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Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

by Jolina 73 Comments [This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Terms of Use for more information.]

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Whip up a batch of these light fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes and start the day with sunshine on a plate! Bright lemon flavour, not too sweet, soft as a cloud.

Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Hi! How are you? We’re a week away from Christmas…are you all set? As of today, we’ve already gone to three holiday parties. And have done zero minimal workouts. I think of it as Santa’s gift to me lol.

If you’re looking for a break from all the rich, decadent holiday food (all that glorious food), you’ve come to the right place! I have these fantastic lemon ricotta pancakes for you. Light, bright flavours. Soft and airy. A most wonderful way to start the day.

So whether it’s Christmas morning or just your regular Saturday, make a batch of these pancakes and start the day happy.

Official Pancake Maker

Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

I want a proper Belgian waffle maker for Christmas (Red, are you reading this?). We’ve owned a few over the years, each of which we returned to the store because, well, they suck.

I’ve been asking around so that our next one will be The One (do you have a recommendation?) but in the meantime, I’ve been busy experimenting with all kinds of pancakes, earning me the much coveted title of Official Pancake Maker.

Have you tried these?

  • Banana Buttermilk Pancakes with Candied Walnuts
  • Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes with Candied Pecans

While I love both of them, these light fluffy lemon pancakes are my favourite.

Light fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes

Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

First because it’s lemon. Those of you who’ve been with me since the start of TUB (thanks xoxo!) know I’m Team Lemon all the way (I have a whole category dedicated to lemons!).

But more than that, these pancakes are super soft and fluffy. You’d need to work the egg whites separately to give the pancakes their height and fluffiness but it’s totally worth it.

Third, it’s light and bright. Pancakes are usually rich and decadent but these are not overly sweet and I find that I prefer not to drown them in maple syrup (don’t judge me). It’s really a great recipe if you don’t feel like eating dessert for breakfast (let’s get real for a moment…I say no to dessert for breakfast too…sometimes…ok not very often…but it happens!).

Lemons > winter

Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Most people bake and cook with lemons in the spring and summer but I really love working with them in the winter. Citrus fruits are at their best in the winter and how can you say no to cheerful yellow things in the midst of a snow storm?

Hope you try these lemon ricotta pancakes one weekend soon. They are happy dance-worthy.

Related: How to Take Stunning Food Photos

Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Author: Jolina
Whip up a batch of these light fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes and start the day with sunshine on a plate! Bright lemon flavour, not too sweet, soft as a cloud.
4.93 from 26 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine North American
Servings 12 pancakes
Calories 141 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 egg yolks slightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt divided

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, whisk 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 cup milk, 3 egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tbsp lemon zest until smooth and fully incorporated. Set aside.
  • Using a handheld electric mixer, a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or a large bowl and a balloon whisk, beat the 3 egg whites until foamy. Add 1/8 teaspoon salt and continue whisking until you reach soft peaks. 
  • Prep your pan by placing it on the stove on medium heat so it's ready as soon as you mix your wet and dry ingredients. In the meantime, go back to your ricotta cheese mixture and sift 1 1/2 cups cake flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, and the rest of the salt over it. Stir until just combined (see note 1).
  • Then gently fold your egg white mixture into your batter a third at a time. What you're looking for is a light, fluffy mixture.
  • Put some oil or butter (or a combination) into your pan and pour the pancakes 1/3 cup at a time. Cook until golden brown at the bottom (2-3 minutes) then flip. Cook another 1-2 minutes (see note 2).
  • Serve warm topped with maple syrup and your favourite toppings like dried blueberries.

Notes

  1. Do not over stir the batter. At this stage, you're not looking for a smooth and creamy mixture. Little lumps of flour is OK.
  2. Every stove is different so time and watch your first couple of pancakes to see what the right cook time is for you.
  3. These pancakes freeze really well. Just put them in a Ziploc bag (separated with parchment paper so they don't stick together) and freeze. Then just microwave each pancake for about a minute (no need to thaw) and you'll have good-as-new lemon ricotta pancakes!

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 185mgSugar: 5gVitamin A: 190IUVitamin C: 2.1mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 0.4mg

Nutritional information are estimates only.

Tried this recipe?Tag @iamtheunlikelybaker I'd love to see your creations!

Happy cooking!

