Denny’s Pancake Puppies

Denny’s Pancake Puppies have to be the only breakfast appetizer I have ever seen. Yes, Denny’s has called these their breakfast appetizer before. I think these are a cross between funnel cakes and beignets.

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What are pancake puppies?

Denny’s Pancake Puppies have been on Denny’s menu for several years now. If you have missed out on them, basically they’re small pancake balls fried in vegetable oil and served hot and fresh.

So think of a donut, funnel cake, or even a beignet. While these may seem more like a dessert, Denny’s serves them up for breakfast.

The flavors vary with the seasons. Currently, you get the cinnamon and sugar version served with cream cheese icing. In the past, they have served blueberry and red velvet.

Why are they called puppies?

If you take your kids for breakfast at Denny’s, a favorite question is: “Why are they called puppies?” A good one, yes?

The most well-known type of food puppy is, of course, the hushpuppy. Any other similarly-shaped, fried-dough-type food is also called a puppy.

Plenty of people have tried to explain the origin of hushpuppies, which is why there’s a whole catalog of entertaining ideas, including:

• Hush, Dog!: The most common explanation is that fishermen would be cooking their catch, and their hounds would yap and howl in anticipation. Then the cooks would fry pieces of dough and toss them to the puppies to hush them.
• It Was Back in the War: Confederate soldiers making dinner on their campfire thought they heard Yankees approaching, so they threw their barking dogs some fried cornmeal bits and commanded them to “hush puppies!”
• Leaping Lizards: This is likely the most bizarre origin story. Cajuns in Southern Louisiana used to take mudpuppies (a type of salamander), and deep fry them in a batter. Since eating salamanders ranked low on the social scale, the eaters kept hush about it.

You can read more stories about hushpuppies.

Fried Pancake Batter

This recipe is very, very, simple. All you need to do is take some pancake mix that you only need to add water to and make it very thick. I use a ratio of two parts of dry pancake mix, to one part water.

Thin batter means you are making funnel cakes, and, quite honestly, that isn’t a bad thing either. You can serve these fried pancake balls with maple syrup or even a good dusting of powdered sugar.

How to Make Pancake Puppies

1. Heat oil in a deep fryer or pot to 350 degrees. 
2. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together pancake mix and water until well blended.
3. Use a cookie scoop to drop the batter into the oil.
4. Cook until the pancake balls are browned on the bottom then flip them over and cook for another 30 seconds.
5. Remove pancake balls from the oil and drain.
6. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.
7. Serve with maple syrup.

Deep Frying Tips

I fry these in basic vegetable oil that I buy at Costco. Most restaurants are using a blended oil, and I think vegetable oil seems to work very well.

I really enjoy deep frying in my T-fal fryer. Why? It has a feature that means you can strain the oil and use it again. It also has a great basket, and it makes the occasional deep-frying a snap.

Love Denny’s? Try these copycat recipes!

• Strawberry Pancake Puppies
• Blueberry Pancake Puppies
• Moons Over My Hammy
• Denny’s French Toast
• Mozzarella Stick Grilled Cheese

Favorite Breakfast Recipes

• Burger King Egg-Normous Breakfast Burrito
• Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
• IHOP Birthday Pancakes
• Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
• Buttermilk Pancakes
• Alton Brown Pancakes
• Homemade Waffles
• Strawberry Pop Tart Recipe

Be sure to check out more of my easy breakfast recipes and the best restaurant copycat recipes.