I’m surprised at the increased cost of syrups lately. While I can understand, my purse doesn’t appreciate it. I am also baffled at just how much syrup kids can douse over just 2 or 3 pancakes!

Just use less

In my house, we’ve made a change. No longer do we free-flow the sweet, sticky stuff creating lagoons of syrup. Some of that excess ends up drizzled down the inside door of the dishwasher after our meal is done. Now, each person gets a condiment cup ladled with 1 to 2 tablespoons of syrup. Dipping pieces of waffle into the cup of sweet sauce has proven to be more entertaining than sponging up puddles of syrup from the plate. By limiting the amount each person gets and providing a visual cue of just how much we use, we’ve saved over 50% of our syrup use.

Note: Condiment cups can also be found labeled as pinch bowls. They can be found at most large chain stores for under $1 each. They range in materials from plastic to stainless steel to silicone to fine wood (most expensive).

Use something else

Substitutes are a great thing as long as you can get them past your taste buds and those of your family. Many items make for great replacements of our favored stand-bys, so don’t write them off too quickly.

Try experimenting with Karo Syrup. If you haven’t had any lately, let me assure you that it’s still sweet. It’s still thick. It’s still thick and sweet, really. A little can go a long way, and it can easily gain the approval of sugar-craving youngsters. Try mixing in some flavorings like vanilla, butter & nut, or lemon.

Of note, there’s a Karo Pancake Syrup available, but YMMV as the whole point is to save on syrup use, thereby saving some dollars and cents. Click to visit this external linkKaro Syrup FAQ.

Jazz it up

Pancakes don’t have to be the same ol’ flat dry circles from long ago. Mixes are inexpensive, easy to use and make for a quickie breakfast. You are making your own pancakes, right? (Try it; it’s easy!) Pancakes can also be made in a more healthy manner – more than just syrup soakers.

Add a variety of fruits to the mix before cooking. Top freshly flapped jacks with a warm compote or a cold stack of sliced bananas for a nice hot/cold effect.

Your family may want less syrup if the pancakes are flavorful enough on their own. My favorite recipe calls for some shakes of apple pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice). Cinnamon alone gets the senses stirring.