One of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday morning with my boyfriend is to whip up a big pancake breakfast. And although we don’t get too many chances to have lazy brunches, it’s a total treat (and great excuse to indulge a little bit!). One of the most resounding lessons I’ve learned in my years of pancake-making is to always cool down the griddle or pan between batches. Do so by swirling cold water from the tap in the pan, then towel dry before moving on to the next group. Another lesson? Dry, prepared batter is just as good as the made-from-scratch-cakes. So to save time (and unnecessary elbow grease), I’ve always used Bisquick or Aunt Jemima‘s mixes, without noticing a difference in flavor or quality. 

And while I’m no Betty Crocker, I really do appreciate a great pancake. So when I heard about mixes from Austin’s famous Kerby Lane Cafe, I made it my Wednesday mission to get my hands on their new offerings to recreate those great breakfasts at home. Voted “Best Breakfast” in Austin, I held high hopes that their Pumpkin Pancake Mix would make my Sunday complete (even if the Jets did lose later on – sorry, boyfriend). 

The mix was as delicious as I’d hoped it would be, too. Served with real maple syrup (boyfriend wouldn’t have it any other way), the cakes weren’t overly sweet, but man did they fill us up. The one-pound bag made tons of pancakes, and cost less than $6. Besides, breakfast at home is always a much nicer treat than waiting in line for a table at our local diner.