IHOP pancake syrup is a popular condiment served alongside IHOP’s famous pancakes. With its sweet, maple-y flavor, pancake syrup can make a stack of pancakes even more delicious. But like many sugary toppings, pancake syrup also packs a caloric punch. So just how many calories are in IHOP’s syrup?
Quick Answer
A 2-ounce serving of IHOP original pancake syrup contains 220 calories. This is the standard syrup serving size that IHOP uses for its pancakes.
Calorie Count for Different IHOP Syrups
IHOP offers several syrup flavors beyond its original pancake syrup. Here’s a run-down of the calorie count for 2 ounces of some other IHOP syrups:
| IHOP Syrup | Calories (2 oz serving) |
|---|---|
| Original | 220 |
| Sugar Free | 20 |
| Harvest Grain ‘N Maple Crunch | 260 |
| Blueberry | 230 |
| Strawberry | 230 |
| Raspberry | 230 |
As you can see, IHOP’s original syrup has 220 calories per serving. The sugar free syrup is dramatically lower at just 20 calories. Meanwhile, flavored syrups like blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry contain about 230 calories per serving. So the different syrup flavors provide similar calorie counts.
Nutrition Facts for IHOP Original Syrup
To provide more detail, here is the full nutrition information for a 2-ounce serving of original IHOP pancake syrup:
| Nutrition Facts | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 220 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 135 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 57 g |
| Sugars | 51 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
As you can see, the majority of the calories in IHOP syrup come from carbohydrates. Specifically, the calories are packed into 51 grams of sugar. So the syrup is void of fat, protein, and other nutrients – it is purely packed with simple sugars.
Calorie Density of IHOP Syrup
When evaluating the calorie count of pancake syrup, it’s also helpful to look at its calorie density. Calorie density provides a measure of how many calories are packed into each gram of food.
A 2-ounce serving of IHOP original syrup contains 220 calories. And a 2-ounce serving weighs about 59 grams. So dividing the calories by grams, we find that IHOP syrup has a calorie density of 3.7 calories per gram.
For comparison:
- Olive oil has a calorie density of about 4 calories per gram
- Nuts average around 5 calories per gram
- Lean protein foods like chicken breast provide about 1 calorie per gram
So IHOP syrup lands squarely in the range of very high calorie density foods. It packs nearly 4 calories into every gram – only trailing behind pure fats and oils in calorie density.
How Syrup Calorie Counts Compare to Other Condiments
To provide more context, here’s how IHOP’s pancake syrup calorie count stacks up against some other common breakfast condiments:
| Condiment | Calories (2 oz serving) |
|---|---|
| IHOP original syrup | 220 |
| Mrs. Butterworth’s original syrup | 218 |
| Smucker’s strawberry syrup | 225 |
| Hershey’s chocolate syrup | 208 |
| Jelly | 103 |
| Honey | 192 |
As you can see, popular pancake syrup brands like Mrs. Butterworth’s contain a nearly identical 220 calories per serving compared to IHOP. Smucker’s strawberry syrup clocks in a little higher at 225 calories. And chocolate syrup provides a bit less at 208 calories.
Meanwhile, condiments like jelly and honey have a lower caloric density. So you get a smaller calorie hit when adding 2 ounces of these toppings. But overall, pancake syrups tend to pack over 200 calories into a standard serving size.
Syrup Calorie Count Can Add Up Quickly
It’s important to keep in mind that 220 calories is just for a single 2-ounce serving of IHOP syrup. It’s very easy to overpour syrup and quickly multiply those calories without even realizing it.
For example, let’s say you drench your 5 pancakes in syrup. Just a couple of extra ounces can nearly double the calories you’re consuming. Here’s a look at the total calories different syrup serving sizes contain:
- 2 ounces (1 serving) – 220 calories
- 4 ounces – 440 calories
- 6 ounces – 660 calories
- 8 ounces – 880 calories
So while that initial 220 calories may not seem too bad, the calories add up fast if you overdo it on the syrup pouring. Getting an extra 2 ounces of syrup with your stack can mean an additional 220 calories.
Tips for Watching Syrup Calories
Here are some tips to keep your syrup calories in check if you’re watching your intake:
- Stick to the standard 2 ounce serving size
- Ask for sugar-free syrup to save calories
- Order extra fruit instead of syrup
- Share your syrup serving across all pancakes
- Request syrup on the side to control portion size
- Substitute lower calorie honey or jam
Using these tips can help you enjoy syrup without going overboard on calories.
How Many Calories in a Full IHOP Pancake Breakfast
To get the full picture, let’s look at the calorie count of an entire IHOP pancake breakfast:
| Menu Item | Calories |
|---|---|
| 2 Original Buttermilk Pancakes | 440 |
| 2 oz Original Syrup | 220 |
| 2 Strips of Bacon | 90 |
| 1 Large Egg | 72 |
| TOTAL | 822 |
As you can see, a short stack of 2 pancakes with normal syrup, bacon, and an egg comes out to 822 calories. That’s 42% of the roughly 2,000 daily calories recommended for the average adult.
The pancakes and syrup alone make up about 660 of those calories. So limiting syrup and sticking to a single pancake can create a bigger calorie difference.
Conclusion
To summarize key points:
- A 2-ounce serving of IHOP original syrup contains 220 calories
- Flavored syrups are similar at 230 calories per serving
- Syrup is high in calorie density, packing almost 4 calories per gram
- It’s easy to consume extra calories by overpouring syrup
- A full IHOP pancake breakfast can deliver over 800 calories
So while IHOP’s syrup tastes great with fluffy pancakes, it does come at a caloric cost. Being mindful of portions and using lighter alternatives like fruit can balance out your breakfast. This allows you to enjoy those pancake mornings while still watching your calorie intake.