Did you make lemon ricotta pancakes? What’s your favourite kind of pancakes? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Here are other breakfast and brunch ideas for you:

Basic Granola Recipe
Basic Granola Recipe
Easy Huevos Rancheros Recipe
Easy Huevos Rancheros
Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash

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Filed Under: Breakfast & Brunch, I love lemons!, Recipes

Previous Post: « Double Chocolate Meringue Cookies
Next Post: 29 Best Hot Drinks for Winter You’ll Love »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sue Coughlin says

    May 20, 2019 at 7:48 pm

    5 stars
    Wow. We went to brunch in Philadelphia this weekend and my husband was disappointed that he didn’t get the lemon ricotta pancakes that our friend got. I looked these up on line and made them tonight with fresh blueberries maple syrup and just a squirt of fresh whipped cream. Next time I will use a bit more lemon zest because my lemons were small. I think the cake flour, whipped egg whites, folding gently made all the difference. My husband had six pancakes . Thanks for the recipe. Wonderful with a breakfast meat for any meal.

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      May 30, 2019 at 12:33 pm

      Awww I’m glad your husband got to have his pancakes! Thanks for your kind words Sue, made my day 🙂 Have a lovely spring/summer!

      Reply
  2. Gen says

    May 5, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    5 stars
    Weekends are pancake days at home and one weekend I decided to make your lemon pancakes. I wasnt sure how the kids would like it but they loved it and are requesting for more. It is so soft.

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      May 7, 2018 at 10:53 pm

      That’s awesome Gen! Especially that kids are typically partial to chocolate chips 🙂

      Reply
  3. Noida says

    May 1, 2018 at 2:19 am

    5 stars
    I’m so glad tomorrow is Sunday because that means I have a little extra time to make these! Yay – they look fabulous, I’m always searching for a delicious lemon ricotta pancakes recipe. Pancakes are always a good idea, no matter what season it is. I really like this recipe. I am very excited to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing useful ingredients.

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      May 7, 2018 at 10:54 pm

      I agree! I always say yes to pancakes 🙂

      Reply
  4. Laura says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:32 am

    4 stars
    These are so delicious! My pancakes didn’t look as fluffy as yours ha! but they were so soft. I wonder if I can use this same recipe for waffles?

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      March 28, 2018 at 8:37 pm

      Hi Laura! So glad you liked them. I haven’t actually tried them as waffles but I think that’s a delicious idea. Let me know how it goes 🙂

      Reply
  5. Theresa says

    February 25, 2018 at 11:28 am

    Hello! This sounds yummy. But do you drain the ricotta?

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      March 1, 2018 at 7:17 pm

      Hi Theresa! I buy ricotta in a tub which doesn’t typically have a lot of liquid in it. So I don’t drain it…

      Reply
  6. Olivia Stacey says

    December 27, 2017 at 6:57 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! Just reading this post made me hungry. These look so lightweight and fluffy — the combination of flavors sounds delicious.

    Reply
  7. Becca Talbot says

    December 26, 2017 at 9:39 am

    5 stars
    I can’t say I’ve ever tried pancakes with Ricotta before! These look and sound delicious, and the recipe is pretty simple to follow too – thanks for sharing, I’m gonna bookmark this one for later 😉 x

    Reply
  8. Wanda Lopez says

    December 23, 2017 at 10:16 pm

    OMG! I must give this ricotta pancakes a try. Love the combination of lemon and ricotta cheese on pancakes.

    Reply
  9. Lauren says

    December 23, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    Oh wow my goodness these look amazing! I have to try these immediately!! So delicious! Thanks for the recipe! my family is going to enjoy these for sure.

    Reply
  10. Paige says

    December 23, 2017 at 10:31 am

    Oh they look so soft. Just seeing them makes my mouth water. Thanks for sharing the tip on working more on the egg and adding lemon. Lovely tips. I am going to try this recipe out today itself.

    Reply
  11. Jenni LeBaron says

    December 22, 2017 at 5:55 pm

    Yum, I think adding ricotta in gives it such a great creaminess! These are beautiful.

    Reply
  12. CATALINA NINI says

    December 22, 2017 at 11:03 am

    5 stars
    Pancakes are always a good idea, no matter what season it is. How come yours are so fluffy ?? I never manage to get mine to look so great. But I guess I need more practice :D. Anyways, I hope that Santa listens to you and brings you The Belgian Waffle Maker. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 10:59 pm

      Thanks Catalina! Hope you’re having a happy Christmas!

      Reply
  13. Michelle says

    December 22, 2017 at 10:09 am

    5 stars
    Those pancakes look to die for. I always but extra ricotta when I make lasagna – totally using it for this now!

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:00 pm

      Totally! This is a great way to use extra ricotta cheese 🙂

      Reply
  14. Julie says

    December 22, 2017 at 8:42 am

    5 stars
    Ricotta in pancakes???? That sounds amazing. I need to try this ASAP!

