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Review by Frank Olito
- Nutritionists and fitness influencers swear by Kodiak Cakes, so I decided to try them out.
- The $6 mix, which contains whole grains and a protein blend, has 14 grams of protein per serving.
- Kodiak doesn't taste like a regular pancake, but it's still tasty, and I was full for hours.
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From nutritionists to fitness influencers, everyone seems to love Kodiak Cakes these days.
As I scroll through social media, I often see nutritionists and fitness influencers talking about the pancake brand Kodiak Cakes, claiming they're a healthier, protein-packed alternative to a traditional pancake breakfast.
"You can use their mix to make waffles and pancakes because they are higher in protein, higher in fiber, so they leave you satisfied for a lot longer than something like the Eggo's brand," Kylie Sakaida, a registered dietitian, told me.
Andy Bellatti, another registered dietitian, said the brand is a better option than typical mixes — in some ways.
"Kodiak Cakes are made with whole-grain flours, so they are healthier than mixes made with refined flours," he said.
However, there are 8 or 9 grams of added sugar per serving in some of the flavors — that's typically higher than other mixes. So just because Kodiak Cakes are higher in protein, it doesn't necessarily mean they're a better option, Bellatti said.
One morning, I decided to find out if Kodiak was worth the hype.
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First, I headed to Stop & Shop to pick up a box of Kodiak.
I was worried my grocery store in Brooklyn wouldn't carry Kodiak, but I was pleasantly surprised to find an entire shelf devoted to the pancake mix.
It cost $6.19 for 11 servings, which was much more expensive than any other pancake mix in the section, so I had very high expectations going into this taste test.
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When I got home, I realized I picked up the cinnamon-oat flavor instead of the original buttermilk.
The company sells multiple flavors, including dark chocolate, birthday cake, pumpkin flax, and almond poppy seed.
The cinnamon-oat flavor contains whole-grain wheat flour, whole-grain rolled oats, cane sugar, wheat protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, leavening, cinnamon, buttermilk, and salt.
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I examined the back of the box and realized I could add different ingredients to increase my protein intake.
While reading the box, I learned there were 14 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and 9 grams of sugars — including 8 grams of added sugar — in just over one pancake, or each 1/3-cup serving.
But the back of the box also told me I could "power up" and adjust the protein amount.
For instance, if I just added water to the mix, then the pancakes would have 14 grams of protein each. But if I added milk instead of water, then the pancakes would have 16 grams of protein. If I added milk and an egg, there would be 18 grams of protein.
I always like to make things as simple as possible in the kitchen, so I decided to take the just-add-water route.
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The pancake mix was a bit chunkier than I expected.
Some of the chunks were pieces of oats, but others were from mix sticking together.
Rather than using just 1/3 cup of mix, I used a whole cup because that seemed like the amount I'd actually want to eat.
When I added a 3/4 cup of water to 1 cup of Kodiak mix, I was surprised by the color of the batter.
Typically, when I use pancake mix, the batter is paler than the Kodiak pancake batter, which was a light brown due to the whole-grain, non-refined flour.
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Although Kodiak Cakes are made with different ingredients compared to other mixes, they didn't require any special cooking instructions.
I cooked the pancakes on medium-to-high heat for about 5 minutes on each side.
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I made three of varying sizes, and they looked like traditional pancakes.
The Kodiak pancake could have easily passed as a Bisquick pancake, albeit slightly darker.
By making three pancakes — and three times the 1/3 cup serving size — I made three servings, adding up to a staggering 42 grams of protein.
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When I took my first bite, I was surprised by the flavor.
The first bite was fluffy and light, while the cinnamon and oat definitely added an extra layer of flavor. I could taste the whole grains, and it reminded me of whole-grain bread. For me, that wasn't a bad thing, but I can see somebody getting put off by the taste if they were looking for a traditional pancake.
Although they didn't taste anything like a typical pancake, they were still delicious and kept me full for a long time.
If you're looking to satisfy a pancake craving, these probably won't do the trick, but they are still tasty in their own right. Plus, they kept me full for hours.
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Although I'm not convinced the pancakes are worth the hype, they are still a great alternative if you're looking for a more protein-packed start to your day.
After seeing all the hype on social media, I was expecting a delicious breakfast that would make me swear off traditional pancake mix forever. That wasn't the case.
While Kodiak pancakes were tasty, they didn't satisfy my traditional pancake craving. I can definitely see myself turning to Bisquick again in the future, but I can also see myself turning to Kodiak when I'm being more food and health-conscious.
So would I recommend Kodiak? It depends. If you're craving a pancake, then I say skip Kodiak and use your go-to mix. But if you're looking for a way to get in more protein, want to stay satiated for longer, and can afford a splurge, then you won't be disappointed with Kodiak.
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