friends during this fall season, I invited a few friends to participate in the pumpkin bread tasting. My taste testers, my foodie friend Kristin, her husband Mark, and my friend Ka all had different expectations for what they thought made for the perfect pumpkin loaf, so I used their feedback to help guide my decisions.
Testers said that a pumpkin loaf should be different than banana bread. It should be slightly moister and have a nice crust in addition to a sharp pumpkin flavor. The ranking below is MY personal decision based on what I look for in a pumpkin loaf slice, aka, the perfect loaf.
A nice rise and signature loaf look.
A perfectly moist crumb.
Heavy on the spice.
Pumpkin flavor comes through.
Does this loaf pass the second day test?
To be fair, all of the loaves I baked were good. I would even be content baking any of them again with some minor tweaks here and there. It really came down to the small differences that made some recipes better than others.
So without further ado, here is my ranking and the winner of my best pumpkin bread recipe bake-off!
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#6 Epicurious Spiced Pumpkin Bread: For the Doorstep Drop-Off
This was the densest loaf and it didn’t quite achieve the rise that the others did. Unfortunately, I could barely taste any of the spices. Instead, all I got was an overwhelmingly sweet flavor. Some of my testers enjoyed the flavor a bit more, calling it “molasses-y,” which if you like that kind of flavor is nice.
I didn’t realize until I was getting ready to bake, but this recipe actually makes two loaves. Which hey, is great if you’re down to bake a loaf for yourself and another to deliver to a friend. The recipe also calls for (optional) chopped walnuts. Perhaps I would have liked this one more if it had the added texture of the walnuts and punched up the spices a lot, but overall, this one was average and ranked the lowest among the group based on flavor.
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#5 Food52 Pumpkin Bread: For the Beginner Baker
Food52 says “Pumpkin bread should be quick to come together, confident in pumpkin flavor, and moist as can be,” all things I was looking for in a pumpkin bread. This was the one recipe that I did not use a stand mixer for. In their directions, Food52 has you add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients in just a bowl (a technique that I was also surprised by as I’m used to adding dry ingredients in parts to wet ingredients). But again, I was following these recipes to a T.
This was also the ONLY recipe to ask for pumpkin pie spice rather than individual spices. Taste testers did like the pumpkin-y flavor here as well. I was super impressed with the bake and rise on this loaf as well. I actually didn’t mind this loaf, but was slightly disappointed as this was the driest crumb of all the loaves. The crumb did not improve in moistness the following days either. Perhaps I would try baking five minutes less than the written directions next time to see if that helps maintain a bit more moistness in addition to punching up the spices. I would have ranked this one higher if it had only delivered on its moist loaf claim.
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I actually didn’t mind this loaf on its own! If I wasn’t comparing this loaf to others, I would be totally content with a slice of this pumpkin bread. My friend Kristin even ranked this one as her number one loaf and “the loaf I would want to eat with my morning cup of coffee!”
HOWEVER, this recipe only calls for one cup of pumpkin. My biggest pet peeve with any pumpkin recipe during the season is if I can use the whole can of puree or not. It also resulted in a very faint pumpkin flavor. The texture on this loaf is really nice though—it was the only loaf to rely on the creaming method of beating the butter and sugar together which added some nice lightness to the loaf. In the end, this was just a good, basic pumpkin bread recipe. Not disappointing, but not show-stopping either.
#3 Bon Appétit Pumpkin Bread: For the Flavor Fiend
This loaf caused the most conversation of the bunch and it was a close call between having this one be ranked #1 or #2. Some of my tasters loved this one. My friend Mark said this loaf had the best texture of the bunch, but others ranked this one in the middle of the road based on flavor.
Personally, I liked this loaf for a few reasons. It had the most complex flavor among the loaves, leaning on fresh grated ginger and heavy on the spices, in addition to the use of olive oil. It was the most artisanal of the group. My friend Ka didn’t love that the olive oil took away from the flavor of the spices and pumpkin, so my recommendation on this loaf is to ensure that you use really good olive oil because you will be able to taste it. The rise on this loaf was great as well. Some taste testers wanted slightly more moistness from the loaf, but agreed that the complexity in flavor made up for it.
