Luke’s Diners Pumpkin Pancakes - Gilmore Girls Viral TikTok recipe (2024)

What is Gilmore girls and who is Luke and what is his diner?

Gilmore girls is a TV show it’s also a right of passage for most girls going up today it is a TV show about a single mother and daughter who have this beautiful community that they live in stars hollow that has phenomenal people around who help with the upbringing of Rory the daughter and helping Laura lie the single mother throughout it also includes a diner that is owned by a man named Luke who wears a cap backwards and a checkered shirt most of the show his dinosaurs coffee pancakes muffins the basics that you would find at an all American diner these pumpkin pancakes of a recipe from his diner which have gone viral on TikTok recently with the onset of autumn and people re-watching the show to relive the seasons.

What are pumpkin pancakes?

It is pretty self-explanatory we all know what pancakes or pumpkin pancakes at the addition of pumpkin purée in pancakes but that doesn’t mean that the pumpkin mix the pancakes more savoury or less sweet it completely depends the recipe itself is a perfect foundation for you to add sugar and make it sweet like I have in this recipe or you can reduce the sugar at some cheese at some hubs at some crushed black pepper and make it a savoury pancake in material of which path you choose these pancakes and light fluffy fill with the filling flavour of pumpkin and are absolutely delicious it needs just one bowl and whisk to bring together

What ingredients do you need to make Luke’s diners pumpkin pancakes?

Pumpkin purée-

I have used canned pumpkin purée you could use pumpkin purée from a jar or you can click here to learn how to make pumpkin purée at home what about the beauty you use just ensure it started well before using as sometimes it gets it can split the liquid is at the bottom and the solid stay on the top so make sure you started well before you measure it out

Buttermilk-

I have used whole milk mixed with a 1/2 tsp of vinegar to make my buttermilk at home. You can use any milk that you prefer a nut milk would work as well with lemon juice or lime juice or apple cider too.

Eggs-

The recipe needs whole eggs if you want to make this eggless you could use yoghurt instead of egg where 1/4 cup is equivalent to doings you could also use to flaxseed eggs instead or you can use egg replacer powder as per the package instructions

Brown butter-

I think brown butter as a delicious flavour to the pancakes if you don’t want to use brown but are you could use melted butter olive oil or coconut oil to make these pancakes

Brown sugar-

We don’t add a lot of sugar in the batter but a little goes a long way the brown sugar enhances the pumpkin caramel treacle flavour throughout you could use white sugar you could use maple set up or any sweet no you choose no problem.

Flour-

I’ve used all purpose flour to make these pancakes you could use Maida or self raising flour as well I would recommend if you are going to make these gluten free to use gluten-free flour mix by bobs red mill or king Arthur baking

Pumpkin spice-

As is a pumpkin pancakes you need pumpkin spice for that perfect pumpkin flavour in the pancakes if you don’t have pumpkin spice you can click here to learn how to make pumpkin spice at home

Cinnamon powder-

I like adding cinnamon powder into the pancakes as an additional flavouring apart from the pumpkin spice this not only adds flavour but it enhances the pumpkin spice flavours in the pancakes

Baking powder & baking soda-

Both these ingredients help the pancakes become really fluffy one spec so I would recommend not skipping them and insuring you measure them out before using

Cinnamon butter-

To make the cinnamon butter we mix butter brown sugar and cinnamon together until smooth and creamy and combined this is something you can make a head of time store it in a jar and serve it when ready to use its doors well at room temperature you don’t need to refrigerate it very convenient to spread over toast as well

What equipment do you need to make Luke’s Diner Pumpkin Pancakes?

To make these pancakes we need a small sauté pan to brown the butter or milk the bottom we also need a larger sauté pan to cook the pancakes to make the pancake batter I have used a large mixing bowl whisk and a rubber spatula I like to use half cup measurements to push and out the pancake batter while cooking. To flip the pancake is active or using a flat metal spatula. To make the cinnamon butter I mix all the ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk.

How to make Luke’s Diner Pumpkin Pancakes?

Start my browning butter until it is nutty, toasted and brown. We add it into a bowl, add the pumpkin puree, brown sugar and mix. Add the milk, eggs, vanilla and mix again. We then want to add the dry ingredients- we add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin spice and cinnamon. At this point you can switch from a whisk to a spatula and fold until combined. We do not want to over mix the batter, we do not want it to be completely smooth, a few lumps in there will ensure a fluffy pancake once cooked just make sure that there are no dry pockets of flour in the batter.

Using a half measuring cup for the batter into a into a sauté pan on low to medium heat cook the pancake for 1 1/2 minutes, you know it’s ready to flip when you see small bubbles forming on the surface of the pancake. With a metal spatula confidently slide it under the pancake and flip it, cook it for another 1 1/2 minute on the other side, you know it’s ready when it is puffed up in the centre which means it is cooked all the way through. Continue this process until you finished all the batter. This batter gave me five large pancakes. To make the cinnamon butter we mix all the ingredients in a bowl until smooth, it is important to mention here that the butter should be at room temperature or else it will be difficult to mix it together. Serve the pancakes stacked on top of each other with the cinnamon butter on top and drizzle over Maple syrup in the perfect Luke’s diner style.

Serving options for Luke’s Diner Pumpkin Pancakes?

I like serving these pancakes, with the cinnamon butter and maple syrup however I do like serving it with toasted pecans or walnuts as well if you are not feeling Maple syrup, you could use honey or you could use pancake syrup or a agave syrup as well.

How to store Luke’s Diner Pumpkin Pancakes?

These pancakes are best served warm but if you would like to store them you can place them in airtight containers in the fridge and they last well for 5 to 6 days. If you are going to store them longer place them in Ziplock bags and transfer them to the freezer and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, warm them up in a microwave for 20-30 seconds, add the cinnamon butter and maple syrup on top and serve.

Now that we have covered how to make this Luke’s Diner Pumpkin Pancakes, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.