Review: McDonald’s Breakfast Hotcakes 

Total Score

Summary: Fluffy, sweet, and a little dry. These pancakes are not as bad as you’d expect. Douse them in maple syrup and you’ve got a solid breakfast!

Meal Context

Sometimes you’re on the road or on-the-go and you just need a quick breakfast. An overlooked item on the McDonald’s breakfast menu is their hotcakes. On my way into the factory last Tuesday morning, my stomach was growling. I knew I was going to have some BBQ for lunch and wanted something without meat but still filling. Hey, maybe these pancakes will do the trick.

I loaded up some butter and syrup and went to town. Satisfied my morning craving and tided me over until lunch time. I get the sense that McDonald’s isn’t the first choice most people think of for breakfast pancakes, but you could definitely do a lot worse if you’re in a pinch.

Meal Context Score: 7 out of 10

Taste

The pancakes weren’t loaded with flavor like you might find when ordering buttermilk pancakes at a sit-down restaurant. Still, when you add in the syrup and the butter you’ve got a pretty sweet and tasty breakfast on your hands.

This definitely tastes better than whenever I try to make Aunt Jemima’s pancakes at my house.

Taste Score: 6 out of 10

Look

They look like regular pancakes. Maybe a little smaller than what you’d make in the skillet. Nice golden brown outside with a soft yellow inside. They are much more visually appealing than many of McDonald’s other offerings.

Stack ’em up, drizzle some syrup, and they’re ready for your Instagram story!

Look Score: 7 out of 10

Are Hotcakes Healthy?

600 calories and 16g of total fat will provide a hearty, filling breakfast without being too out of line with most regular 2,000-calorie diets. 45g sugar definitely is not ideal. It’s not a cup of fruit and toast, but you could probably do a lot worse.

Find full nutrition information here: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/hotcakes.html

Healthy Score: 5 out of 10

Stomach Effects

The damage was contained here. Felt some light stomach rumbles in the morning, but they weren’t loud enough for anyone in the factory to notice. Plus, those rumbles could very well have been due to the McCafe. Daily 11:15AM bowel movement was largely painless.

Stomach Score: 8 out of 10

Pros & Cons