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#2 New York Times: For the Pumpkin Purist
What set this loaf apart from the others was the texture. The sour cream adds to the moist texture while also cutting through the sweetness from the very slight tang. This loaf also had the truest and purest pumpkin flavor. However, that is most likely from the fact that this loaf only uses cinnamon as its spice. This was the only callout from testers who all asked for more spices. As someone who also likes lots of spice, I will definitely add extra pumpkin pie spices to the batter next time.
The loaf stayed moist for days and even a week later which was truly impressive and made for a great morning coffee treat. I would recommend baking for five extra minutes if you prefer a loaf that’s a bit cakeier rather than moist. Overall, this loaf ranked high and won the “best pumpkin bread recipe” accolade for its texture and pumpkin flavor.
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#1 Camille Styles: For the Cake Enthusiast
Before you go wondering whether the voting was rigged, let me tell you—one bite of this pumpkin bread and you’ll agree: it’s perfection. This isn’t your typical pumpkin loaf—in fact, it’s so indulgent that Camille calls it a cake. (Related: What exactly is the difference between pumpkin bread and cake? Maybe that’s for another story… ) I’ll get to the loaf in a minute, but first, let’s talk about the incredibly addictive cream cheese frosting. While other pumpkin loaves use oil, this one relies on butter for a moist crumb and dimension of flavor. The spices add an extra layer of toasty fall flavor. And don’t skimp on the walnut garnish—I love the contrast of crunchy texture against the soft loaf. Overall this feels like a truly iconic fall afternoon treat served alongside a cup of coffee.
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Final Thoughts
Pro Tip: If you find yourself getting sick of pumpkin, know that you can sub in sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree and you’ll barely be able to tell the difference.
If you’re in search of some different pumpkin loaves, here are a few more that I have made and loved.
The Best Pumpkin Bread from Camille Styles
Pumpkin Spice Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting from The Vanilla Bean Baking Blog
Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread from Jessica in the Kitchen
Pumpkin Tahini Loaf from A Cozy Kitchen
Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread from Broma Bakery
This post was originally published on October 12, 2020, and has since been updated.
In the world of wellness, the line between what’s necessary and simply well-marketed is often iffy at best. There are colorful elixirs, beautifully-designed packaging, and influencers all begging us to add yet another cure-all to our shelves. And while I’ve been burned in the past, the best electrolyte powder doesn’t disappoint. Celebrity nutritionist, Serena Poon, said it best when she shared with us previously that, “Electrolytes are essential minerals that help many bodily functions, including fluid balance, hydration, muscle contraction, and nerve function.” And while a well-rounded diet can help you get your fill, finding the best electrolyte powder for you is an important step in maintaining optimal health.
Featured image by Riley Blanks Reed.
The Best Electrolyte Powder to Add to Your Wellness Routine
But of course, even within the ever-widening category of electrolyte powders, there’s variance in what works and what just adds sugar to your water. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since the advent of technicolor Gatorades took the world of professional sports—and in turn, all of us—by storm.
Of course, when marketers take note of a gap in the industry, the respective category is immediately filled with a slew of brands. And while this gives shoppers more leeway in terms of choice, it can be overwhelming to navigate all of the brands suddenly cropping up on your radar—via casual conversations, social feeds, and any mode of modern-day marketing.
For guidance, I spoke with Kris Buchanan, a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, former Olympic athlete, and the founder of CEO of GOODONYA, an organic, nature-inspired food and beverage brand offering mineral-infused drink powders filled with all of the good, hydrating nutrients you need.
Ahead, discover the truth behind the best electrolyte powder options currently available. From understanding electrolyte imbalances to whether or not you *actually* need to supplement with electrolyte powders, we’re unveiling it all. Scroll on for all you need to know about the best electrolyte powders to keep you energized, hydrated, and feeling your best.
Every product is curated with care by our editors and we’ll always give an honest opinion, whether gifted or purchased ourselves. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
What are electrolytes? Why do we need them?
Electrolytes are minerals that are essential to numerous bodily functions like pH regulation, organ function, and maintaining fluid balance. Without electrolytes, we simply could not function. Most people are familiar with the major electrolytes: potassium, calcium, and magnesium to name a few.