    Reply
  15. Sarmistha Goswami says

    December 22, 2017 at 6:04 am

    Ask me about parties and minimal workout! I have taken a week off from workout and don’t even want to count the amount of sinful food am having! So yeah, I do need healthy recipes more than ever and these pancakes look yummy. Am definitely trying this one and I hope you find your Waffle Maker real soon 🙂

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:02 pm

      Thanks Sarmistha! I made the mistake of weighing myself this morning akkkk lol. Hope you like the pancakes!

      Reply
  16. Ali Rost says

    December 22, 2017 at 2:19 am

    5 stars
    This recipe comes closest to the lemon ricotta pancakes we had at FIG in Santa Monica which were heavenly. Whenever I make them, I like to mix the ricotta completely and add a bit of Fiori di Sicilia for a bump in the citrus flavor. Separating and beating the egg whites makes all the difference. Definitely worth the effort. x

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:03 pm

      Fiori di Sicilia sounds amazing. I haven’t used it actually, now I definitely need and want to 🙂

      Reply
  17. Arlene Mobley says

    December 21, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    5 stars
    I could devour a stack of these!

    Reply
  18. Laura says

    December 21, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    Ooh this sounds so tasty!! I’ve never tried pancakes like this before but I love anything with citrus so definitely will!

    Reply
  19. RALy says

    December 21, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    5 stars
    I’m definitely printing this recipe. I love love ricotta cheese therefore I’m going to try and make it. I hope you get your waffle maker for Christmas

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:05 pm

      Thank you! Hope you’re having a happy Christmas. And enjoy the pancakes!

      Reply
  20. Rachel says

    December 21, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    4 stars
    Wow, these look amazingly light and fluffy, and easy to make, I’ll have to try this out!

    Reply
  21. Stephanie Sherlock says

    December 21, 2017 at 11:15 am

    I’ve just book marked this page. I am making these, I have some fresh Meyers lemons in the pantry.

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:06 pm

      Meyer lemons would be amazing. Hope you like them Stephanie!

      Reply
  22. Veena Azmanov says

    December 21, 2017 at 9:27 am

    5 stars
    I love Ricotta Pancakes. I think they are the best when it comes to light and fluffy pancakes. These look so pretty! I love the pop of color from the blueberries.

    Reply
  23. Marisa Franca says

    December 21, 2017 at 9:13 am

    5 stars
    What great looking pancakes. I think the touch of lemon gives them a fresh taste and the ricotta cheese – wow, great combination of ingredients. This would certainly be a special breakfast.

    Reply
  24. Kacie Morgan says

    December 21, 2017 at 5:58 am

    5 stars
    I’m going to pin this recipe – I’ve been meaning to make my own pancakes for a while now!

    Reply
  25. Vasundhra says

    December 20, 2017 at 11:53 pm

    5 stars
    These lemon ricotta pancakes look so fluffy and delicious. I would love to make them for breakfast.

    Reply
  26. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    December 20, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    5 stars
    Yay for team lemon! These look delicious, Jolina! I would love to have these over the holidays with some bacon, juice and coffee and definitely minimal workout time 😉 Hope Santa brings you that waffle maker….and I’m definitely doing a happy dance 🙂

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:08 pm

      Hi Dawn! Fellow Team Lemon! Hope you’re having a fabulous Christmas!

      Reply
  27. Ana De- Jesus says

    December 20, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    How lovely that you have been to three parties already that really is incredible! You are right that these pancakes are super fluffy! I love lemon too so its a win win for me!

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:10 pm

      Hi Ana! Parties are great, though I can barely fit into my jeans now LOL! Ah well…it’s Christmas anyhow 🙂 Hope you’re having fabulous holidays!

      Reply
  28. soonjoo says

    December 20, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    5 stars
    My husband made me lemon ricotta pancakes last weekend and it was absolutely delicious! I never had pancake with ricotta cheese but this little addition makes huge different on taste! Since lemon is all year round and the price doesn’t really change in where I live maybe this time I’ll try to make lemon ricotta pancake for my husband this Christmas!

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:11 pm

      Hope you got your lemon ricotta pancakes this morning 🙂 Happy holidays!

      Reply
  29. Albert Bevia says

    December 20, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    This is my kind of pancake, let me tell you, I will be making these beauties on x-mas morning for the family, thank you for this amazing recipe 🙂

    Reply
  30. Jessica Robinson says

    December 20, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    My goodness do these pancakes look delicious! I love the idea of lemon and ricotta. All that’s missing is fresh blueberries on top! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  31. Sadaf says

    December 20, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    These fluffy pancakes make me want to whip a batch right now. I’ll try your recipe next, all on the look out for perfect pancakes recipe!

    Reply
  32. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says

    December 20, 2017 at 12:28 pm

    5 stars
    These sound perfect for brunch or even dinner. I would also be tempted to use them as a base for dessert too. So many options with this tasty recipe.

