31 Best Pancake Toppings: with Keto and Healthy Options!

Looking for some delicious pancake toppings? In this list you’ll find all the best pancake toppings and ideas: from popular to sweet and savory as well as keto and healthy options too! 

Pancakes are amazing. You can customize them to fit what you’re craving and you can serve them with pretty much anything. 

Actually there’s nothing more fun than picking your favorite pancake toppings and playing up with them. 

So if you are looking for some topping ideas for your Sweet Cream pancakes, or if you are looking for some healthy and keto pancake toppings to upgrade your Carbquik pancakes then this is the list for you. 

To make it easy to navigate it is divided by category, from the most common and popular toppings to keto and healthy options. 

Jump to:

• What do you put on top of your pancakes
• Most popular pancake toppings
• Savoury pancake toppings
• Sweet pancake toppings
• Healthy Pancake toppings
• Keto pancake toppings
• Unique pancake toppings
• 31 Best Pancake Toppings

What do you put on top of your pancakes

Whatever you want. That’s the great thing about pancakes. 

There are a ton of options but usually syrups, fruits and heavy cream are the most common ones. 

However, creative pancake toppings are also incredibly delicious. Even things like eggs and bacon can become pancake toppings if you prefer savory sides. 

Most popular pancake toppings

Maple syrup

Maple syrup is the most popular pancake topping ever. 

I mean is there something better than a warm stack of fluffy pancakes drizzled with some warm maple syrup? 

Heavy cream or whipped cream

Whipped cream is another incredibly popular pancake and waffle topping. While most of us probably wouldn’t have it on a day to day it’s a topping that makes breakfast time feel scrumptious and luxurious. 

Butter

Can we have pancakes (or waffles for that matter) without some real butter? I don’t think so. 

Buttery pancakes topped with some butter on top are perfect every single time. There’s a reason why almost all breakfast restaurants and diners always serve their pancakes with some butter on top

Jams, jellies and preserves

Right there with maple syrup are jams, jellies and preserves. There are a ton of options from sugar free jellies to hand made and small batch preserves and all of them are delicious in their own way. 

I actually love pancakes with some orange marmalade whenI’m craving something that feels a little bit more elegant than my traditional grape jelly. 

Other times I like to go with the PB&J route. 

Savoury pancake toppings

While pancakes are associated with sweets most of the time they are delicious when served with savory toppings. 

 Cheese

Cheese is an amazing pancake topping! Depending on the recipe you have you can even play up with the type of cheese you are using as a topping. 

Have some delicate pancakes? A bit of cream cheese will take them to the next level

Looking for something a bit more elevated? Top them with goat cheese

Want to have something with strong flavors? A sharp cheddar is exactly what you are looking for. 

Eggs benedicts

Nothing screams perfect breakfast like eggs benedict. While they are traditionally served with toasts you can totally replace that by a soft and fluffy pancake. 

Bacon

The quintessential savory pancake topping bacon is almost as popular as maple syrup. 

Serve it on the side or crumble it up as a topping. 

Ham 

Ham is another great thing to serve with pancakes. I actually love to chop it and then saute it for a couple of minutes. Crispy ham over soft pancakes is mouthwatering good. 

Veggies

Depending on the style of pancake you want to have veggies can also be a great topping. 

Pico de gallo for example goes great with some fresh cotija cheese for a Mexican pancake recipe. 

On the other hand you can saute some veggies and serve them on the side. 

Or you can slice some tomatoes and top your pancakes with it. Add a drizzle of olive oil and some mozzarella cheese and you just made your own caprese pancakes. 

Sweet pancake toppings

Sweet pancake toppings are probably the most popular toppings. There are A LOT of different options and combinations you can play with

Pancake syrup

If maple is not your cup of tea there are a million different pancake syrup variations. 

From traditional syrup to fruit inspired syrups, like strawberry pancake syrup or  blueberry syrup and even things like chocolate syrup or warm pecan syrup. 

What I’m trying to say is that there’s a pancake syrup option for every breakfast craving you have. 

Berries

Berries and pancakes go hand in hand. Any berry you have on hand is a great pancake topping. 