What are the signs of an electrolyte imbalance?
Electrolyte imbalances, either too little or too much, can have significant consequences to our health. The earliest signs of an electrolyte imbalance can be muscle cramps, heart palpitations, brain fog, and fatigue, with the most obvious indicator being a sense of thirst. From there, it could progress to nausea and vomiting, dizziness, dark urine, and confusion. Severe dehydration can lead to death. With something as serious as that, we have really gotten this wrong over the years.
How do we know if we’re getting enough electrolytes?
Trust and listen to your body! We need electrolytes even on days when we never break a sweat. I recommend being proactive in maintaining a proper electrolyte balance by eating mineral-rich foods. Yes, the age-old ‘eat your fruits and veggies’ applies. It goes without saying to drink ample water throughout the day.
It’s important to remember that each person has unique needs based on age, overall health, and lifestyle. Check with your doctor before making drastic changes to your electrolyte intake! Consider using a functional medicine doctor or naturopath who can run a micronutrient test to see what you are low in.
Is it necessary to supplement with electrolyte powders?
The unfortunate truth is that filtered water doesn’t contain adequate mineral levels. If you drink purified, filtered, or RO water, most minerals have been filtered out. This is why we love spring water, as it contains the natural ratio of minerals and electrolytes that nature created for us. Too much filtered water can flush out the electrolytes your body so desperately needs.
Nature also gives us minerals and electrolytes in the food we consume. However, our topsoil has been depleted of its nutrients and our food contains fewer vitamins and minerals than it used to. Hydration powders can be an efficient and effective way to supplement your electrolyte intake, so you can quickly feel your best. Choosing organic and regenerative foods will give you even more.
The other unfortunate truth is that most sports drinks are high in sugar, artificial or so called ‘natural’ flavors, and funky stabilizers. Check the label for sugar content and ingredients to be sure what you’re putting into your body is actually serving your overall health. There are some great electrolyte powders on the market that replenish minerals without all the unnecessary stuff.
If you’re not into powders, I recommend simply mixing a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a good pinch of Himalayan salt into spring water.
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The Best Electrolyte Powder for Optimal Hydration and Health
With Buchanan’s tips to guide us, we’ve rounded up all our favorite options that qualify for the best electrolyte powder. Of course, when it comes to health and wellness, everyone’s needs vary, so scroll on to find the best electrolyte powder for you.
Every product is curated with care by our editors and we’ll always give an honest opinion, whether gifted or purchased ourselves. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
The Best Electrolyte Powders
Buchanan applied all the nutritional expertise she shared above to her brand’s electrolyte powder, GOODONYA Hydrate. With a real food-first approach, GOODONYA was adamant about creating a hydrating electrolyte powder that not only tastes like lemonade (freshly squeezed) but also contains only one gram of sugar and all real ingredients. We love the blend of lemon, coconut, Himalayan pink salt, and more for everything from being able to push harder in our workouts to a solid night’s sleep.
What We Love: Only Certified Organic + Certified Glyphosate-Free electrolyte and mineral hydration powder in existence.
What We Don’t: The added Stevia may be too sweet for some.
Form: Powder
Sugar per serving: 1 gram
The ever-buzzy wellness and supplement brand, Moon Juice, just dropped what’s perhaps its most exciting launch yet—its electrolyte powder, Mini Dew. I spoke with Moon Juice CEO and founder, Amanda Chantal Bacon, to understand more about the hype behind her brand’s new hero product.
“Mini Dew was inspired by a need,” she says. Amanda was after a clean, zero-sugar, and organically flavored electrolyte powder that wasn’t just for one-off occasions (i.e., following extreme workouts or a night spent drinking). She wanted a supplement she could take daily, with the perfect amount of pink salt for “optimal cellular hydration” instead of an excess that would leave you feeling puffy and dehydrated. (The opposite of what we’re going for when it comes to the best electrolyte powder.)
The best part? Mini Dew is a 2-in-1 formulation, meaning it’s not only an electrolyte, but also a mineral supplement to support both hydration and brain function. We love that the electrolyte powder’s focus is two-fold—addressing electrolytes while also supporting the 90% of us with a mineral imbalance or deficiency. As Amanda says, “It’s amazing what happens when your body has the elements required to feel fully charged.”
