IHOP, which stands for International House of Pancakes, is a popular breakfast restaurant chain known for its wide variety of pancakes, waffles, omelettes, and other breakfast foods. One of the signature elements of the IHOP dining experience is the tabletop syrup dispensers that allow customers to pour as much or as little syrup as they want over their pancakes and waffles. IHOP offers many classic syrup flavors like maple, blueberry, strawberry, and boysenberry, but do they offer the sweet and nutty flavor of pecan syrup? This article will explore the availability of pecan syrup at IHOP locations.
Quick Summary
Unfortunately, pecan syrup is not currently offered as one of the standard syrup flavors at IHOP restaurants. While customers can request pecan syrup, it is not regularly stocked and would have to be specially ordered by an individual location. IHOP sticks to their classic syrup offerings like maple, blueberry, strawberry, and boysenberry rather than offering specialty flavors like pecan. However, customers can add nuts or other toppings to customize their pancakes and waffles.
IHOP History
IHOP first opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, California under the name Pancake House. It was founded by Al and Jerry Lapin, with the help of their brother-in-law Harry Reynolds. In 1959, just a year after opening their first location, the founders began franchising and expanding nationwide. The name was changed to International House of Pancakes to reflect the restaurant’s growing popularity. By 1973, there were over 500 IHOP locations across the country.
Today, IHOP is owned by Dine Brands Global and is headquartered in Glendale, California. There are now over 1,750 IHOP locations in the United States, Mexico, and various countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Over the past 60+ years, IHOP has become one of America’s favorite breakfast destinations known for its extensive pancake menu with 12 different flavor varieties and a wide selection of omelettes, waffles, lunch/dinner entrees, and specialty beverages.
IHOP’s Famous Syrup Flavors
Part of what makes the Classic Buttermilk Pancakes at IHOP so crave-worthy is the sweet syrup that diners can pour over stacks of fresh, fluffy pancakes. The tabletop syrup dispensers allow customers to control how much or how little syrup they want with each bite. Over the years, IHOP has made their syrup an integral part of the restaurant’s identity and pancake experience.
Here are some of IHOP’s most popular syrup flavors that can be found on tables nationwide:
- Maple – This rich, natural maple-flavored syrup provides the quintessential traditional pancake topping.
- Blueberry – Made with real blueberries, this syrup adds a sweet tartness.
- Strawberry – The sweetness of strawberries gives this syrup a jam-like flavor.
- Boysenberry – Boysenberry syrup has a distinct berry taste with hints of cherry, raspberry, and blackberry.
- Cinnamon Apple – The autumnal flavors of apples and cinnamon make this a comforting, seasonal syrup.
In addition to the regular syrup flavors, IHOP sometimes releases limited-edition or seasonal syrups. Recent special flavors have included pumpkin spice, coconut, mango, and chocolate hazelnut. However, pecan syrup has not been part of their regular or limited-time offerings.
The Appeal of Pecan Syrup
So why are customers interested in whether they can get pecan syrup at IHOP? Pecan syrup has a uniquely rich, layered flavor that stand outs from typical pancake toppings. The syrup gets its nuttiness from toasted and crushed pecans, while retaining a smooth, pourable consistency. The pecan flavor pairs especially well with classic pancakes and waffles. It also complements popular IHOP menu items like their Bananas Foster Pancakes which feature sauteed banana slices flambéed in brown sugar cinnamon sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream.
Many diners enjoy the sweet nuttiness and buttery flavor that pecan syrup lends to breakfast foods. The texture of the tiny pecan pieces also adds a pleasant crunch with each bite. Pecan syrup has become a staple at many breakfast restaurants in the South and Midwest, but hasn’t expanded as widely across the country. Fans of the syrup may be curious to try it and add something new and different to their usual IHOP order.
Availability of Pecan Syrup at IHOP Locations
After searching through discussion forums, food blogs, and contacting IHOP customer service, it appears that pecan syrup is not a standard offering on their menu. IHOP has a set list of classic syrup flavors that they make available chain-wide. Unfortunately, pecan syrup hasn’t made the cut as of 2023. The IHOP menu focuses on delivering a consistent experience for customers across all locations, so they stick to their signature flavors rather than offering hyper-regional or specialty options.
However, some IHOP locations may offer pecan syrup from time to time or by request. Since franchise owners have some discretion over sourcing ingredients, a restaurant in an area where pecan syrup is highly popular, like Texas or Georgia, may decide to stock it as a special offering. Customers can call their local IHOP ahead of time to ask if pecan syrup can be purchased and served. But again, this is not a guarantee and would be subject to availability at individual locations.
The consensus from food bloggers and diners online seems to be that pecan syrup can’t be relied upon when ordering at most IHOPs. Patrons looking for that trademark pecan flavor would do better adding a serving of pecan pie or other nutty topping to their pancake stack. IHOP focuses their syrup lineup on traditional breakfast flavors like maple and fruit varieties rather than specialty options like nuts.
Ways to Customize Your IHOP Order
Even though pecan syrup isn’t widely available on the menu, IHOP patrons still have plenty of ways to customize their pancake or waffle order:
- Add pecans or walnuts as a pancake topping. The nuts will add crunch and nutty flavor to each bite.
- Order a side of pecan pie and spoon it over your short stack for a homemade pecan syrup taste.
- Substitute the standard maple syrup with a flavored syrup like blueberry or strawberry.
- Request an extra side of butter to top your pancakes with even more rich flavor.
- For a caramel/nutty taste, ask for an extra drizzle of the Butter Pecan syrup included in dishes like the Bananas Foster pancakes.
- Top your pancakes with whipped cream and chopped nuts for an extra layer of flavor and texture.
Even without pecan syrup, IHOP has no shortage of ways to elevate your breakfast experience. The flexible menu and add-on options allow customers to build their ideal pancake dish. Between the 12 standard pancake flavors, various syrups, fresh fruit toppings, and inventive creations like Red Velvet and Cupcake Pancakes, the possibilities are endless.
How to Make Your Own Pecan Syrup
Since pecan syrup can’t be found at most IHOP locations, home chefs can whip up their own batch fairly easily:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups finely chopped pecans
- 2 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions:
- In a skillet over medium heat, toast the chopped pecans until just starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by about half.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the toasted pecans. Let cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the syrup to a container, refrigerating for up to 1 month.
- Drizzle over your favorite pancakes and waffles for that homemade pecan syrup flavor!
Making your own allows you to control the pecan flavor and sweetness to your personal taste. You can tweak the pecan-to-sugar ratio, spice it up with extra cinnamon, or use maple syrup instead of brown sugar. Now you can enjoy the deliciousness of pecan syrup anytime the craving strikes.
Conclusion
Pecan syrup undoubtedly adds amazing nutty, buttery flavor to any stack of pancakes. But sadly it is not an option found on the main syrup lineup at IHOP restaurants nationwide. The signature flavors at IHOP stick to breakfast classics like maple, blueberry, and strawberry. Some individual locations may offer pecan syrup from time to time, but availability is not guaranteed. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to customize your order with pecan pie, nuts, whipped cream, and flavored syrups to satisfy that craving. Home chefs can also whip up DIY pecan syrup to get that sweet nutty taste anytime a pancake craving strikes. So while pecan syrup may not be a regular IHOP staple, there are still plenty of ways to infuse those flavors into your breakfast.