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:13 pm

      Pancakes for dinner is always a welcome idea in our house 🙂

      Reply
  33. Komal says

    December 20, 2017 at 11:39 am

    I’ll be making these this weekend!

    Reply
  34. Rachel says

    December 20, 2017 at 8:08 am

    5 stars
    I am always on the hunt for a good pancake recipe. Tried so many and still looking. Pinning to try this!

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:13 pm

      Hope you like them Rachel!

      Reply
  35. Caitlin says

    December 19, 2017 at 10:33 pm

    You can tell from the picture how light those are! They look like a totally different type of pancake from what I’m used to. Perfect for this season.

    Reply
  36. Tami says

    December 19, 2017 at 4:01 pm

    Okay, now I am hungry! I have always enjoyed the scent of lemons. I never had it in pancakes but it sounds delicious.

    Reply
  37. Denise Wright says

    December 19, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    5 stars
    I agree about citrus in winter….it really can brighten your mood. I too am on team lemon. However my hubby is an even bigger lemon fan. I already tagged him on FB. Let’s see if he gets the hint and makes these. He’s our official waffle maker so I think he’s up to the task.

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:15 pm

      Nice! I love how you guys have an office waffle maker haha 🙂 Hopefully I get my very own waffle maker soon. Hope you’re having a great day Denise!

      Reply
  38. Alicia Taylor says

    December 19, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    Oh my! I will have to try these for Sunday breakfast when we have company over. They seem like a nice upgrade from standard fare. I’ll bet my homemade blueberry syrup would accent that lemon nicely.

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:16 pm

      Homemade blueberry syrup sounds amazing Alicia!

      Reply
  39. Cassie says

    December 19, 2017 at 7:52 am

    5 stars
    YES PLEASE! I absolutely love pancakes but have never tried a combination like this before! Sounds delicious! Can’t wait to make up a batch.

    Reply
  40. Elizabeth says

    December 19, 2017 at 12:00 am

    5 stars
    Yes please… oh I love pancake for breakfast. Would definitely whip this up in Christmas morning. Merry Christmas to you and Red!

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:17 pm

      Thanks Elizabeth! Merry Christmas to you and yours too 🙂

      Reply
  41. Sharon says

    December 18, 2017 at 9:52 pm

    These photos are instagram worthy!! My son loves pancakes and this is going to be a big hit comes weekend. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  42. Lois Alter Mark says

    December 18, 2017 at 9:14 pm

    Oh my goodness, these sound absolutely delicious- and they look it,too! What a great way to lighten up a typically heavy morning staple. Would definitely help to start my day off on a bright note.

    Reply
  43. Scott says

    December 18, 2017 at 8:31 pm

    Certainly an interested flavor combination! They sound super-light – what would it take for you to send over a batch?!

    Reply
  44. Stephanie says

    December 18, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    These sound great! I’ve never heard of putting ricotta in a pancake like this, sounds awesome!

    Reply
  45. Anna says

    December 18, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    Not fond of ricotta…. I can’t get past the texture. Is there anything you suggest to swap out the ricotta for? Those pancakes look delicious though…

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:20 pm

      This link should help, lots of options: https://tastessence.com/substitutes-for-ricotta-cheese

      Reply
  46. Heather Johnson says

    December 18, 2017 at 2:52 pm

    Your light fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes sound and look absolutely amazing! The lemon flavor must be super refreshing!

    Reply
  47. Brandi says

    December 18, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    5 stars
    You had me at light and fluffy! These look amazing!

    Reply
  48. Liz Mays says

    December 18, 2017 at 2:14 pm

    Oh what a wonderful way to start the morning. These pancakes sound super good and would be a great change of pace.

    Reply
  49. Tonya says

    December 18, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    5 stars
    I mean, what is better than lemon with blueberry!! Nothing! Lol! These look AMAZING! Plus “soft and airy”? Yes please!
    Can’t wait to try these!

    Reply
  50. Nellwyn says

    December 18, 2017 at 10:51 am

    They used to have amazing lemon ricotta pancakes at this breakfast place near by house and I was SO sad when they look them off the menu recently. I’m very happy to have found this recipe so I can make them for myself at home!

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:22 pm

      Nice! Now you can make them anytime you like. And it’s super easy too!

      Reply
  51. Neely Moldovan says

    December 18, 2017 at 9:43 am

    We had blueberry ricottapancakes recently but I love the idea of lemon! Totally going to try these!

    Reply
    • Jolina says

      December 25, 2017 at 11:23 pm

      Yummm now I want to have blueberry ricotta next! 🙂

      Reply

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