What We Love: Zero-sugar, 2-in-1 formulation.
What We Don’t: Comes in only one (albeit, delicious) flavor.
Form: Powder
Sugar per serving: 0
If you’re in the market for the best electrolyte powder, it’s likely that you’ve heard of LMNT. The electrolyte powder is advertised widely across many an influencer’s page or platform. And while I was skeptical at first, a purchase of the brand’s variety pack confirmed: the hype is merited. Yes, compared to other electrolyte powders, the saltiness can seem like a lot. But speaking from personal experience, I’ve found that after a week of drinking one LMNT pack per day (often after my workout), I got used to it. Not only that, but I craved salty taste.
What’s more, I noticed that I no longer felt quite as sore the day after my workout. Instead, I felt replenished and restored and noted that my sleep had improved as well. If you’re in the skeptical stage, too, trust: you’ll be obsessed. While other electrolyte powders offer only one flavor, LMNT covers a wider range. Choose from Citrus Salt, Orange Salt, Watermelon Salt, Unflavored, Raspberry Salt, Lemon Habanero, Mango Chili, Chocolate Salt (great for smoothies), or Grapefruit Salt. With this variety pack, you can try ’em all.
What We Love: A wide range range of flavors, sugar-free.
What We Don’t: Doesn’t specify chloride content.
Form: Powder
Sugar per serving: 0 grams
DripDrop, beyond boasting a fun-to-say name, is a go-to electrolyte powder for everything from weekend recovery to boosting your energy pre-morning coffee. But what we love most about the formulation is its focus on immune-supporting zinc alongside magnesium and vitamin C. Beyond this, DripDrop is non-GMO, vegan, and soy-free, making it a solid choice for anyone looking to make a habit of supplementing with electrolyte powders. Even if you’re simply looking to avoid the afternoon slump, DripDrop is a great way to refocus and re-energize anytime of the day.
What We Love: Comes in convenient, individually-wrapped sticks for on-the-go ease.
What We Don’t: Doesn’t specify chloride content.
Form: Powder
Sugar per serving: 7 grams
Those who have gone down the electrolyte powder rabbit hole know: Liquid I.V. is the OG. I first got acquainted with Liquid I.V. in college, when Sunday mornings required a serious refuel. But as I’ve gotten older (and my party days are few and far between), I’ve looked to the brand as a go-to for workouts. The electrolyte powder features the brand’s Cellular Transport Technology (CTT), a delivery system that works to efficiently hydrate the body. While it’s higher in sugar compared to other options, if that isn’t a concern, I’d recommend this both for workouts and after events. (Pro tip: I like to keep a stick in my purse at weddings. It’s a godsend.)
What We Love: High electrolyte concentration. Contains 370 milligrams of potassium, 76 milligrams of vitamin C, 22.8 milligrams of niacin, 2.28 milligrams of vitamin B6, and 6.82 micrograms of vitamin B12.
What We Don’t: High in sugar.
Form: Powder
Sugar per serving: 11 grams
Is anyone else seeing watermelon-everything this summer? While the season for summer fruits is quickly passing us by, I’m continuing to make the most of the flavor with this electrolyte mix. I love Cure as an alternative to sugar-laden sports drinks. While other options contain added sugar and artificial ingredients, Cure prioritizes hydrating, real-food faves like coconut water, pink Himalayan salt, and lemon juice. The result is a perfectly salty-sweet electrolyte powder that *bonus* won’t drain your bank account.
What We Love: Prioritizes whole-food ingredients.
What We Don’t: Contains stevia and monk fruit extract, which some may find too sweet. Nutrition label lacks transparency around electrolyte concentration.
Form: Powder
Sugar per serving: 4 grams
For those who prefer tablets to powders, Nuun is a known go-to. The convenient tubes are great for travel or throwing in your workout bag to simply dissolve a tablet in water when you need a hydrating boost. Nuun offers a wide variety of electrolyte tablets for different applications. While these Sport Hydration tablets are designed for performance, you can also select from options that specifically support energy, immunity, rest, endurance, and more.
