Birch Benders Performance Protein Pancake and Waffle Mix with Whey Protein , 10 Grams Protein Per Serving, 1 Pound (Pack of 6)

A friend brought these pancakes on a camping trip and cooked them up on a cast iron skillet with blueberries. Hands down the best pancakes I'd ever had, and he didn't tell me they were protein pancakes until after I gushed. Now they're the only pancakes I cook at home. I use a touch more water than indicated and plenty of oil in the skillet, since I like them thin and crispy. Since they do provide a complete protein, they also give all-day energy instead of a post-meal crash.

The nutritional details changed with their recent packaging update, so for those of you keeping track, make note of updates. For 1/3 cup, INCREASES by 28 calories, 8g carbs, 1g fiber, 2g protein, 1.7g sugar, and 269mg sodium. And then it DECREASES by 1g fat, 1g sat fat, 43mg calcium, and 40mg cholesterol. So the good news is no cholesterol, no fat, no saturated fat and now a little bit of fiber with the newer mix. The bad news is very high in sodium now, plus some increases to calories, carbs and added sugar. The former mix was distributed by Birch Benders in Louisville, CO. The new mix is distributed by Hometown Food Company in Chicago, IL. Birch Benders company was sold twice. Once in 2020 to Sovos, but they struggled to sell. So it was sold again in 2023 to Hometown Foods, so it would seem the new distributor now making product changes. The former pancake mix was one of my favorites. I ordered online because stores were running out (likely tied to new product rollout transition). I haven’t yet tried new mix to see if there’s a change in taste. I probably wouldn’t have purchased if I had realized the huge increase in sodium, but now I have 6 packages of it, so will probably just eat less often.

I love the flavor and fluffy pancakes this makes.

My daughter is vegetarian and it feels like a constant struggle to make sure she gets enough protein. This mix is great for quick breakfasts. I mix up just enough for the Mueller heartshape waffle iron (makes thin 1/4” heart waffles that are about 8” diameter) and its done in less than 5 min if I start preheating the iron before I mix up the batter. Nice & crispy!

I have always disliked the tasted of whey protein and I can really taste the whey in these pancakes. My husband can taste the whey as well, but the whey flavor does not bother him. So, if you like the taste of whey I'm sure you will like these because other than that, the flavor and texture are wonderful. I will be switching back to Kodiak Cakes after I use up all of these bags because Kodiak Cakes do not use whey protein. I feel like this mix is good for people who love the traditional white pancakes and Kodiak Cakes are better for people who love the whole-grain flavor and overall vibe.