I personally love strawberries but blueberries, blackberries and raspberries all make great pancake toppings. 

Sauteed bananas or banana foster

Yes, you could use fresh bananas but there’s something about a simple banana foster that takes any pancake to the next level. 

Just melt some better on the skillet and add the bananas. Sprinkle some brown sugar and add a splash of water (or liquor if you are feeling fancy). Sautee until caramelized and soft. 

Chocolate chips

Add the chocolate chips while the pancakes are hot so they start to melt. 

Nutella

Nutella is a delicious hazelnut chocolate spreadable that pretty much everyone could eat by the spoonful. 

If you are looking to prepare some next level indulgent pancakes, top them with Nutella (and maybe some strawberries) and bask in all the compliments you are going to get. 

Salted caramel

Salted caramel sauce is amazing with pancakes. So much that I actually have a recipe for caramel pancakes. Run, don’t walk, to make them

Healthy Pancake toppings

Peanut butter

Oh my gosh, pancakes with peanut butter is as nostalgic as it can get! Peanut butter or any other nut bitter makes a great pancake topping. 

Depending on your lifestyle or diet you can pair it with some other fun toppings. Peanut butter and some dark chocolate chips is a personal favorite, and almond butter with banana slices is a close second. 

Fresh fruits 

Bring all the fruits! Pancakes are a great way to include more fresh fruits in your diet. 

Make tropical pancakes with mango and coconut flakes or explore all the berries. Pineapple is also delicious and kiwi, when in season, is amazing as well.

If you are making something like mochi pancakes then fresh fruit as topping is the way to go.

Chia seed jam

Chia seed jam is a great super healthy alternative to fresh fruits. I have a post with all my top recommendations for sugar free jams and jellies that includes a chia jam recipe in case you need some ideas. 

Dark chocolate

Remember how I said that peanut butter and chocolate chips are the ultimate healthy pancake toppings?

Well dark chocolate on its own it’s pretty amazing. 

Top the pancakes with the chocolate while the pancakes are fresh from the stove and the chocolate will melt completely coating your pancakes. Yum!

Turkey bacon

If you are looking for a healthy pancake topping that’s savory turkey bacon is a safe bet. Just as crunchy as traditional bacon is a topping that balances the sweetness of pancakes. 

Cacao nibs

Looking for something healthier than dark chocolate? Cacao nibs it’s where it’s at. I usually combine them with something creamy, like a sunflower seed butter to balance them out. 

Keto pancake toppings

Almonds

Almonds (and nuts in general) are my go to when it comes to keto pancake toppings. I love some slivered almonds on top or even some chopped and toast walnuts. 

Keto syrups

Keto pancake syrups are totally a thing. I have a list with the best keto and low carb pancake syrups in case you are looking for ideas. 

Raspberries

Who says you can’t have fresh fruits on keto? Fresh raspberries are a delicious way to add some juiciness and flavor to your pancakes in an all natural and healthy way.  

Confectioners erythritol

Or any confectioners sweetener. It’s a simple and delicate pancake topping perfect for when you are looking for some no-fuss sweetness. 

Lemon curd

Yes, keto lemon curd is a thing and it should be on your pancake topping list. Seriously. 

Cream cheese

Can we just agree that cream cheese is the holy grail for keto dieters and those on a low carb lifestyle? Just go ahead and spread your pancakes with some cream cheese. 

Unique pancake toppings

M&Ms 

This is probably a childhood dream but there’s nothing more delicious than M&Ms served over fluffy pancakes. 

Ice Cream

Move over whipped cream, ice cream is the next big waffle topping. 

With so many different ice cream flavors to pick from you can literally have a different one every single day (not that you should). 

Go with vanilla for something traditional or pick one of those ice cream with cookie dough pieces and brownie batter mixed in if you are looking to make some incredibly indulgent pancakes. 

Oreo cookies

Crushed oreo cookies (with whipped cream!) are unique pancake toppings that’s totally delicious. I also have a recipe for Oreo Pancakes in case you want to explore the idea further. 

Marshmallow fluff and chocolate

S’mores inspired pancakes should be more common. Trust me when I say this combination (while super sweet) it’s a crowd favorite.