What We Love: Convenient packaging and comes in a range of product options.
What We Don’t: Tablets dissolve slower than other powdered alternatives.
Form: Tablet
Sugar per serving: 1 gram
Cymbiotika has taken the wellness world by storm with its range of science-backed supplements and topical treatments. In addition to the Liposomal Vitamin C and Glutathione, I’ve recently added the brand’s Pure Hydration powders to my routine. Full disclosure: I can’t get enough. The flavor is subtly sweet with clean ingredients and the hydrating trifecta of magnesium, vitamin C, and sodium. Compared to other brands, I love that Cymbiotika offers in-depth insights into not only the ingredients breakdown, but specifically how its formulas support optimal health and performance.
What We Love: Offers in-depth insights into ingredients and nutrient breakdown. Low in sugar and creative flavors.
What We Don’t: Contains organic cane sugar and stevia leaf extract, which some may find artificially tasting.
Many of my core memories involve a big stack of pancakes slathered in butter and drowned in syrup. My dad considers himself a pancake connoisseur, and would carefully mix the batter, evenly distribute the chocolate chips, and perfectly flip each pancake. I, on the other hand, am known to take more of a freeform approach. You’ll catch me in the kitchen eyeballing the batter, impatiently peeking under the pancakes, and loading each with so many blueberries they turn completely blue. (Seriously.) But when it comes to this ultimate breakfast of champions, there’s one thing my dad and I can agree on. And that is the holy grail of weekend brunch: the best pancake mix for easy, breezy breakfasts.
To do my Saturday morning staple justice, I sought to proclaim the best pancake mix once and for all. Yes, I know that DIY-ing pancake mix at home is incredibly easy. But when it comes to cooking in the AM, I’m of the opinion that the simpler, faster, and more convenient, the better. It’s those criteria that make pancake mix the ultimate morning hack (and why this taste-off might just be one of my favorite ones to date).
Ahead, get the low-down on our quest to find the best pancake mix—hot takes and spirited debates, included.
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Ranking Guidelines
Turns out, people have strong opinions about what makes a superior pancake. Between our 12 taste-testers, some common factors stood out in what determined the perfect pancake and our title of best pancake mix.
Flavor. We didn’t know how to describe it, but pancakes have a certain flavor. Outside of the maple syrup that coats them, pancakes taste… pancake-y. We were looking for a slightly sweet, slightly neutral pancake that tasted just as good on its own as it did with maple syrup. We didn’t want the pancakes to taste too savory or bland or too much like dough.
Texture. Our group agreed that a fluffy, light pancake was a favorite—not too dense and not too chewy. We were looking for the ultimate, mile-high pancakes.
Ease of Use. While some pancake mixes tout the ‘only add water’ callout, we also tested batters that asked for eggs, oil, and water. Additional ingredients were noted if they made a difference in the resulting pancake. For example, is measuring out milk or oil and needing to wash an extra spoon worth it to make a better pancake?
Good Pancake Test. Do the resulting pancakes stack well? Are they a solid base for an abundance of maple syrup? Would we consider these pancakes the ultimate breakfast?
Testing Process
The process of making 13 different pancake batters differed slightly from previous taste-offs in that pancakes obviously need to be made fresh. The pancakes were all made the same morning and on the same griddle at the same temperature. Pancakes made earlier in the cooking process were kept in a warmer and all pancakes were eaten warm and at room temperature with and without maple syrup.
With that, keep scrolling to find out the winner of the best pancake mix taste-off!
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The Best Pancake Mixes, Ranked
13. Whole Foods 365 Organic Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix
“G looks like she was having a moment, is she okay?”
“Why does this pancake look like a biscuit?”
While we are 99.9% sure that we followed the directions on this mix correctly, this pancake obviously looks like the furthest thing from a pancake, and instead came out very glutenous and bready. We are axeing this one from the ranking purely because we don’t know how we ended up with a hockey puck. Ooops.
12. Birch Benders Classic Pancakes
While the texture on this one was fine if not a bit rubbery, we weren’t a big fan of the flavor. There was just something that, when compared to the others, we couldn’t put our finger on. Plus, we wanted fluffy AF pancakes. It was a pass for our tasters.
11. Annie’s Organic Pancake and Waffle Mix
“She’s looking like she hasn’t seen the sun in a while.”
These pancakes did not pull a lot of color while cooking on the griddle and came off a bit pale compared to the others. In addition, we thought the flavor was on the bland side while the texture was a little tough. But when dipped in maple syrup, we didn’t mind this one.
10. Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Pancake and Waffle Mix, Gluten Free
“This is the definition of a health pancake.”
We actually liked these pancakes on their own. They have a bit of a coarser and more grainy texture thanks to the batter’s seeds and grains. The flavor was also slightly on the savory side. Overall, this is a good, health-focused option if that’s your pancake priority.
Note: We tried this with an egg and without an egg for the vegan option. In terms of texture and taste, we preferred the former preparation method.
9. Kodiak Cakes Buttermilk Power Cakes
Many of us had actually had Kodiak Cakes before and are big fans of the protein-packed breakfast. When tasted back-to-back with other mixes though, you can definitely detect the difference that whole-wheat flour makes. As a result, testers noted that this tastes “healthy.” The flavor isn’t bad, just a bit one-note. We’ll always have some Kodiak Cakes on hand to pair with peanut butter and blueberries for a power breakfast, but they didn’t tick the box for the ultimate fluffy pancake.
Note: We also found with this mix that using an egg made these much fluffier, and we’ll be adding an egg to this mix in the future when cooking.
8. Pearl Milling Company Buttermilk Complete Pancake Mix
A classic pancake that many of us grew up with. The texture was very soft and fluffy, but we ranked this one in the middle with the flavor leaning a little bland. However, with some salted butter and lots of maple syrup, we’d be on board.
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7. Bisquick Original Pancake and Baking Mix
“This tastes like a pancake.” Nothing more, nothing less—and that about sums it up.
6. King Arthur Buttermilk Pancake Mix
While these pancakes didn’t pick up a lot of color and we wondered if we should have cooked them longer the next time, they had a soft and fluffy texture. Tasters noted that these pancakes had a slight maple undertone as well. Overall, we liked these but would cook them on a higher heat for a bit more color.
“You’re telling me this is gluten-free? Like, there’s no gluten in this?”
“I’m surprised this is a health pancake.”
Simple Mills was a sleeper hit with our taste-testing group. I’ll admit, I was shocked that a health-marketed pancake mix could taste as good as this one did. The texture was extremely soft, though we wished it would have gotten a little more rise. The flavor tasted slightly adjacent to a pancake, but it was good enough that we didn’t mind. Truly, if we didn’t know, we might not have guessed that it was gluten-free.
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4. King Arthur Gluten-Free Pancake Mix
Another surprise gluten-free hit. Having tasted this one back-to-back with the regular buttermilk pancake mix from King Arthur, we were surprised to like the gluten-free one more. We truly couldn’t tell one was gluten-free over the other. These pancakes had a nice little bounce to them and the texture kept us coming back even though some noted that the pancake on its own was slightly less flavorful than its buttermilk counterpart. Overall though, we were impressed.
3. Bob’s Red Mill Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix
“This tastes really pancake-y?”
Bob created a slightly neutral but very pancake-flavored pancake. If you get it, you get it. The texture was soft and fluffy and held up nicely to a drizzle of maple syrup. We were big fans and quickly finished our stacks.
2. Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
“Straight fire.”
“Gimme a pillow of these pancakes.”
A classic, these Krusteaz pancakes were so soft and fluffy, and they soaked up the maple syrup on our plates perfectly without disintegrating. The texture and flavor kept us coming back for more. Yep, these ticked off a lot of our boxes.
1. Hungry Jack Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix
“THE FLUFF. THE LIGHTNESS. INCREDIBLE.”
*Chef’s Kiss* Yes, our winner of the best store-bought pancake mix goes to Hungry Jack. These were the epitome of a fluffy diner pancake that was incredibly light in texture with the perfect pancake flavor. We finished our stack and immediately made a second batch. Tasters new to Hungry Jack are now officially converted. Expect to see many more Hungry Jack pancakes on our brunch menus.
This post was originally published on January 21, 2023, and has since been updated.
